BREAKING NEWS: Waratahs officially announces new Director of performance.
The Waratahs have officially announced the appointment of Simon Raiwalui, the former head coach of Fiji, to the newly established role of Director of Performance.
After a miserable season that saw the Waratahs finish last in the Super Rugby standings, head coach Darren Coleman was relieved of his duties.
Finding a replacement and reviving the team will be crucial for Raiwalui, who guided Fiji to the 2023 World Cup quarterfinals and ended a 69-year drought against Australia at the global showcase.
Paul Doorn, chief executive of Waratahs, said, “We’re delighted to have secured Simon’s services until at least the end of 2027. Simon has an excellent reputation internationally across the rugby world.”
“He will be an invaluable addition to our club and possesses elite experience across the three pillars of coaching, player development, and high-performance sport.”
The Auckland-born lock had a great time while playing for Racing 92, Newport, and Saracens. Fiji has also capped him 43 times.
His career as a coach began at Racing 92, where he oversaw the forwards before moving on to Stade Francais and Biarritz.
Under former Wallaby head coach Michael Cheika, he made his debut as a test coach in 2018.
After taking over as Fiji’s head coach in 2023, Raiwalui led his team to the World Cup quarterfinals.
He is excited for his next task and believes the Waratahs will improve by 2025.
Although the 2024 season didn’t go as planned, he expressed confidence that the next season would see a marked improvement. “Waratahs fans are among the most passionate in the Super Rugby Pacific,” he added. “I can’t wait to start working.”
