John Boe will take over as coach of the Pacific Island composite rugby team to play the Wallabies, All Blacks and South Africa in July, it was decided yesterday.
A Pacific Island Rugby Alliance (Pira) meeting in Nuku'alofa yesterday decided to accept Wayne Pivac's offer to step down.
A Pira spokesman said
former Auckland coach Pivac felt he hadn't spent enough time to know the island players to be able to coach them for matches against some of the best test teams in the world.
"A release will be made from Fiji later today regarding the change but, yes, Wayne wanted to step down because he thought there wasn't enough time for him to know the players," the spokesman told NZPA from Nuku'alofa today.
"The board of the Pira accepted Wayne's offer and has appointed John Boe -- subject to his acceptance."
Boe had been Manu Samoa's coach for a few seasons until the end of last year's World Cup and is familiar with Fijian and Tonga players as well.
Pivac was appointed Fiji coach this year and he has yet to see a representative game between the island teams in 2004.
However, he will help Boe and his assistants Michael Jones (Manu Samoa coach) and Willie Ofahengaue (Tonga coach) to select the Pacific Island side.
- NZPA
