WELLINGTON, New Zealand — Glen Jackson stands out in the Super Rugby scene for his impressive and varied career. Aged 49, the New Zealander has a wealth of experience, having played 60 matches as a flyhalf for the Chiefs, accumulating over 470 points in the process. Following his playing days, Jackson transitioned to becoming a referee, officiating over 100 first-class matches, which included 88 Super Rugby encounters, one final, and 32 tests. He also served as an assistant coach for the Fiji national team, guiding them to the quarterfinals of the recent Rugby World Cup, and is currently the head coach of the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby.
Jackson’s diverse background lends credibility to his role within the league as he has successfully navigated the transitions from player to referee and now to coach. Retiring as a player at 34, Jackson quickly took on a professional refereeing role within a year. His refereeing career concluded in 2019, and he began coaching the following year. Each position he held has contributed valuable insights that enhance his current coaching approach.
The discipline and depth he has developed through his experiences were put to the test during the Drua’s opening fixture against the ACT Brumbies, a tight match that ended in a 36-32 defeat, partially attributed to two yellow cards. However, the Drua showed considerable improvement in their subsequent match against the Hurricanes, where they only committed eight penalties compared to the Hurricanes’ 12. The Drua’s performance in this meeting reflected Jackson’s deftness in managing the team’s discipline and depth; despite making 13 changes to the starting lineup, they came remarkably close to clinching victory.
Reflecting on his squad for the season, Jackson emphasized its balance, expressing confidence that they have retained most of their players from the previous year, while also bringing in several experienced individuals from abroad. He views this blend of talent as a key asset in a still relatively youthful team.
One of Jackson’s main challenges this season is leveraging the abundance of talent available within Fiji. The Drua roster includes many players with international experience, such as Peni Ravai, a prop with 50 test caps, and co-captains Frank Lomani and Tevita Ikanivere, the latter being the Drua’s most-capped player. Additionally, Jackson is keen on tapping into the Fiji sevens framework, known for creating elite talent and winning Olympic gold medals. He expressed interest in incorporating talented sevens players into the Drua, highlighting the importance of collaborative efforts among all Fiji teams.
The Drua’s latest loss to the Hurricanes was particularly disheartening, marking their second consecutive defeat of the season in an intense and high-scoring match that concluded dramatically in the final minute. The team now heads to Sydney to face the New South Wales Waratahs, who come into the match with a 1-0 record after narrowly defeating the Highlanders. Following this, the Drua will welcome the Chiefs and re-encounter the Brumbies, showcasing a challenging start to the season against strong competitors.
As Jackson looks to steer his team after two tight losses, his priority is to bolster their morale and find strategies to succeed in away games. He underscored the importance of instilling a strong belief in the team, emphasizing their growth and focus, especially concerning away matches. “The biggest focus is making sure that this team has the belief, that it’s growing, and making sure that we understand that playing on the road is something we are focused on,” he stated.
