Fiji Rugby has appointed Richie Walker as the new head coach of the Fijiana 7s team, adding another chapter to his decorated international coaching career. Walker, who serves as Head of Scouting for Premier Rugby Sevens (PR7s), will take on the national team role while continuing his work with PR7s.
A two-time Olympic coach, Walker brings elite-level experience to Fiji’s program. He led the USA Women’s Rugby 7s team at the 2016 Rio Olympics and later contributed as an assistant coach for Japan’s Women’s Rugby 7s at the 2020 Tokyo Games. Beyond the international stage, Walker’s resume includes guiding the Seattle Seawolves to a Major League Rugby championship in 2019 before returning home to coach Auckland Storm.
Since joining PR7s, Walker has played a pivotal role in scouting and signing top-tier global talent. Under his leadership, PR7s has featured 23 medalists from the 2024 Olympics and more than 50 Olympians across multiple Games. His expertise in talent identification has strengthened PR7s as a launching pad for international competition, making his transition to Fiji Rugby a natural progression.
Walker will now oversee three Fijiana players currently competing in PR7s for the SoCal Loggerheads—Younis Bese, Ana Maria Naimai, and Reapi Ulinisau—as he works to elevate Fiji’s performance on the global stage. Fiji currently sits 11th in the 2024-25 HSBC SVNS World Series standings after three stops.
Walker will officially assume head coaching duties ahead of Hong Kong Sevens, helping Fiji prepare for the final three tournaments of the season. He will not be on the sidelines for the upcoming Vancouver Sevens (Feb. 21-23) but will step into his role as the team looks to close the campaign on a strong note.
