The Oceania Rugby Women’s XV Championship will return to Fiji in April 2026, staging three test matches between Tonga, Samoa and hosts Fiji on April 17, 21 and 25. Organisers say the fixtures — set for Churchill Park in Lautoka and Govind Park in Ba — will be the only international XV matches played in Fiji during 2026, offering a rare home opportunity for Pacific women’s sides to test their progress ahead of upcoming global qualification cycles.
The schedule opens on Friday April 17 with Tonga meeting Fiji at Churchill Park, Lautoka, kick-off 4:30pm. Churchill Park will host a second match on Tuesday April 21 when Tonga face Samoa, also at 4:30pm. The series concludes on Saturday April 25 at Govind Park, Ba, with Samoa v Fiji scheduled for a 3:30pm start. Tournament organisers said curtain-raiser fixtures will involve young women and girls from local rugby communities, reinforcing grassroots pathways and community involvement across the western division venues.
Oceania Rugby chief executive Frank Puletua said the championship aims to capitalise on “strong momentum” in the women’s game across the Pacific and beyond. “The focus now is on continuing to build the game in a way that is ambitious and sustainable, ensuring the right investments are made to strengthen the foundations of women’s rugby and create lasting opportunities for future generations of players,” Puletua said, adding that the Pacific’s distinct rugby culture and style can help elevate the women’s game regionally and internationally.
Fiji Rugby CEO Koli Sewabu underlined the domestic benefits of hosting the tournament, noting increased investment in high-performance pathways for women. “Women’s rugby across the Pacific is entering an exciting new phase, with growing investment in high-performance pathways, increased visibility for national teams and stronger opportunities for players to compete at the international level,” Sewabu said, pointing to the championship’s role in preparing Pacific teams for larger global events.
Tournament organisers have also adopted a safeguarding theme — “Safeguarding is everyone’s business” — bringing attention to player welfare and the safe development of junior participants. The curtain-raiser matches featuring local girls’ teams are designed to showcase emerging talent while reinforcing the shared responsibilities of unions, coaches and communities in keeping young players safe and supported.
The Onoceania Championship has been an increasingly competitive platform: Fiji retained regional honours in the past two editions, defeating Samoa 27-13 at Sunnybank, Australia in 2024 and edging Samoa 24-20 at Lawaqa Park in 2025. Organisers expect the 2026 series to provide further benchmarking for the three Pacific nations as they continue to build squads and depth following Fiji’s participation at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Further details on squad selections, ticketing, broadcast arrangements and event programming are expected to be released in the coming weeks. The championship’s return to Lautoka and Ba is being positioned as both a high-performance opportunity for the national teams and a community celebration of women’s rugby across Fiji’s western heartland.
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