Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Leicester assistant Mike Ford linked with role on other side of the world

Leicester's Mike Ford smiles after the crucial relegation battle win over Newcastle last April (Photo by David Rogers/Getty Images)

Former England and Ireland assistant Mike Ford has emerged as the latest name linked to take over from John McKee as coach of Fiji. 

ADVERTISEMENT

The Leicester attack coach is among a lengthy list of candidates all said to be vying for a position that is not yet officially vacant.

Current Fijian boss John McKee, who is contracted through to December 31, is still in the dark as to what he fate will be. 

“I will very quickly know if I continue or if it stops: it is in the hands of the steering committee,” he said recently on New Zealand radio.

Despite competitive performances against Australia and Wales at the World Cup, McKee’s reputation was hugely dented by Fiji’s shock defeat to minnows Uruguay.

(Continue reading below…)

Video Spacer

Who is potentially in the running to succeed McKee is a moveable feast. Clermont’s Franck Azema and Pau’s Nicolas Godignon have apparently already been ruled out, but Toulouse’s Regis Sonnes and ex-Bayonne coach Vincent Etcheto are said to have among the names still being considered by the Fijian Rugby Union in Suva. 

Midi Olympique had reported that McKee’s likely successor was set to be French, given the presence of so many of their players in the Top 14, but the inclusion now of Ford in the mix suggests that the situation is very fluid.  

ADVERTISEMENT

Ford last worked in the Test arena in November 2018 when coaching Germany in the qualification playoffs for the 2019 World Cup in Japan. He then linked up with Leicester, initially as a consultant before adopting the role of attack coach this season.

WATCH: Why the Crusaders will remain the Crusaders… no name change for Super Rugby’s most successful club

Video Spacer
ADVERTISEMENT

LIVE

{{item.title}}

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

M
MA 3 hours ago
How the four-team format will help the Wallabies defeat the Lions

In regards to Mack Hansen, Tuipoloto and others who talent wasnt 'seen'..

If we look at acting, soccer and cricket as examples, Hugh Jackman, the Heminsworths in acting; Keith Urban in Nashville, Mike Hussey and various cricketers who played in UK and made the Australian team; and many soccer players playing overseas.


My opinion is that perhaps the ' 'potential' or latent talent is there, but it's just below the surface.


ANd that decision, as made by Tane Edmed, Noah, Will Skelton to go overseas is the catalyst to activate the latent and bring it to the surface.


Based on my personal experience of leaving Oz and spending 14 months o/s, I was fully away from home and all usual support systems and past memories that reminded me of the past.


Ooverseas, they weren't there. I had t o survive, I could invent myself as who I wanted, and there was no one to blame but me.


It bought me alive, focused my efforts towards what I wanted and people largely accepted me for who I was and how I turned up.


So my suggestion is to make overseas scholarships for younger players and older too so they can benefit from the value offered by overseas coaching acumen, established systems, higher intensity competition which like the pressure that turns coal into diamonds, can produce more Skeltons, Arnold's, Kellaways and the like.


After the Lion's tour say, create 20 x $10,000 scholarships for players to travel and play overseas.


Set up a HECS style arrangement if necessary to recycle these funds ongoingly.


Ooverseas travel, like parenthood or difficult life situations brings out people's physical and emotional strengths in my own experiences, let's use it in rugby.

68 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Can Leicester Fainga'anuku play centre for the All Blacks? Can Leicester Fainga'anuku play centre for the All Blacks?
Search