Former referee takes charge of Super Rugby side.

Glen Jackson, a former test referee for New Zealand, will take over as Fijian Drua’s coach for the next Super Rugby season.

In order to replace Mick Byrne, who will depart at the end of the season to assume a position with the Fiji national team, Jackson has agreed to a three-year contract.

Prior to retirement to take up the whistle in 2010, Jackson was a first-five player for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and the English side Saracens.

The 48-year-old quit officiating after officiating 88 Super Rugby matches and 32 tests when he was left off the 2019 World Cup roster.

Jackson has worked with Byrne’s staff at the Drua since the club entered Super Rugby Pacific in 2022. He assisted the Fijian team that advanced to the World Cup quarterfinals in France last year.

Drua chief executive Mark Evans stated in a statement, “Glen has wonderful ideas which will allow the Fijian Drua to have even greater success moving into the future.”

“His deep knowledge of the Fijian culture complemented by his insights and relationship with the players, staff and everyone in the club assures the continuity with Drua needs.”

At the conclusion of the Super Rugby season, Byrne, a former Australian Rules player whose path to coaching rugby union was even less conventional than Jackson’s, would assume the role of Fiji coach.

With two games remaining in the regular season, the Drua, who are in the running to make the playoffs again this year, made the playoffs in 2023, their second year of existence.

“I’m very excited about the future to work with quality players and for the chance to develop leaders,” Jackson stated.

“I am committed to ensuring Fiji continues to make a stand in Super Rugby Pacific, grows the game and sets a platform for the next generation.”

Coach of the New South Wales Waratahs, Darren Coleman, will depart from the failing Super Rugby team at the end of the season when his contract ends.

After assuming leadership of the Sydney-based team three years prior, Coleman was able to turn the Waratahs’ fortunes around following their humiliating 2021 season of losing all games.

Expectations were boosted when Super Rugby Pacific finished sixth in its first two seasons, but with two games left in the regular season and 10 losses from 12 games, Coleman’s team is currently bottom of the standings.