Newly appointed Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Ioan Cunningham is setting his sights on preparing the team for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, where they will compete in Pool B against formidable teams: Canada, Scotland, and Wales.
Cunningham, who has previously coached the Wales Women’s rugby team, aims to blend Fiji’s natural flair and individual talent with added structure and discipline in their gameplay. “There’s a lot of great individual talent with flair and passion,” he noted, expressing optimism about enhancing the team’s effectiveness on the field. He believes that by bringing more clarity and structure to certain areas of play, the Fijiana XV can achieve significant improvements.
Under his leadership, the team is expected to maintain an expansive, free-flowing style of play while also developing a robust defensive strategy. “We need to be a hard team to break down, one that never goes away,” Cunningham emphasized. He praised the talent he has observed in the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women’s performances, particularly highlighting the strength of their scrum and the danger posed by the backs.
Another critical area of focus for Cunningham will be enhancing the kicking game as an attacking option, which he believes will provide more dimensions to their gameplay. “Instead of passing, we can kick the ball into space,” he suggested, noting that this variety would contribute to a more complete team.
While acknowledging the challenges posed by elite teams like England and New Zealand, Cunningham remains hopeful about his team’s potential to compete fiercely against them. “We can definitely give them a scare,” he asserted, recognizing the importance of maintaining competitiveness throughout the entire game.
This coaching transition follows the resignation of former coach Mosese Rauluni, who faced challenges leading the team, which finished fourth in the WXV 3 tournament. Cunningham’s wealth of experience—from transforming the Welsh team into a professional setup to his hands-on coaching style—presents an encouraging new chapter for the Fijiana XV.
As they embark on this journey towards the World Cup, the renewed focus on structure blended with Fiji’s innate talent could see the Fijiana XV not just aiming for competitiveness, but aspiring for wins on the global stage, embodying the spirit and passion of Fijian rugby.
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