2 Nov 2015

Sport: Fiji coach says 2019 RWC prep starts now

1:02 pm on 2 November 2015

Flying Fijian's coach John McKee says Fiji Rugby needs to start working towards the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

Mckee's current tenure is due to end in 2017 and the Flying Fijians are not even guaranteed a place at the next tournament in Japan.

However Mckee says indications are that the first stage of qualifying for the next world cup will begin by 2017.

Fiji rugby coach John McKee.

Fiji rugby coach John McKee. Photo: Supplied / England Rugby 2015

He says this means it's important to blood new talent now and he would like to be around to manage the changes.

"So when players come in that they come into a group which is very experienced and understand the requirements of test match rugby, so that over time the newer players gain experience in the correct sort of environment. Then from 2017 on we know what the squad looks like and we really play that squad in as many tests as possible."

McKee says many of this year's world cup squad won't be around in 2019.