whilst simultaneously remaining inside the All Blacks coaching team. When Byrne left New Zealand in December 2015, the team had accrued a win percentage above eighty-seven percent and is often praised as having deep involvement in building the "All Blacks Empire". Several months after leaving New Zealand with a desire to be closer to his family in Brisbane, Queensland, Byrne was hired as a skills coach for the Wallabies (July 2016) on a four-year contract, working alongside coach Michael Cheika. Unfortunately, during his four years with the Wallabies, the team failed to win a single major trophy. However, did win the Mandela Challenge Plate (2016, 2017, 2018), the Puma Trophy (2016, 2017, 2018, 2019), the James Bevan Trophy (2016, 2017), the Hopetoun Cup (2016) and the Trophée des Bicentenaires (2016). Byrne was with the Wallabies from July 2016 to March 2020. Fijian Drua On 24 September 2021, Byrne was announced as the head coach of the Fijian Drua ahead there first season in the Super Rugby (2022). It is the first role Byrne has had as a head coach of a major professional team. References Notes Citations External links Demonwiki profile Hawksheadquarters profile 1958 births Living people Melbourne Football Club players Hawthorn Football Club players Hawthorn Football Club Premiership players North Shore Australian Football Club players Sydney Swans players Australian rules footballers from New South Wales New South Wales Australian rules football State of Origin players One-time VFL/AFL Premiership players Australian rugby union coaches