The Vodafone Fijiana XV is currently without a coach, just 11 months ahead of the Women’s Rugby World Cup scheduled to take place in England from August 22 to September 27 next year. This change comes after head coach Mosese Rauluni resigned last Wednesday. His contract with the Fiji Rugby Union ended following the team’s last WXV 3 match against Spain, where Fiji lost by a narrow margin of 8-10. The Fijiana team ended up finishing fourth in the WXV 3 standings.
Former head coach Inoke Male has not yet made up his mind about whether he will apply for the coaching position when it becomes available, while Senirusi Seruvakula has confirmed he will not seek the role. Male commented he would decide when the time comes, and he acknowledged some misunderstandings between players and management regarding performance, suggesting that the players themselves should address those concerns.
Male also recognized the contributions of Australian-born Qarani Gau to both the Drua and the Fijiana teams. Last year, like Rauluni, Male signed a three-year contract and was poised to lead the national women’s team into the World Cup next year. However, after only ten months in the role, he was advised to reapply for his position, which he ultimately chose not to do.
Rauluni had been in charge for nine months before stepping down, citing the team’s performance, which did not meet the high standards he had set, as a key factor in his decision. He has opted to return to Australia to be with his family. During his tenure, the Fijiana secured a place in the Rugby World Cup 2025 by winning the 2024 Oceania Championship and guided the Fijian Drua women’s team to their third consecutive final, although they were unable to defend their Super W title.
In their last match of the WXV 3 tournament, the Karalaini Naisewa-captained side managed only one victory, concluding a challenging season. The contest against Spain was fiercely competitive, but Spain’s solid defense thwarted Fiji’s attempts to play their preferred free-flowing style of rugby. Fiji initially took the lead in the 20th minute with a penalty goal from fullback Luisa Tisolo, but the advantage was short-lived as a yellow card for Aviame Veidreyaki allowed Spain to score.
Spain extended their lead to 10-3 with a penalty kick in the 76th minute, and although Adita Milinia scored an unconverted try at the end of the game, Tisolo’s subsequent conversion attempt to tie the match failed, leaving Fijiana at 8 points. Samoa secured their spot in the World Cup with a strong performance against Madagascar, and the Netherlands closed their debut tournament positively with a 33-3 victory over Hong Kong China, finishing above them in the overall standings.