The Flying Fijians arrive home after the PNC win

Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne expressed optimism about his team’s depth after clinching the Pacific Nations Cup title.

The side beat the Cherry Blossom 41-17 in the PNC final.

Speaking at the Nadi International Airport upon returning from Japan last night, Byrne highlights the valuable experience gained during the tournament as a foundation for their upcoming November Tour.

Byrne praises the players who stepped up during the PNC, acknowledging their contributions to the team’s performance.

The Flying Fijians arrive home after the PNC win

However, he emphasizes that the coaching staff will be evaluating overseas-based players to enhance the squad for the Northern Tour.

“Yeah, we’ve got a game outside the window in Scotland, so we’ll put our squad together for that and we’ll see what players we can get released. And then we’ve got a Wales, Spain and Ireland after that, so hopefully we can get a few of our players released, but it’s a little bit outside the window. So at the moment it’s early days, we’re just planning to put the squad together.”

While coach Byrne refrained from naming specific overseas based players he was considering, he indicated that discussions would be necessary before finalizing the roster.

The Flying Fijians arrive home after the PNC win

However, among the standout performances during the PNC, Byrne notes that debutant Ponepati Loganimasi and Meli Tuni, were impressive during the tournament.

As the Flying Fijians look to refine their squad, Byrne’s strategic focus on depth will be crucial in ensuring the team is competitive on the international stage.

Fiji will play Scotland first in November.