The Vodafone Fijiana XV team is set for a touching moment as sisters Setaita Railumu and Adi Salaseini Railumu take the field together for the first time in their national white jerseys. Setaita, the elder sister, has been a key player for the Vodafone Fijiana XV since 2022 and has also played for the Fijiana Drua team. Meanwhile, younger sister Adi Salaseini is excited to make her international debut with the national team.
For the Railumu family, this represents a cherished milestone. Setaita expressed her pride in her sister, acknowledging the hard work and sacrifices made during training. “When I heard the manager announce the names, and then my sister’s name, I started bawling my eyes out! I am so happy to be flying the Fijian flag with my sister. It’s a dream come true for our parents who have always supported us since we started playing rugby,” she said.
Adi Salaseini reminisced about their shared experiences in rugby, noting, “We both played rugby together in 2019 and won the Women’s Skipper Cup for Tailevu. Then we both joined the extended national squad in 2021, but it was Setaita who made it to the national team and the Fijiana Drua. Now, I’m excited to join her.”
The younger sister is eager to make a mark in her inaugural test match, aiming to bring pride to their family. “I’ve always watched how Setaita played, and whenever her team won, our family was so proud. I want to bring that same joy to our family by helping our team secure a win.”
Both sisters are looking forward to their first test match on September 15 against Scotland, scheduled to kick off at 3:45 am (FJT) at the Hive Stadium. Following this match, the Vodafone Fijiana XV will travel to the Netherlands for a historic encounter against the Orange Ladies on September 19 at the NRCA Stadium in Amsterdam.
Later in the month, the team will face stiff competition in the WXV3 tournament, with matches lined up against Hong Kong China, Samoa, and Spain, starting on September 27.