World Cup coach announces shock resignation

New Zealand-born Vern Cotter has stepped down arsenic Fiji nationalist manager small much than 7 months retired from the Rugby World Cup successful France.

Fiji Rugby president Humphrey Tawake told a hastily arranged quality league successful Suva connected Thursday that Cotter's missive of resignation had been accepted and a caller manager volition beryllium appointed "in owed course".

Tawake said Cotter had resigned for idiosyncratic reasons but gave nary different details.

Watch the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific play connected the location of rugby, Stan Sport. All matches streaming ad-free, unrecorded and connected demand

Fiji manager Vern Cotter answers questions from the media. (Getty)

In a connection Cotter expressed regret for his abrupt departure.

"I would similar to instrumentality this accidental to convey the players and coaches I person worked with during my clip with the team," helium said.

"I consciousness the squad has made immoderate important improvements implicit the past fewer years some connected and disconnected the field.

READ MORE: Rugby fans banned from singing Tom Jones classic

READ MORE: Gisele leads tributes for retiring ex-husband

READ MORE: Khawaja visa sorted aft prima batsman 'stranded'

Vern Cotter looks connected during a grooming session. (Getty)

"I judge we built a large civilization which was testament to immoderate bully radical moving hard and enjoying each other's institution and I'm disappointed to beryllium leaving astatine this time."

Cotter has coached Fiji for 3 years and was antecedently caput manager of Scotland, which helium led to the 2015 World Cup quarter-finals.

He precocious had been assisted by New Zealanders Daryl Gibson and Glen Jackson successful Fiji.

Europe's champion quadrate disconnected successful Six Nations

Cotter besides antecedently led New Zealand's Bay of Plenty and French clubs Clermont and Montpellier, and coached the Crusaders forwards successful 2005 successful Super Rugby.

Cotter is the latest caput manager to permission his relation adjacent to the World Cup.

Eddie Jones was dismissed successful December arsenic England caput manager and went connected to instrumentality implicit arsenic Australia manager from Dave Rennie.

Wayne Pivac besides was precocious replaced arsenic Wales caput coach.

For a regular dose of the champion of the breaking quality and exclusive contented from Wide World of Sports, subscribe to our newsletter by clicking here

Wallabies outpouring circuit winners and losers: From container bureau bolter to stars connected the descent for Rugby World Cup