Rinakama steps in to coach Tailevu
Rinakama has vast coaching experience in guiding teams like Navosa, Nadroga, Naitasiri and Nanukuloa in Ra.
Sunday 10 August 2025 | 22:00
Reverend Jioji Rinakama (right) will be the interim coach for Tailevu until current head coach Usaia Mataki returns from England.
Photo: Tailevu Rugby Union
Former Flying Fijians forwards coach Reverend Jioji Rinakama will step in to be the interim head of the Tailevu rugby coaching panel.
This was confirmed to SUNsports last Saturday by Tailevu head coach Usaia Mataki after their 27-22 Skipper Cup win over Naitasiri in Nausori.
Mataki said he would be in England next week as the coach of the Fiji women’s military rugby team.
Related stories
“Reverend Jioji Rinakama will step in as interim coach for the team in my absence,” he said.
Rinakama has vast coaching experience in guiding teams like Navosa, Nadroga, Naitasiri and Nanukuloa in Ra.
The former Fiji men’s rugby sevens forward indicated that due to the players’ confidence and their ability to stick to the gameplan resulted in their win at Ratu Cakobau Park in Nausori.
“I’m grateful to our coaching panel for their instructions to our players during the duration of the game,” Mataki said.
“We told our players not to allow Naitasiri close to our tryline as they have a powerful forward pack.”
Mataki dedicated their win to the province of Tailevu and to the players’ families.
“We saw many weaknesses, which we’ll have to address before we face Ba in our next match,” he said.
“Simione Kuruvoli’s presence gave our players a big boost and I thank him for coming back to the team that put him on the world map.”
