Three top international rugby coaches are reportedly in the running for the Flying Fijians head coach job.
The role was advertised last month and the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) is currently conducting interviews.
Former Springboks mentor Jake White, former Wales and British & Irish Lions mentor Warren Gatland, and former Welsh international Shaun Edwards are all believed to be in the running for the post.
The Flying Fijians head coach position is currently held on an interim basis by Senirusi Seruvakula.
The FRU has been tight-lipped on the names of the 31 applicants who applied for the role.
FRU CEO Koli Sewabu confirmed the numbers last week and indicated that the selection process was now underway.
The successful applicant will coach the Flying Fijians through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with a one-off Test against Japan on 24 October and the second round of the Nations Championship as preludes along the way.
White coached the Springboks to winning the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
He was replaced as director of rugby for the Bulls in South Africa rugby.
Reports indicate he currently works as rugby consultant at Selborne College in East London, South Africa.
Gatland resigned as Wales coach last year and has spent the past 18 months away from coaching, instead spending time with his family.
He and his family were in Fiji last month on holiday.
Wales Online reported last week that the 63-year-old took up a surprise role with Uruguayan club side PeƱarol, working in a short-term advisory position as they clinched the Super Rugby Americas title.
However, he has long had his eye on a return to Test competition and expressed a hope of landing a new role ahead of next year’s Rugby World Cup.
He resigned from the Wales job after a dismal second stint in charge saw his side suffer a run of 14 successive Test match defeats.
Former Wales defence coach Edwards currently works as a short-term coaching consultant with the England women’s rugby team.
His short-term contract expires at the end of October, when England pays its last match in the current WXV Global Series campaign against the United States of America on 30 October.
The new Flying Fijians head coach should be appointed next week, ahead of the team’s preparation for the test against Japan, which is part of Japan Rugby’s celebrations.
The team will then move on to Europe, where they will meet France on 8 November at the Groupama Stadium in Lyon, Ireland on 15 November and Italy on 22 November.
