Fiji women's national rugby union team

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.

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 coachSenirusi Seruvakula
CaptainSereima Leweniqila
First colours
World Rugby ranking
Current17 (as of 13 February 2023)
Highest16 (2022)
Lowest32 (2007)
First international
 Fiji 15–27 Samoa 
(Tonga;14 April 2006)
Biggest win
 Fiji 152–0 Papua New Guinea 
(Papakura, NZ; 9 July 2022)
Biggest defeat
England  84–19  Fiji
(2021 RWC; 8 October 2022)
World Cup
Appearances1 (2021)
Women's World Rugby Rankings
Top 20 rankings as of 15 May 2023[1]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1 Steady England094.55
2 Steady New Zealand093.19
3 Steady France089.62
4 Steady Canada084.67
5 Steady Australia078.00
6 Steady Wales077.00
7 Steady United States076.80
8 Steady Italy074.63
9 Steady Scotland071.19
10 Steady Ireland071.09
11 Steady Japan067.94
12 Steady Spain066.35
13 Steady South Africa066.15
14 Steady Russia061.10
15 Increase1 Netherlands060.02
16 Decrease1 Hong Kong059.22
17 Steady Fiji058.33
18 Steady Samoa058.01
19 Steady Kazakhstan057.09
20 Steady Sweden056.01
*Change from the previous week

History

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

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

(Full internationals only, updated to 16 October 2022)

Rugby: Fiji internationals from 2006
OpponentFirst gamePlayedWonDrawnLostWin %
 Australia 2022 1 0 0 1 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 3 3 0 0 100%
 Samoa 2006 6 4 0 2 40%
 South Africa 2022 1 1 0 0 100%
 Tonga 2006 3 3 0 0 100%
Summary 2006 21 11 0 10 52.38%

Players

Fijiana's 32-player squad to the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.[24]

Player Position Caps Club/Province
Joma Rubuti Prop 11 Fijiana Drua
Bitila Tawake Hooker 5 Fijiana Drua
Mereoni Vonosere Prop 2 Fijiana Drua
Asinate Serevi Lock 2 N/A
Sulita Waisega Lock 3 Haagsche Rugby Club
Karalaini Naisewa Back Row 6 Fijiana Drua
Ema Adivitaloga Back Row 6 Fijiana Drua
Sereima Leweniqila (c) Back Row 8 Fijiana Drua
Ana Maria Roqica Scrumhalf 3 Fijiana Sevens
Merewalesi Rokouono Fly-Half 8 Fijiana Drua
Vitalina Naikore Wing 6 Fijiana Drua
Akanisi Sokoiwasa Centre 0 Fijiana Sevens
Raijieli Laqeretabua Centre 5 Fijiana Drua
Ilisapeci Delaiwau Wing 3 Nadi
Alowesi Nakoci Wing 3 Fijiana Sevens
Jiowana Sauto Hooker 4 Fijiana Drua
Iris Verebalavu Prop 0 ACT Brumbies
Bulou Vasuturaga Prop 3 Suva
Merevesi Ofakimalino Lock 5 Fijiana Drua
Akosita Ravato Back Row 3 Fijiana Drua
Rusila Nagasau Back Row 5 Fijiana Sevens
Timaima Ravisa Fullback 4 Fijiana Drua
Roela Radiniyavuni Fullback 4 Fijiana Drua
Siteri Rasolea Prop 0 N/A
Vika Matarugu Hooker 7 Fijiana Drua
Raijieli Daveua Lock 0 Fijiana Sevens
Kolora Lomani Fly-Half 4 Fijiana Drua
Melaia Matanatabu Centre 4 Fijiana Drua
Ana Naimasi Wing 1 Fijiana Sevens
Talei Wilson Centre 3 ACT Brumbies
Sesenieli Donu Centre 1 Fijiana Sevens
Lavenia Cavuru Scrumhalf 4 Fijiana Sevens

Coaches
Coach Years
Seremaia Bai 2016
Senirusi Seruvakula 2020–Present

See also

References
  1. "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 15 May 2023.
  2. 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". web.archive.org. 2016-11-10. Archived from the original on 2016-11-05. 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". web.archive.org. 2021-11-29. Archived from the original on 2018-11-24. 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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  21. Rakautoga, Venina (2022-10-17). "Fijiana moves up in ranking". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 2022-10-16.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  22. Curuqara, Paulini (2022-10-24). "France in quarter-finals". FijiTimes. Retrieved 2022-10-27.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  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.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: url-status (link)
  24. Prasad, Vashneel (2022-09-21). "Seruvakula names 32-member squad for Rugby World Cup". Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union. Retrieved 2022-09-23.
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