As predicted John McKee has been named the new head coach of the Flying Fijians rugby team.

McKee, who was the Fiji Rugby Union High Performance Unit manager, takes over from Inoke Male, who was relieved of his duties earlier this year.

McKee was selected ahead of twenty four other applicants who were considered for the position.

Prior to joining Fiji rugby, he coached in France, Ireland, Australia, Tonga and also worked with the Pacific Islands on their 2008 Europe Tour.

In making the appointment, the FRU Board noted that McKee has an important immediate task ahead of him.

First, to get Fiji to qualify for the next World Cup in 2015 playing Cook Islands in June 2014.

Based on the outcome of this qualifying game, he will have to prepare the team for the World Cup in 2015 which will be held in London.

McKee says his first priority over the weekend will be to put together the assistant coaching team and the management team and present to the FRU on Monday an plan through to June.