Siobhan “Bonnie” Soqeta, a 19-year-old lock and loose forward with Fijian heritage, has been named in France’s squad for the 2026 Women’s Six Nations Championship, the latest milestone in a swift rise through French domestic rugby. Born in New Zealand to Noa Soqeta of Malolo, Nadroga and her Irish–Cook Islands mother Natalie Soqeta, Soqeta is currently plying her trade with FC Grenoble Amazones in France’s Elite 1 competition and has already made the step up from France’s Under-20s to the senior national side.
The call-up makes Soqeta the second woman with Fijian ties to earn selection for Les Bleues, joining Makarita Baleinadogo. It underlines the growing influence of the Pacific diaspora on European women’s rugby and points to the depth France is cultivating in its forward ranks. Coaches have taken notice of Soqeta’s physical presence and adaptability across the second and back rows while competing in Elite 1, widely regarded as the women’s equivalent of France’s Top 14 in terms of intensity and quality.
Soqeta’s progression has been rapid: standout performances for Grenoble in Elite 1 saw her promoted from age-grade international competition to senior international contention. She has already made her senior debut for France, and her selection for the Six Nations squad signals that national selectors believe she can contribute at the highest level as Les Bleues chase European honours and build toward the next World Cup cycle.
The Grenoble-based lock will be on home turf for France’s opening match of the tournament at Stade des Alpes, where Les Bleues face Italy on Saturday at 11.25pm local time. Coaches are expected to rotate through options in the pack during the early rounds, giving promising young forwards like Soqeta an opportunity to test themselves against Europe’s best. Her inclusion in the matchday squad would be closely watched both in France and back in Fiji, where families and local communities often follow the progress of players with island connections.
Soqeta’s nickname, “Bonnie,” has already been adopted by teammates and followers, and has become part of the narrative around a player who blends Pacific physicality with the technical training she has received in France. FC Grenoble Amazones have played a key role in accelerating her development, offering regular high-level competition and exposure to the tactical demands of French club rugby.
Her selection adds to a pattern of Pacific-linked talent finding pathways into European national teams through club systems, while remaining a source of pride for their home islands. For Fijian rugby supporters, Soqeta’s emergence alongside Baleinadogo represents another example of the nation’s far-reaching rugby influence, even when players are developed outside Fiji.
As the Women’s Six Nations gets under way, Soqeta’s inclusion is the latest development in a young career now entering the international spotlight. Whether she will take the field at Stade des Alpes this weekend, and how quickly she cements a regular place in the squad, will be among the early storylines of France’s 2026 campaign.
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