10/06/2026
“I just want to clear the air on my situation, I didn’t resign, and I do not have any ongoing health issues, I don’t have any ongoing health battles, and Fiji Rugby knew that.”
“It’s challenged me around future earnings. I don’t want to harp on it too much because it just fuels a bit of that fire, and I want to continue working.”
Byrne’s medical report, which states Byrne had a “favourable prognosis” and “there are no medical concerns that would reasonably interfere with his ability to continue performing his current professional duties”.
Despite having a 67 per cent win record – the equal third highest of any Test coach on World Rugby’s international standings in the top 15, Byrne was moved on.
Byrne reiterated that he had wanted to lead the Flying Fijians to the 2027 World Cup on Australian shores, having been promoted to the national job after overseeing the Fijian Drua’s transition into Super Rugby. Byrne led the Drua to the finals in his last two years in charge, with the Fijians missing the finals since his departure.
“I was just disappointed that it was mentioned that I resigned because of ongoing health issues,” Byrne said. “That’s not the case at all. “I was removed from my role so that Fiji Rugby could move in a new direction.”
Byrne said the announcement caught players by surprise. “I had players ringing me saying, ‘Why am I walking away?’” Byrne said.
“I’d laid down values and standards to the team about putting the team first. And when players overseas, in the Northern Hemisphere, were reading that headline before the leaders had a chance to talk to them, they were texting me, firstly saying, ‘I’m sorry to hear that there’s something wrong with you, but why are you stepping down?’ “They felt that I was walking away from the program.”
Byrne said the mixed messages had left him in an awkward position and that’s why he wanted to clear the air. “What was disappointing when I went to the Highlanders game in Ba, there was a great number of people who came up to me and were very sympathetic towards me and basically saying, ‘We’re praying for you coach, we hope everything’s well and we wish you all the best, we know you’re not well.’
“I felt like a bit of an imposter telling them there was nothing wrong with me. I didn’t want to sound unappreciative when I was talking to them. But it was difficult because I’m trying to let them know that I’m actually 100 per cent good.”
‘They knew that’
