Swire Shipping Fijian Drua will announce a forwards coach soon.

This was revealed by outgoing chief executive officer Brian Thorburn on Wednesday.

Thorburn also confirmed that their team base has been located with relevant procedures yet to be finalised.

“We have recruited the forwards coach, and will send a release on that,” Thorburn said.

“We have found a location (of the base), we have not signed the lease yet, so it will be premature to announce exactly where it is.

“We are very satisfied with what we got, it will make a great base for the team,” he added.

Thorburn resumes his position as Fiji Rugby Union head of commercial.

He was one of those that played a key role in the Drua bid, helped set it up and sailed with them in their debut Super Rugby Pacific season.

New CEO Mark Evans starts his three-year contract on October 17.

“It’s been wonderful,” Thorburn said.

“12 months ago, the Drua was a spreadsheet on my laptop and we have come a long way and it’s been an incredible experience for me personally with all the hard work and sacrifice.

“Evans will start on October 17, and I won’t be interfering. I will be letting the new CEO run the thing, but there are aspects where FRU does have the rights, like broadcast rights.

“I’ll be continuing with managing, as part of the FRU team I will be working closely with everybody.”

Thorburn added they will continue to develop local players into the Drua pathway in future.

There were interests from overseas players however he said they can’t compete with the financial offers available overseas like France.

“Our target is local Fijians, many of our players are contracted for two years so we don’t have too many spots for Drua,” he said.

“We’ve also building an academy, recruiting players as part of their training and dietary supervision as part of development, our eyes are firmly on the Fijian market.

“Head coach Mick Byrne has been following the Skipper Cup very closely.”

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