Fiji will host the Oceania Rugby Women’s XV Championship next month, with fixtures confirmed across Lautoka and Ba as the three Pacific sides prepare for a compact, high-profile series of 15s tests. Defending champions Fiji will meet Tonga and Samoa in fixtures on April 17, 21 and 25 — the only international XVs matches scheduled to be played in Fiji this year.
The tournament opens on April 17 at Churchill Park in Lautoka when Tonga face Fiji at 4:30pm, with a second round also at Churchill Park on April 21 when Tonga take on Samoa at the same time. Govind Park in Ba will host the Fijiana 15s for the first time on April 25, when Samoa and Fiji meet at 3:30pm. The schedule provides three match days in quick succession, giving the region’s leading women's XV sides a concentrated opportunity for international competition ahead of the wider global calendar.
Fiji Rugby Union chief executive Koli Sewabu described the championship as arriving at an “exciting new phase” for women’s rugby in the Pacific, pointing to growing investment in high-performance pathways and increased visibility for national teams. Sewabu said the expanded support is creating stronger opportunities for players to compete internationally and help Pacific nations showcase their talent on a larger stage.
Oceania Rugby chief executive Frank Puletua said the women’s game is building momentum both globally and across the Pacific, with unions recognising the value and potential of investing in female players and competitions. He signalled that the 2026 edition is expected to deepen international exposure for Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and to highlight the depth of talent across the region.
Organisers have also put safeguarding and community engagement at the heart of the tournament. The event’s theme, “Safeguarding is everyone’s business,” will be reinforced through curtain-raiser matches featuring young women and girls from local rugby communities — giving the next generation a taste of the international stage and emphasising a shared responsibility to keep the sport safe and supportive.
The championship follows a year of domestic initiatives aimed at strengthening the pathway from grassroots to international ranks. Last year’s launch of the Na Soko women’s franchise competition and the expansion of domestic women’s leagues have been cited by Fiji Rugby as complementary steps that feed talent into the national XV programme and elevate standards ahead of international fixtures.
With limited XVs action on home soil this year, the Oceania Championship offers a concentrated showcase of Pacific women’s rugby at Churchill Park and Govind Park. For the Fijiana, Tonga and Samoa, the April series is both a competitive test and a platform to build momentum as the women’s game continues its rapid growth across the region.
Leave a comment