The NSW Waratahs are set to unveil Wallabies slayer Simon Raiwalui as their new Super Rugby Pacific director of performance.
The Sydney Morning Herald reported that the 49-year-old would be officially named in the role on Friday as the Waratahs move to rebuild from the rubble of a wooden spoon season.
The Raiwalui news was first reported by The Roar on Wednesday.
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Simon Raiwalui of Fiji speaks with Eddie Jones of Australia. Getty
Raiwalui was born in Auckland but raised in Sydney and is a former Wallabies forwards coach under Michael Cheika.
The ex-lock coached Fiji at last year’s Rugby World Cup, stunning the Wallabies 22-15 in Saint-Etienne.
It was the first time the island nation had beaten Australia at a World Cup and led to the demise of Eddie Jones as coach.
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Coach Simon Raiwalui of Fiji during a press conference. Getty
Raiwalui has since been working for World Rugby.
He will bring significant clout to the vital role and is eager to give back to the state he is passionate about.
Raiwalui explained the differences in resources between Fiji and Australia in France last year.
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“We’ve prepared with what we’ve got the best we can. You maybe don’t get psychologists but we’ve got other things,” he said.
“We were able to bring a in reverend who came in to talk about mental wellbeing, being in connection with our religion, being in connection with our people, our game and our campaign being geared to what’s important to us as Fijians.
“So we have those sort of things. Yeah, we always want more resources. But you have to make do with what you have. I’ll take more matches over resources, the more matches we get at this level, outside the World Cup. If Fiji can get those tier one matches more regularly, you’ve seen what these boys can do when they get that regular competition.”
Australia coach Michael Cheika with forwards coach Simon Raiwalui. Sportsfile via Getty Images
Attention now turns to the identity of the next Waratahs coach.
Former Wallabies assistants Dan McKellar and Scott Wisemantel have emerged as strong candidates to replace Darren Coleman.
Meanwhile, the ACT Brumbies have hired West Harbour coach Cameron Treloar as their general manager of professional rugby.
