Simon Raiwalui to leave Fiji after memorable Rugby World Cup campaign

Dylan Coetzee
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Fijian head coach Simon Raiwalui looks on.

Fijian head coach Simon Raiwalui looks on.

Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui has confirmed he will not be seeking a contract extension after his current deal expires at the end of the year.

The inspirational coach confirmed the news on X, formerly Twitter, after a brilliant campaign where he guided a well-supported Fijian side to the quarter-finals of the Rugby World Cup.

Many fans were gained for Fiji along the way as the team played with passion, flair and honour typified by their impressive win over Australia in the pool stage.

Raiwalui took time to reply to most of the comments on his post, ensuring that he had thanked as many people as possible, but the coach underlined that his family had given up a lot and he wishes to spend more time with them.

“Bursting with pride”

Meanwhile, even after the quarter-final loss to England, the boss praised his team for laying a foundation for future generations.

“For 15 weeks these boys have worked hard and we will celebrate that. We’re hurting now in terms of the result but I couldn’t be prouder of this group in terms of what they’ve put in. They’ve built something for the next generation of Fijian rugby players. They’ve laid a foundation,” Raiwalui said.

“We’re hurting at the moment and it will hurt for a long time because it was something we had built and we thought we could go further. The belief in the team has always been there. I’m bursting with pride.”

One of the great custodians of our game

Part of what made the campaign so memorable for Fiji was the way in which Raiwalui led the side.

The great Fijian embodied rugby’s values with a brilliant gesture as he shared a bag of kit with Portugal after they claimed a win over his team. Despite the loss, he wanted to honour the team’s first World Cup victory.

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Fiji Simon Raiwalui