Leadership Battle Brews: Ikanivere vs. Nayacalevu for Flying Fijians Captaincy
FIJI Water Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has indicated that it is still too early to determine who will captain the team for the upcoming July Tests and November series. However, he has been closely observing Fijian Drua skipper Tevita Ikanivere and is impressed by his leadership growth.
Responding to speculation about a possible change in team leadership, Byrne acknowledged the strong presence of current captain Waisea Nayacalevu. He highlighted that Nayacalevu remains a respected senior figure in the squad, with players looking up to him for guidance. At the same time, Ikanivere is steadily developing into a leader through his role with the Drua.
“Tevita did a commendable job when he stepped into the role last year. As a young player, he is honing his leadership skills with the Drua. On the other hand, Wise [Nayacalevu] is a seasoned leader with vast experience,” Byrne said. “At this stage, it’s still early, and as you mentioned, there’s a while to go before making the final selection.”
Byrne praised both players for their co-captaincy during last year’s Northern tour, where they worked effectively together. Meanwhile, the coach has his eyes on 80 potential players for the upcoming Tests, acknowledging that he will have some tough decisions to make in finalizing the squad.
