The Vodafone Fijiana XV faced a narrow defeat against Spain, losing 8-10 in an exciting match at The Sevens Stadium in Dubai yesterday.
Fijiana’s full back, Luisa Tisolo, kicked a penalty to give her team an early lead of 3-0. However, Adita Milinia scored a last-minute try that leveled the match. Tisolo had a chance to secure the win with a conversion, but her attempt missed the goalposts, sealing the victory for Spain instead.
Sunday’s match marked the end of their WXV3 series campaign, following a 38-3 win over Hong Kong China and a 17-45 loss to Samoa in previous weeks. Despite the defeat, the Fijiana could have claimed the WXV3 series title if Samoa had not achieved a 46-15 victory over Madagascar, which also secured them a spot in the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
The match was particularly significant as it was head coach Mosese Rauluni’s last game with the team. The players aimed to give him a memorable farewell with a win, but ultimately fell short by just two points, showcasing their strong effort throughout the match.
As they conclude their WXV3 journey, the Fijiana have already secured a place in the World Cup by defeating Samoa 27-13 in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship final earlier this year. Meanwhile, both Samoa and Spain also advance to the World Cup scheduled for next August.