Rugby World Cup winner Mike Catt joins Fijian Drua as assistant coach

Former England international and Rugby World Cup winner Mike Catt has been appointed Senior Assistant Coach for the Swire Shipping Fijian Drua, ahead of the 2027 Shop N Save Super Rugby Pacific season. Catt joins the newly appointed Head Coach Brad Mooar as the Drua continues to build its coaching staff for the upcoming campaign.

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I think what I’ve seen and how the Drua have performed in the past five years since they’ve started has been very impressive and it only looks like going forward, they are heading towards the right direction. To be part of something special and relatively new is very and it is the calibre of the players that I watch on a weekly basis for the past couple of years since I’ve been in Australia, is very impressive.

Awarded an OBE for his contributions to rugby following England's 2003 Rugby World Cup victory, Catt boasts a decorated career. He earned 75 Test caps for England and participated in four Rugby World Cups as a player. His coaching experience spans over a decade at the international level, with previous roles for England, Italy, and Ireland. He most recently served as Attack Coach for the NSW Waratahs for two seasons.

Catt expressed his enthusiasm for joining the Drua, citing the team's impressive performance over the past five years and its positive trajectory. "To be part of something special and relatively new is very and it is the calibre of the players that I watch on a weekly basis for the past couple of years since I’ve been in Australia, is very impressive," Catt said. He also noted his desire to coach in a nation where rugby is the number one sport and to contribute to the game's advancement.

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One of the big reasons why I came is, I’ve never really coached a nation where rugby is their number one sport. And I love the game, it has taken me around the world, and I’ve had the most incredible journey and for me to give back to the people and make sure that we go to another level is crucial. This is very exciting to me.

Fijian Drua CEO Jeff Miller welcomed Catt, stating, "We are very excited to announce Mike as Brad’s senior assistant coach as he brings with him a wealth of coaching and playing experience. To have someone that has achieved so much as part of our coaching team is a great coup for our club and for Fiji!" Catt's tenure with Ireland from 2020 to 2024 saw the team achieve significant success, including a historic Test series victory over the All Blacks in New Zealand in 2022, a Six Nations Grand Slam in 2023, and another Six Nations title in 2024.

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We are very excited to announce Mike as Brad’s senior assistant coach as he brings with him a wealth of coaching and playing experience. To have someone that has achieved so much as part of our coaching team is a great coup for our club and for Fiji!