John McKee aims to lead the Vodafone Flying Fijians at the 2020 Rugby World Cup in Japan.
And yesterday he denied media reports that he will replace Pat Lam as coach for Connacht Rugby Club in Ireland in the new season.
“I have not spoken to the Ireland Rugby Football Union or Connacht Rugby and they have had no communication with me,” McKee said from Sydney yesterday.
“The article comes as big surprise to me. John Fallon, who wrote the article in The Independent, was team manager during my time there so he knows my background pretty well.
“Last time I spoke with him or had any communication was at the Junior World Cup in 2013 when I was assistant coach for Australia with Ireland in the same pool.
“My focus now is getting ready for Pacific Rugby Cup and tracking our overseas players form.”
The New Zealander has coached at Connacht before, after spending three seasons there from 2002 to 2005 and has good relationships with players and coaches at the Sportsground.
McKee is contracted to the Fiji Rugby Union till 2019.
He said: “I’m staying put and my focus is solely on the Flying Fijians qualifying and participating at the 2020 RWC.”
Edited by Paula Tuvuki
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