The Fijiana XV is set to face Scotland in their inaugural Test match this weekend, stepping onto the field as the underdogs against the sixth-ranked women’s XV team in the world. This matchup marks the first time Fiji will play against the Scots, who established themselves as a strong competitor by winning the inaugural WXV2 tournament last year.
The WXV tournament consists of three tiers: WXV1, WXV2, and WXV3, with teams ranked based on their performance in regional competitions.
Before their encounter with Fiji, Scotland recorded a convincing 40-14 victory against Wales in their opening Test match last Friday. Under the guidance of coach Bryan Easson, the Scottish team aims to leverage this Test and future matches against Wales, Italy, and Ireland to enhance their chances of qualifying for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in England next year.
In contrast, the Fijiana XV has already secured their spot in the World Cup after winning the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, defeating Samoa 27-13 in June. Currently, Fiji holds the 14th position in the World Rugby rankings with 61.19 points, while Scotland ranks sixth with 76.78 points.
Fijiana player Naisewa expressed excitement and readiness among the team for their two Test matches against Scotland and the Netherlands. The match between Fiji and Scotland will take place at the Hive Stadium this Sunday at 5:45 AM.