The new Fijian Drua head coach has set the tone for the Fiji-based franchise moving forward, making it clear that players will have to work hard to ensure the team environment is enjoyable and positive.
Brad Mooar, a former All Blacks and Scotland assistant coach, was announced as Drua head coach last month, after spending the past two years with the Crusaders.
Speaking to the media in Nadi in his first press conference in his new role, Mooar said he will use his experience to help the club in the Super Rugby Pacific competition.
But the way forward is clear: everyone must work and perform, in an environment that will be exciting and positive for growth as a team
“I think they can expect to enjoy being here, to enjoy coming to work, bounce out of bed to get to the Drua,” he said.
“And work hard for each other. They’ll know that effort is a compulsory requirement.
“We all work hard physically, mentally, emotionally. We will put in the effort for each other, and that will drive performance.”
Input from experience
Mooar said he will use his experience and draw from “every aspect of it for different reasons”.
He said the experience of coaching in Scotland and with the All Blacks are massively important and powerful, with his focus now on inputting into the Drua environment.
“This is the Drua environment, the Fiji environment that I’ve now privileged to be part of,” he said.
“I need to fit and contribute into this environment, not the other way around.
“So, there’s those experiences of going into each of those other teams, seeing how they roll, how they drive performance, how they care for people, very important.
“Whilst also understanding that, I need to listen and I need to watch and observe and notice and then be able to say, well, this is us. Now I understand, this is now how we can contribute.”
‘Start from a position of strength’
Mooar said he would build on what previous coaches, Mick Byrne and Glen Jackson, had already set in motion at the club.
He revealed he was attracted by the people, culture and “the opportunity with to work with some outstanding athletes in the game that we love as well”, which made him put up his hand for the role.
Seeing what the Drua means to the people of Fiji was touching, especially families who back their sons and daughters representing the club, he added.
“I always start from a position of strength, and I think the privilege of the role that I’m now in comes off the back of Mick Byrne and Glenn Jackson doing some excellent work with the Drua already,” he said.
“To be able to build off that is a great place to start. We have wonderful athletes, strong, fast, skilful, powerful athletes.
“What we need to do is to make sure we bring them together to give them real clarity of role, clarity of what what we are about as a team, and then that allows them to to bring their skill sets to the fore in every game, and take the opportunities that are in front of them.
“I think ensuring that we have a really strong set piece and an aggressive, strong defence that is built on defending our people, defending our village will be will be key roles for us to get right going forward, to add to the the attacking flair and the attacking ability that we’ve got.”
He said it was important that players, officials and fans understood that results would come from getting those elements right.
Players lead change
Mooar said some things would change but they would be a team decision, with players playing a big role in embracing the opportunity, understanding what makes the Drua outstanding, and how they can contribute to that.
“And if there’s tweaks and changes along the way, that’ll be because they’re driving us to where we want to be, and who we are,” he added.
Mooar plans to bring the players together for the pre-season in November and December, before a break for Christmas, adn return in early January to roll forward with the season.
The pre-season programme will also include players who will be returning from the Flying Fijians after the second edition of the Nations Championship in November.
The new 10-team Super Rugby Pacific season will kick off in February.
Meanwhile, on identifying local talent, Mooar said he would be closely watching players in the local competitions, such as the Fiji secondary schools Dean’s Cup and the provincial Skipper Cup Championship.
