The Swire Shipping Fijian Drua has appointed Greg Fleming as the club’s new forwards coach ahead of the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The 48-year-old will bolster the coaching staff led by Head Coach Mick Byrne.
Fleming comes with 16 years of experience in coaching and player development after stints with Manawatu Turbos as their Forwards & Defence Coach for the National Provincial Championship and the Mitre 10 competition. He was part of the New Zealand Under 20 as a selector and scrum coach and had previously been the forwards coach for Japan’s top league club, NTT Docomo Red Hurricanes.
Fleming also served as a rugby development officer for Hawkes Bay Rugby Union from 2006 to 2010, before joining Manawatu as a Coach Development Manager.
Drua Chief Executive Brian Thorburn said: We are delighted to welcome Greg Fleming who joins us after an extensive, transparent search process.Greg is no stranger to rugby and is big on player development, which is an area we are keenly focused on. His inclusion in the coaching staff will help take the Drua and our forwards to the next level alongside Mick and his current assistants, Brad Harris and Glen Jackson.”
“His involvement in the sport for more than a decade makes him ideally suited for the role, and helps us continue the momentum towards our second Super Rugby Pacific season.”
Head Coach Mick Byrne added: “Greg brings a high level of technical expertise to the forwards coach role. We are looking forward to welcoming Greg and his family into our Drua vuvale. His current role in the NPC and his technical work done with the successful NZ U20’s team this year will serve our young rugby players well in their growth as professional athletes”.
Fleming starts with the Drua in the October pre-season window.
