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 are crucial for the team, offering essential game time and a chance to refine their tactics in anticipation of the 2025 Rugby World Cup.
In a historic first, Fiji will compete against Scotland Women on Sunday, September 15, with the match set to start at 3:45 AM (FJT) at the Hive Stadium. Following this encounter, the team, coached by Mosese Rauluni, will take another momentous step by traveling to the Netherlands for their inaugural match against the Orange Ladies.
This highly awaited game is scheduled for Thursday, September 19, at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam. Rauluni emphasized the importance of these matches in preparation for WXV3 in Dubai.
“The primary focus is Scotland in the first match, but overall, our goal is to win the WXV3. Competing against a strong team like Scotland, which is part of the Women’s Six Nations, and the Netherlands, an emerging rugby nation, is great,” Rauluni stated.
“These test matches provide an opportunity for us to be fully prepared for WXV3. We have also included several Women’s High-Performance Unit players in our expanded squad as we approach these test matches. Scotland finished fourth in this year’s Six Nations and won WXV2 in 2023, so we look forward to challenging ourselves against them. The Netherlands has qualified for WXV3 and is aiming for a Rugby World Cup spot, presenting a different style of rugby that will be crucial for our preparations for RWC 2025.”
At WXV3, the Vodafone Fijiana XV will face tough opponents including Hong Kong China, Samoa, and Spain. The tournament is set to commence on September 27.