Fiji’s former head coach Mick Byrne has moved to address concerns about his health, declaring that he was moved on by the national body and that he is cancer free.
The Fijian Rugby Union announced on 01 April that they had “mutually agreed to part ways” with the Australian coach.
While there had been rumblings around Byrne’s health, the decision shocked many after the widely respected coach, who won two World Cups as part of the All Blacks coaching team before joining the Wallabies, had overseen a strong 2025 campaign.
That included winning the Pacific Nations Cup title by defeating Eddie Jones’s Japan, as well as downing Scotland at home.
Fiji also went within a whisker of beating the Wallabies in their first Test of the year in Newcastle, with a late Harry Wilson try giving Joe Schmidt’s side a late win. The defeat wasn’t without controversy either, with Fiji having a try rubbed out after an earlier Australian error.
The Island Nation also put forward encouraging performances against England and France, losing 38-18 and 24-21 respectively.
One year earlier, they beat Warren Gatland’s Welsh side too.
And 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 – since taking over from Simon Raiwalui after the 2023 World Cup, Byrne was moved on.
Senirusi Seruvakula, the younger brother of Ratu Viliame Seruvakula, who is a prominent traditional leader and serves as the Chairman of the Great Council of Chiefs (GCC) in Fiji, was named interim head coach.
While the FRU initially remained coy about why Byrne was departing, chairman John Sanday later told local media that the Australian’s health was a factor.
Sanday added that he wished Byrne well on his “ongoing health battles” in an interview with a local broadcaster. Nine.com.au has seen the video, in which Sanday speaks in a local dialect.
That led to many, including coaches around the world, as well as locals reaching out to Byrne to wish him well and find out more.
Locals also sent their thoughts and prayers to him, including at matches.
But Byrne, who has managed prostate cancer for almost a decade, including over the past 12 months, where he’s had some minor procedures but has since been cleared, said his health wasn’t why he was moved on by the FRU.
“I just want to clear the air on my situation, I didn’t resign, and I do not have any ongoing health issues,” Byrne told Nine.com.au.
“The chairman coming out, he was respectful in what he said but he was just incorrect. I don’t have any ongoing health battles, and they 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.”
Nine.com.au has also seen 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”.
Byrne, who was contracted until December 2027, eventually agreed to an undisclosed settlement with the FRU to walk away.
But the coach 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 programme.”
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.”
Byrne said he believed Fiji could once again make a run at next year’s World Cup, having beaten the Wallabies in the 2023 tournament in France before narrowly being pipped by England in the quarter-finals.
“They’ve got to beat Spain, Canada and Argentina, and that route after winning that pool is very, very achievable,” he said.
“If they win their pool, they’re going to miss the top three teams in the world, which is a pretty handy side (of the draw) to be on.”
Byrne, who won an AFL premiership with Hawthorn and kicked 150 goals before transitioning into coaching, said he was keen to continue working. The 67-year-old has recently spent time with the Melbourne Storm and will be an observer with the NSW Blues ahead of State of Origin II.
