The Vodafone Fijiana XVs are preparing for a significant series of international matches as they gear up for the WXV 3 tournament in Dubai later this year. These matches will be crucial for the team to gain valuable experience and refine their strategies in anticipation of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
In a historic first, Fiji will compete against Scotland Women on Sunday, September 15, at the Hive Stadium, with kickoff set for 3:45 am (FJT). Following this match, the team, coached by Mosese Rauluni, will travel to the Netherlands for their inaugural match against the Orange Ladies on Thursday, September 19, at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam.
Rauluni emphasized the importance of these upcoming fixtures in their preparations for WXV3 in Dubai. He stated, “The big focus is Scotland in the first game, but our main goal is to win WXV3. It’s great to face a tough team like Scotland, who compete in the Women’s Six Nations, and the Netherlands, which is an up-and-coming nation.”
He added, “These test matches provide us with an opportunity to enter WXV3 ready to perform. We have included several Women’s High Performance Unit players in our extended squad as we prepare for these matches. Scotland finished fourth in the Six Nations this year and won WXV2 in 2023, so we look forward to putting ourselves to the test against them. The Netherlands has qualified for WXV3 and is competing for a Rugby World Cup place, which will present us with a different style of rugby – vital for our preparations for RWC 2025.”
At WXV3, the Vodafone Fijiana XV will face tough competition from teams like Hong Kong China, Samoa, and Spain. The tournament is set to commence on September 27.