Former Wallabies Glenn Ella and Sam Domoni and ex-All Blacks captain Mike Brewer have been appointed to a four-man Fijian rugby selection panel, likely to guide the Pacific nation through the 2011 World Cup.
Ella, Domoni, Brewer and former Fijian No. 8 Inoke Male will first choose a Fiji team for a northern hemisphere tour in November and are likely to pick the national side for next year's Pacific Nations Cup and the 2011 world tournament in New Zealand.
Fiji Rugby Union chairman Bill Gavoka said his board had taken pains to ensure the selectors had the right expertise.
"We've gone for a combination of experience, technological proficiency in modern coaching techniques, inspirational leadership and, of course, local content," Gavoka said.
He said former Wallabies fullback Ella and All Blacks loose forward Brewer had been appointed specifically for the northern hemisphere tour while Domoni was likely to become Fiji's next head coach. Former Fiji and Wallabies backrower Ilivasi Tabua was recently fired as head coach for an alcohol-related breach of team protocol.
"It is envisaged Domoni will fill the role left behind by Ilivasi Tabua and, in this instance, he will be appointed the head coach designate," Gavoka said.
"The idea is for him to work with Glenn Ella and Mike Brewer, be assessed and monitored by them and eventually take over. Since he will be based locally on a full-time basis, he will take over the coaching director's role and perform all the roles in that position."
Gavoka said former Tailevu provincial coach Male would be given the chance to prove his ability on an international stage.
"Male has been part of the (Tailevu) Warriors team and the time is right to test him at a higher level," he said.
"He will be appointed an assistant coach and will assist the trainer on the (northern hemisphere) tour.
Ella was formerly Australia's sevens coach while Brewer is currently forwards coach for Heineken Cup champions Leinster. Both had indicated an eagerness to work with Fiji through 2011, Gavoka said.
"Mike will be appointed as technical adviser," he said.
"His strength is in his organizational and analytical ability.
He is now working on a system where we can make use of technology to monitor our players the world over." Fiji, which made a stunning run to the World Cup quarterfinals in 2007, will play Scotland and Ireland on its northern tour in mid-November.
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