Fiji women's national rugby union team

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For the men's team, see Fiji national rugby union team. For the women's sevens team, see Fiji women's national rugby sevens team. For the women's rugby league team, see Fiji women's national rugby league team.
Fiji
Nickname(s)Fijiana
UnionFiji Rugby Union
Head coachInoke Male
CaptainSereima Leweniqila
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current19 (as of 4 September 2023)
Highest16 (2022)
Lowest32 (2007)
First international
 Fiji 15–27 Samoa 
(Nukuʻalofa, Tonga; 14 April 2006)
Biggest win
 Fiji 152–0 Papua New Guinea 
(Papakura, New Zealand; 9 July 2022)
Biggest defeat
 Fiji 19–84 England 
(Auckland, New Zealand; 8 October 2022)
World Cup
Appearances1 (2021)
Women's
World Rugby Rankings
Top 20 rankings as of 15 April 2024[1]
Rank Change* Team Points
1 Steady  England 096.18
2 Steady  New Zealand 090.56
3 Steady  France 088.00
4 Steady  Canada 086.27
5 Steady  Australia 081.61
6 Increase1  Scotland 077.17
7 Decrease1  Italy 075.13
8 Steady  Wales 073.41
9 Steady  United States 072.57
10 Steady  Ireland 072.35
11 Steady  Japan 069.38
12 Steady  South Africa 065.17
13 Steady  Spain 065.15
14 Steady  Russia 061.10
15 Steady  Samoa 059.57
16 Steady  Netherlands 058.98
17 Steady  Fiji 058.65
18 Steady  Hong Kong 058.31
19 Steady  Kazakhstan 055.97
20 Steady  Sweden 052.72
*Change from the previous week

The Fiji women's national rugby union team are a national sporting side of Fiji, representing them at rugby union. They played their first test against Samoa in 2006, and compete annually in the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship. In 2022, they created history when they scored the third-highest points in both Men's and Women's Rugby at the Oceania Championship when they trounced Papua New Guinea 152–0. They made their first Rugby World Cup appearance at the delayed tournament in New Zealand.

History[edit]

Fiji played their first match in 1997 against a visiting United States XV's team. They played their first international test match against Samoa in the one-off Women's Pacific Tri-Nations in 2006.

Ten years after the Women's Pacific Tri-Nations, the Oceania Rugby Women's Championship was established. The first tournament was held in 2016 between Fiji and Papua New Guinea at the ANZ National Stadium in Suva.[2] The tournament was also part of the 2017 Women's Rugby World Cup qualification process.[2] Fiji beat Papua New Guinea 37–10 to win the inaugural Oceania Championship and progress to the next stage of qualifications.[3]

Fiji met Hong Kong and Japan in a Repechage tournament, but lost both matches and did not qualify for the 2017 World Cup.[4]

In 2018, Fijiana won the second edition of the Oceania Championship and successfully defended their title after winning all their matches.[5]

The 2019 Oceania Championship also served as a qualifier for the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand. It was also the first time that the Oceania region was granted a spot at the World Cup. New Zealand and Australia had already qualified from the previous World Cup, Fijiana won the remaining spot and qualified for their first World Cup.[6][7]

Fiji played two test matches against Australia and Japan in 2022 at Brisbane.[8][9] It would be their first test match against the Wallaroos and only their second time to meet Japan.[10] Fiji won the 2022 Oceania Rugby Championship in New Zealand.[11][12][13] They created history when they scored the third-highest points in both Men's and Women's Rugby at the 2022 Oceania Championships as they trounced Papua New Guinea 152–0 in Papakura, New Zealand.[14][15]

In 2022, Fijiana were overwhelmed in their first Rugby World Cup match by England who ran in 14 tries and recorded an 84–19 victory.[16][17] They later achieved their first World Cup win when they defeated South Africa 21–17.[18][19] Their win against the Springbok Women moved them up five places to their highest ranking of 16th from 21st.[20][21] France kept Fiji scoreless in their last World Cup match with a score of 44–0.[22][23]

Records[edit]

Rugby World Cup[edit]

Rugby World Cup
Year Round GP W D L PF PA
Fiji was not invited to any of the World Cups between 1991 and 2006
England 2010 Did not qualify
France 2014
Ireland 2017
New Zealand 2021 Pool stage 3 1 0 2 40 149
Total 1/9 3 1 0 2 40 149
  Champion   Runner-up   Third place   Fourth place
* Tied placing † Best placing Home venue

Overall[edit]

See also: List of Fiji women's national rugby union team matches

(Full internationals only, updated to 20 May 2023)

Rugby: Fiji internationals from 2006
Opponent First game Played Won Drawn Lost Win %
 Australia 2022 2 0 0 2 0%
 Canada 2022 1 0 0 1 0%
 England 2022 1 0 0 1 0%
 France 2022 1 0 0 1 0%
 Hong Kong 2016 2 0 0 2 0%
 Japan 2016 2 0 0 2 0%
 Papua New Guinea 2016 4 4 0 0 100%
 Samoa 2006 7 4 0 3 57.14%
 South Africa 2022 1 1 0 0 100%
 Tonga 2006 4 4 0 0 100%
Summary 2006 25 13 0 12 52%

Players[edit]

Recent squad[edit]

Fijiana 15’s Head Coach Inoke Male named his 29-member squad for the 2023 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship.[24][25][26]

Player Position Caps Club/Province
Adita Milinia Fijiana Drua
Ana Korovata Prop 1 Fijiana Drua
Ana Naimasi 1 Fijiana Sevens
Asinate Serevi Lock 3 Fijiana Drua
Bitila Tawake Prop 6 Fijiana Drua
Bulou Vasuturaga Lock
Doreen Narokete Lock Fijiana Drua
Evivi Senikarivi Scrumhalf Fijiana Drua
Fulori Nabura Back Row
Iris Verebalavu Prop 1 ACT Brumbies
Jade Coates Back Row Fijiana Drua
Jennifer Ravutia Fly-Half 1 Fijiana Drua
Karalaini Naisewa Back Row 7 Fijiana Drua
Keleni Marawa Hooker Fijiana Drua
Kolora Lomani Wing 5 Fijiana Drua
Litia Marama Hooker Fijiana Drua
Luisa Tisolo Fullback
Mereoni Nakesa Lock 1 Fijiana Drua
Merewai Cumu (vc) Centre Fijiana Drua
Raijeli Daveua Fijiana Sevens
Raijieli Laqeretabua Wing 6 Fijiana Drua
Reapi Uluinisau uncapped Fijiana Sevens
Sera Ravatudei Western Force
Sereima Leweniqila (c) Back Row 9 Fijiana Drua
Setaita Railumu 1 Fijiana Drua
Siteri Rasolea Prop 1 Fijiana Drua
Sulita Waisega Back Row 4 Fijiana Drua
Vani Arei Centre Fijiana Drua
Wainikiti Vosadrau Fijiana Drua

Award winners[edit]

The following Fiji players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2001:[27]

Coaches[edit]

Coach Years
Seremaia Bai 2016
Senirusi Seruvakula 2020–2022
Inoke Male 2023–

See also[edit]

References[edit]

  1. ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
  2. ^ a b Ratulevu, Pate (2016-11-05). "Women's RWC qualification at Stake in Inaugural Oceania Championship". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  3. ^ "Fijiana Win Inaugural Oceania Women's Championship". 2016-11-10. Archived from the original on 2016-11-10. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  4. ^ "Japan and Hong Kong qualify for Women's World Cup". www.world.rugby. 2016-12-13. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  5. ^ "Fiji win Oceania Rugby Women's Championship title". 2021-11-29. Archived from the original on 2021-11-29. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  6. ^ "Fiji qualify for Rugby World Cup 2021". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2019-11-30. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  7. ^ "Fijiana still in awe after qualifying for 2021 RWC". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. 2019-12-05. Retrieved 2022-04-23.
  8. ^ "Rooster Chicken to sponsor Fijiana 15s for two historic test matches while Seruvakula names four new overseas-based players". FijiTimes. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  9. ^ "Fiji hope to harness Super W momentum against Japan and Australia". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 2022-04-29. Retrieved 2022-05-15.
  10. ^ "Everything you need to know about the Wallaroos Road to New Zealand tests". www.women.rugby. 2022-05-03. Retrieved 2022-07-09.
  11. ^ "Fijiana win Oceania Rugby Womens Championship in a thriller". oceania.rugby. 2022-07-17. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  12. ^ Deo, Rohit (2022-07-18). "Fijiana 15s win Oceania tournament". FijiTimes. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  13. ^ Krishant, Naveel (2022-07-17). "Fijiana 15's win Oceania Rugby Women's Championship". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2022-07-18.
  14. ^ Tavi, Karalaini (2022-07-09). "Fijiana trounces PNG". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  15. ^ Rahiman, Antonio (2022-07-09). "Fijiana thrash PNG in a record 152-0 win". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2023-01-28.
  16. ^ Calvert, Lee (2022-10-08). "14-try England overrun Fiji to make Women's Rugby World Cup statement". the Guardian. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  17. ^ "Favourites England hand Fiji 14-try mauling at World Cup". Reuters. 2022-10-08. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  18. ^ "Fiji strike late to snatch first World Cup victory". Reuters. 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  19. ^ "Thrill-a-minute Fijiana record first-ever Rugby World Cup win". www.women.rugby. 2022-10-16. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  20. ^ Rasekaseka, Marika (2022-10-17). "Fijiana moved to 16th place in World Rugby ranking by beating South Africa". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  21. ^ Rakautoga, Venina (2022-10-17). "Fijiana moves up in ranking". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2022-10-16.
  22. ^ Curuqara, Paulini (2022-10-24). "France in quarter-finals". FijiTimes. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  23. ^ Baleilevuka, Rusiate (2022-10-22). "Fijiana go down to France 44-0 in their last WRWC match". www.fijivillage.com. Retrieved 2022-10-27.
  24. ^ Prasad, Vashneel (2023-05-16). "Male names traveling squad for Wallaroos test match and Oceania Championship". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  25. ^ Tinaivugona, Nina (2023-05-22). "7's trio join Vodafone Fijiana camp in Gold Coast". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2023-05-24.
  26. ^ Tinaivugona, Nina (2023-05-25). "Ulunisau to make debut, Coach Male rings changes to the line-up". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2023-05-31.
  27. ^ "Awards Roll of Honour - World Rugby". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 16 March 2024.

External links[edit]

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