The Vodafone Fijiana XVs are preparing for a historic series of international matches as they set their sights on the WXV 3 tournament in Dubai later this year. These important games will offer the team valuable playing time and an opportunity to refine their strategies as they approach the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
In a historic first, Fiji will face Scotland Women on Sunday, September 15th, with the match starting at 3:45 am (FJT) at the Hive Stadium. After this encounter, the team, coached by Mosese Rauluni, will make another significant step by traveling to the Netherlands for their inaugural match against the Orange Ladies.
This eagerly awaited match is slated for Thursday, September 19th, at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam. Rauluni emphasized the importance of both matches in preparation for the WXV3 tournament in Dubai.
“Our primary focus is the match against Scotland, but ultimately our goal is to win the WXV3, and it’s exciting to face a strong opponent like Scotland, who competes in the Women’s Six Nations, along with the Netherlands, an emerging rugby nation,” Rauluni stated.
He added that these test matches serve as a crucial opportunity for the team to gear up for WXV3. The squad has included several players from the Women’s High-Performance Unit as they build toward these fixtures. Rauluni noted Scotland’s competitive history, having finished fourth in the Women’s Six Nations and won WXV2 in 2023, expressing anticipation in challenging themselves against them. Meanwhile, he acknowledged the Netherlands’ qualification for WXV3 and their pursuit of a place in the Rugby World Cup, predicting they would provide a different style of play that will be vital for their 2025 World Cup preparation.
The Vodafone Fijiana XV will encounter stiff competition at WXV3, with matches lined up against Hong Kong China, Samoa, and Spain. The tournament will commence on September 27th.