The Vodafone Fijiana 15’s team is gearing up for a series of important international matches that will be pivotal for enhancing their skills and strategies in advance of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
In a groundbreaking event, the Fijiana squad is set to play against the Scotland women’s team on Sunday, September 15, at the Hive Stadium, with a kick-off time of 3:45 AM (Fiji Time). Following this, they will head to the Netherlands to face the Orange Ladies for the first time on Thursday, September 19, at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam.
Head coach Mosese Rauluni emphasized that these matches are crucial for their preparations for the WXV3 tournament in Dubai. He noted the importance of challenging opponents like Scotland and the Netherlands for their development.
Rauluni stated the team’s primary objective is to secure victory in WXV3 while also benefiting from the experience of facing formidable opponents such as Scotland, who have performed admirably in the Women’s Six Nations, and the emerging Netherlands team.
“The major focus is on Scotland in our first match, but overall our goal is to win WXV3. Competing against a tough team like Scotland, as well as the Netherlands, who are on the rise, is invaluable,” Rauluni mentioned.
He added, “These test matches provide us with the chance to be fully prepared for WXV3. We have also included several Women’s High-Performance Unit players in our extended squad as we approach these matches.”
Rauluni pointed out that Scotland finished fourth in the Six Nations earlier this year and secured the WXV2 title in 2023, making this matchup a meaningful challenge. He also highlighted that the Netherlands have qualified for WXV3 and are in contention for a place in the Rugby World Cup, which will present a different style of play essential for their 2025 World Cup preparations.
The Fijiana XV will face stiff competition at WXV3, with upcoming matches against Hong Kong China, Samoa, and Spain.