Waratahs are working ‘feverishly’ to find new coach after signing Simon Raiwalui

The NSW Waratahs are engaged in a ‘frantic’ search for a new coach after unveiling Fijian miracle worker Simon Raiwalui as performance director.

Raiwalui, who orchestrated Fiji’s first victory over Australia since 1961 and knocked the Wallabies out of last year’s Rugby World Cup, has been tasked with sourcing a replacement for Darren Coleman.

“I do feel a sense of urgency at the moment,” Waratahs CEO Paul Doorn said of growing fears that the franchise will be without a head coach for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific competition after finishing last this year.

“I’ve already contacted certain players and staff, just to reassure them a little bit.”

Although he only officially joined the franchise in September, Raiwalui said finding the right coach was a priority as he sought to rebuild the Waratahs’ battered reputation.

“I’ve already had a meeting about coaching options and we have some very good options for that,” he said.

Former Wallabies assistants Dan McKellar and Scott Wisemantel are the frontrunners after a dramatic few days on the coaching merry-go-round.

McKellar, also a successful ex-Brumbies mentor, surprisingly left Leicester a year into a three-season deal, allowing former Waratahs and Wallabies boss Michael Cheika to step into the role.

That development left Cheika ineligible for a return to Sydney, a decade after coaching the Waratahs to their one and only Super Rugby crown.

Doorn and Raiwalui remained tight-lipped on Friday about who would be the next coach, promising only that it would “not take long” to get their man.

“What I’m saying is that we have a great selection of coaches at our disposal who have made themselves available and we’re going to have a really good coaching staff,” Doorn said.

“It’s hard to put a timeline on it, other than to say we’re working hard.

“I’m just trying to get that done as quickly as possible, but actually doing a very thorough process to make sure we get the right person because we know what’s going to happen next.

“We have one piece of the puzzle in our hands, and that is Simon. The next one is the head coach.”

Whoever becomes the coach, Raiwalui is confident he can wake up the sleeping giant of Australian rugby.

“I don’t use the word upset or past glories. I don’t use past glories as a trump card,” he said.

“I certainly wouldn’t have taken the job if I didn’t think the Waratahs were a success in the making.

“I think they have the foundation, the pillars and the people to be successful.

“There are clearly things we need to work on. We need to get the best staff in the right place, whether it’s playing or off the field.

“We need to get the best players through the juniors, women, men… and get all our ducks in a row so we can have success on the field.”