In advance of the Women’s Fifteens Three (WXV3) competition set to take place in Dubai, the Fijiana women’s rugby team will engage in two Test matches in Europe next month. This marks their first experience in this format.
The team is scheduled to face the Netherlands and Scotland in September. According to the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), the match against Scotland is set for September 15, while they will take on the Orange Ladies in Amsterdam on September 19.
As the Fijiana 15 prepares for the upcoming WXV3 event, these Test matches play a crucial role, as emphasized by head coach Mosese Rauluni. He noted, “The primary focus is on Scotland in the first game, but our ultimate goal is to win WXV3. It’s a great opportunity to compete against a challenging team like Scotland, who are part of the Women’s Six Nations, and the Netherlands, an emerging rugby nation.”
Rauluni also highlighted that these practice matches are vital for the team’s readiness for the WXV3 contest. In preparation for these games, some members of the Women’s High Performance Unit have been added to the extended squad.
Scotland recently won WXV2 in 2023 and finished fourth in the Six Nations earlier this year, making them a valuable benchmark for the Fijiana team. Additionally, the Netherlands is vying for a Rugby World Cup (RWC) spot and has qualified for WXV3, promising a distinct style of play that will be important for preparations leading to RWC 2025.
At WXV3, the Fijiana will compete against Samoa, Hong Kong, China, and Spain, all of which are expected to provide strong competition. The WXV3 tournament kicks off on September 27.