Raiwalui replaces Cotter as Fiji coach ahead of World Cup

Former test captain Simon Raiwalui will coach Fiji at the World Cup in France later this year after being named on Friday as the replacement for Vern Cotter.

New Zealander Cotter, who led the Pacific islanders at the last World Cup, resigned this month for personal reasons and Raiwalui moves across from his previous job as Fiji's high-performance manager.

Auckland-born, Australia-raised lock Raiwalui, 48, started in that role three years ago after two seasons as Wallabies' forwards coach under Michael Cheika and Dave Rennie.

"Raiwalui is no stranger to Fiji Rugby as he has been doing great work being the general manager high performance and I believe Raiwalui being a coach and former Flying Fijian Captain, it will be smooth sailing for him and the team," said the Fiji Rugby Union's Daniel Whippy.

Fiji will face Australia, Wales, Georgia and Portugal in the pool stage of the World Cup, which takes place in September and October.