Former All Blacks assistant coach Brad Mooar is the new Fijian Drua men’s head coach, the Nadi-basd franchise announced the on Monday.
Mooar has signed for two years, replacing former coach Glen Jackson.
Drua CEO Jeff Miller said Mooar stood out during during the competitive recruitment process.
“This is one of the most important appointments in the short history of the Fijian Drua and we were determined to conduct a genuinely exhaustive process,” Miller said.
“We received applications from an outstanding group of coaches and were extremely impressed by the quality, experience and different perspectives presented throughout the process.
“Brad stood out through his technical and tactical knowledge, his experience in championship-winning environments, his understanding of player development and, importantly, his ability to build strong relationships.
“He has coached at the highest levels of the game, has led his own professional programme and understands what is required to develop a clear Fijian rugby identity and create a consistently successful high-performance environment.
“Brad also understands that coaching the Fijian Drua carries responsibilities extending beyond the field. Our purpose is to win Super Rugby Pacific, inspire a nation and change lives for the better. He has embraced that responsibility and we firmly believe Brad is the right person to lead the next phase of our journey. He will lead an exciting blend of coaching staff that will combine international experience with a strong local connection.”
Mooar said he was honoured to be appointed to one of the most unique and high-profile coaching roles in Southern Hemisphere rugby.
“It’s a tremendous honour to be given the opportunity to lead the Drua and coach Fiji’s team in Super Rugby Pacific,” he said.
“What drew me to this role is the chance to work with such wonderful athletes, to be part of a culture and a people I deeply admire, and to help build something meaningful for the nation.
“I believe there are enormous opportunities for us to play a special brand of rugby that is successful, entertaining and inspiring.
“We want to inspire the country, win championships and continue to grow our people and the game in Fiji by creating something the country can be truly proud of. My family and I are very excited to join the Club, meet everyone and become part of the Drua vuvale. We can’t wait.”
Mooar was a Crusader and was assistant coach for both the All Blacks and Scotland.
He is currently an assistant coach with the Crusaders and was previously part of the Crusaders coaching group from 2016 to 2019, contributing to three consecutive Super Rugby championship-winning campaigns.
Mooar was head coach of Welsh professional club Scarlets during the 2019-20 season before joining the All Blacks as backs and attack coach.
He also worked with Scotland during the 2023 Six Nations Championship and Rugby World Cup.
Mooar will officially start with the Fijian Drua in September 2026 to prepare for the Men’s pre-season.
