Following the recent war of words on who will be the ideal coach for the defence of the Melrose Cup at the 2009 Rugby World Cup 7s in Dubai , questions have been raised on how many qualified coaches do we have .

Requirements stated in the recent advertisement for the top post states that the successful candidate must posses a minimum Level Two IRB coaching certificate, which has raised a lot of eyebrows locally.

Fijilive has been reliably informed that bulk of the qualified coaches locally posses a level one IRB coaching certificate.

Fiji Rugby Union development officer Osea Delai says that since the set up of the development unit in June 2006, 236 coaches have come through the system and have completed their IRB accredited level one coaching certificate.

Delai confirms that more than 200 coaches have yet to complete their Level Two, all completing only part one of Level Two which is mainly theory.

Part two of Level Two which is practical requires participants to come up with a 12 coaching session plan and complete a competency transcript that should be assessed by accredited development officers from FRU.

“We have done our part in teaching them the theory part of Level Two but the practical side of training falls on them,” Delai said.

“They have been sleeping on this, development officers in FRU are ready to go out there to them and assess them but they have no initiative.”

He confirmed they have yet to see anyone pass through their doors successfully completing Level Two-which also includes former Digicel 7s coach Josateki Savou

Delai said to date they had conducted clinics to the whole of Vanua Levu and most part of Viti Levu.

“Vanua Levu is ticked and we have done Suva, Rewa, Nadroga, Nadi, Tailevu and Lautoka. We are soon to attend to Tavua, Vatukoula, Ba and other locations near that.”

Emails sent to FRU to confirm just how many coaches have above Level Three credentials remained unanswered but reliable sources revealed Fiji has less than five.

Level One and Two covers mainly the basics of rugby while Level Three focuses on certain aspects of rugby which includes psychological training, planning a season and players’ selection.


International countries require coaches with above Level Three qualifications to coach national teams.


Fijilive

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