The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) is considering a new Franchise Domestic competition aimed at enhancing the development of women’s rugby ahead of the Rugby World Cup. According to the FRU’s 2025 season outlook, this initiative is intended to provide critical game time and competition for players not currently part of the Fijiana Drua side, preparing them for the upcoming Women’s Rugby World Cup, which runs from August 22 to September 27.

The proposed competition is set to take place between April and May 2025, and is expected to play a vital role in the preparation of the Vodafone Fijiana 15s team, ensuring they are well-equipped for international competition. The FRU is in the process of finalizing the details of this proposal, with an official confirmation anticipated soon.

In addition to this new initiative, provincial competitions such as the Skipper Cup, Marama Cup, Vodafone Vanua Cup, and Royal Tea Ranadi Cup will run from August 2 to November 1, 2025, carefully scheduled to avoid conflicts with other major events like the Super Rugby Pacific.

The National Kaji and Kajiana Rugby competition is also tentatively scheduled for the Term 1 school holidays, set for May 10-17, while the Vodafone Deans competition will take place from June 7 to August 23. This latter competition is crucial as it serves as a platform for selecting players for the Fiji U18 schoolboys’ team, which will be preparing to tour Australia and New Zealand later in the year.

This comprehensive plan reflects the FRU’s commitment to nurturing talent and promoting grassroots development in rugby across Fiji, highlighting the importance of structured training and competition for emerging athletes. With these initiatives in place, the future of Fijian rugby, especially women’s rugby, looks promising and filled with opportunities for growth and success on the international stage.