Ryan says its time to move on

FIJI – Fiji cannot afford to pay its Olympic gold medal winning rugby sevens coach, Ben Ryan, to stay on.

“This is a fact,” Youth and Sports Minister, Laisenia Tuitubou said last week after the team beat Great Britain in the Rio final.

Tuitubou told the Fiji Times that after winning two HSBC World Rugby 7s series and being an Olympic Gold medal winning coach, Ryan’s value would have “shot to the moon” with nations that could afford him obviously putting offers on his table now.

In 2013, when Ryan came in, FRU had sought $300,000 from the Fiji Sports Commission for Ryan’s salaries but all this included his travels and accommodation.

Fiji Rugby Union board chairman Francis Kean confirmed they have had talks with Ryan regarding his endeavour with Fijian rugby.

“Ben, as he has informed the media, he wishes to take a break from rugby upon his return from the Rio Olympics before making a decision on his future with Fiji Rugby. FRU respects this decision by Ben.”

Kean added that the FRU “is greatly honoured to have someone of Ben’s calibre lead our sevens team for the past three years plus. His success is unmatched and historical.”

Ryan has since told the Fiji Times he wants to coach rugby fifteens, and this is why he will not stay no matter how much Fiji offered.

He said he had a lot of ambitions and after spending three years with the Fiji national sevens side it was time for him to “tick other things off his bucket list”.

“I’ve got lots of ambition and things I want to do including coaching fifteens,” he said.

“I want to coach Super Rugby and I also want to go back to premiership rugby.”

When asked if he would consider a stint with the national 15s side, Ryan said he would not take it up if offered for a number of reasons.

“I wouldn’t consider it because I believe John McKee is doing a tremendous job and plus the players are mostly overseas and I want to coach every day, not just in small pockets.

“And there’s nothing wrong with leaving on a high,” he said. “It’s been a great three years and everybody’s happy, let’s just enjoy that.

“Let’s not worry about Ben Ryan and let’s get on with celebrating our success and watching these guys and the next crop enjoy themselves.” - PNC