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Report: Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua luckless in their pursuit of ex-Ireland boss Joe Schmidt

(Photo by Getty Images)

Former Ireland head coach Joe Schmidt has reportedly been ruled out of becoming head coach of Super Rugby expansion sides Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua.

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According to a report from Stuff, the two Pacific Island franchises targeted Schmidt as a potential head coach after they were granted conditional licences to join next year’s revamped Super Rugby competition in April.

Had either Moana Pasifika or the Fijian Drua landed the signature of the 55-year-old, it would have been a bold acquisition for the new clubs given how well-regarded the Kiwi coach is within the rugby fraternity.

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Under Schmidt’s stewardship between 2013 and 2019, Ireland won three Six Nations titles, including a Grand Slam in 2018. He also led the Celtic nation to their only two victories over the All Blacks in 2016 and 2018.

Prior to his spell with the Irish national side, Schmidt guided Leinster to two European Champions Cups, a European Challenge Cup and a PRO14 title between 2010 and 2013. He also enjoyed stints as assistant coach of Bay of Plenty, the Blues and Clermont.

With such vast experience and wealth of knowledge, Schmidt was reportedly lined up by Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua to take over as head coach of either team’s inaugural campaign next season.

However, the veteran coach has reportedly held firm on his stance that he would spend time away from coaching following Ireland’s 2019 World Cup quarter-final exit to spend time with family.

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Schmidt also has does some consultancy work for World Rugby, and that, combined with his priority to commit himself to his family, has ruled him out of the running to join Moana Pasifika or the Fijian Drua.

It means both franchises will continue their search for a head coach, a position of which both sides are eager to be filled by a headline name.

The two franchises have recently advertised the head coach role, with Moana Pasifika’s job description calling for applicants who have “5 years plus coaching experience at International, Super Rugby, English Premiership, Pro 14, Top 14 or Top League level” and possess a “high level of cultural awareness and capability to adapt to a unique environment”.

That’s led to speculation that the likes of former All Blacks head coach Sir Steve Hansen, ex-Highlanders boss Aaron Mauger, Blues assistant coach Tana Umaga and New Zealand U20 boss Tabai Matson could all in the running for those roles.

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With decades of first-class coaching experience behind him, Hansen would be a monumental signing for either club.

The mastermind behind the All Blacks’ 2015 World Cup success, the 62-year-old was also part of the New Zealand coaching staff that claimed the 2011 World Cup and has previously spent time with Wales, the Crusaders and Canterbury.

Hansen, who is widely regarded as one of the greatest coaches of all-time, is also an honorary high chief of the Samoan village of Vaiala.

That makes him an ideal candidate to win the Moana Pasifika head coach job given his exemplary coaching record and cultural ties to Samoa.

However, with advisory roles at both Toyota Verblitz in the Top League and the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs in the NRL, Hansen’s commitments elsewhere may make him unavailable for further coaching positions.

Mauger, meanwhile, has Cook Island and Samoan heritage and has previously acted as an assistant coach to both Samoa in 2017 and Moana Pasifika in their first-ever match against the Maori All Blacks last year.

The former All Blacks midfielder has also held coaching roles with the Crusaders, Leicester Tigers and Highlanders, and is currently coaching the John McGlashan College First XV in Dunedin.

While a move to Moana Pasifika or the Fijian Drua could be his springboard back into professional coaching, the 40-year-old told Stuff last month that he hadn’t applied to join either franchise “at that stage”.

Umaga, Mauger’s former All Blacks teammate, would also fit the bill as head coach of Moana Pasifika, who he served as head coach last year.

The first-ever All Blacks captain of Pasifika descent, the 47-year-old has coaching experience with Toulon, Counties Manukau, the Blues and the New Zealand U20 side, but told Stuff last year that he was happy in his current role as Blues assistant coach.

Matson, who played test rugby for both the All Blacks and Fiji between 1995 and 1999, also stands as a strong candidate to join Moana Pasifika or the Fijian Drua given his coaching pedigree and cultural background.

Born in Fiji, the 48-year-old has first-class coaching experience with Yamaha Jubilo, Canterbury, the Crusaders, Fiji, Bath and the Chiefs.

Now the head coach of the New Zealand U20 side, Matson looms as a well-equipped contender to land a role with either franchise, but only time will tell if he, or any of the aforementioned names, will lead Moana Pasifika or the Fijian Drua in their maiden campaigns.

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R
RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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