The Fijiana XV held off a spirited Samoan fightback to retain their Oceania Rugby Women’s Challenge title with a hard-fought 24-20 victory. 14 June 2025 Photo: Facebook / Fiji Rugby
Fijiana head coach Ioan Cunningham believes he has a strong squad that can put Fiji on the world rugby map at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England.
Cunnigham has been with the squad for the last five months since his apppointment in February.
In that time, he has seen the team take on the Wallaroos in a one-off test match, defend their Oceania Women's Rugby Championship title against both Samoa and Tonga, and take the ninth ranked American Eagles women's side to the wire in a close loss.
Cunnigham, who has stints with the Welsh national women's team as head coach from 2021 to 2024, has introduced systems aimed at strengthening the Fijiana flair and style, while able to compete against the top teams in set-pieces and open play.
In an interview with RNZ Pacific, Cunnigham said the team made progress through all commitments they have been involved in this year.
"We've, firstly, connected well as a group and starting to really understand how we want to play and how we how win Test matches," he said while reviewing the team's performance do date.
"That's still a development within our group. But we made good progress coming off the Wallaroos test back in May, into the Oceania and the tough test we had in USA.
"It was exactly what we needed to see where we are against a top 10 team in the world rankings as we progress towards the World Cup. So, I think it's positive growth overall, but still a lot of work to do."
Vodafone Fijiana coach Ioan Cunnigham Photo: Facebook / Fiji Rugby
'Incredible group'
Cunnigham had the opportunity to work with players who have been in the mix now for their second World Cup, and others who have had some experience with the Fijian Drua women's team in the Super Rugby Pacific Women's competition.
There are players who have also been recruited from the Fijiana Sevens team that has been playing in the annual HSBC Sevens Series.
He said the players were all talented and have their own individual skills that helps make the team tick.
"We've got an incredible group of athletes that can play the game very well, especially when opportunities open up," he stated.
"We showed some of that against USA, that when we go forward and we can offload and win collisions, we can threaten anyone in the world,.
But he said the key for Fijiana is getting the "balance right" and not overplaying.
"Because if we turn the ball over against top sides, we get punished. It's really important that we get that balance right.
"We've got some incredible athletes, which are powerful, fast, good skill set, and it's my role to try and allow them to express themselves within our structure, really, especially on a global stage in the World Cup."
The squad is currently training in Fiji and going through the final pieces of their preparation.
The players will have the opportunity to have "controlled" games against the Manusina side next week.
The Samoan women's team is heading to Fiji for a final training camp before they also fly out to England.
"We've got a great opportunity to have a sort of controlled game against Samoa, who come to Fiji for the training camp," Cunnigham said.
"We'll have good preparation week in Nadi against against Samoa, before we all depart and head to England."
Fijiana centre Josivini Naihamu tries to run away from the Wallaroos defence on Saturday. Photo: FRU Media
Tough first game
The Fijians appeared at the 2022 Rugby World Cup and won against South Africa in their second pool game.
They are in Pool B alongside Canada, Wales and Scotland at the 2025 event.
Fiji will meet Canada in their opening game on August 24.
Cunnigham reckons that will be their toughest game, being their first and against the second ranked team in World Rugby.
"Obviously, Canada, first match is going to be a tough one," he said.
"They're ranked second in the world at the moment and they are a very well coached team that has got a good mix in their play.
"They can go through you with the ball carrying off a game, but they can also go around you with the pace they've got as well. So from our point of view, defensively, we've got to be at our best and also take our opportunities when we get them."
He said both Scotland and Wales will offer different game patterns, expecting them to go to the air with a lot more high balls and tactical kicks for territory.
"Probably the biggest difference there is, from what our players are used to with Super Rugby, is probably the kicking game," he said.
"Scotland and Wales will kick a lot more, so, that presents opportunities for us to counter attack, but also we have to be really sharp and wary in our backfield, because they do kick well.
"They probably value territory more of than possession, and that's something that we're going to have to adapt to fairly quickly."
A good finish at the world cup, led by good performances, will be a positive for women's rugby in Fiji.
It is something that is not lost on the squad, fully understanding the importance of putting up the best they can do.
"Our task at the World Cup is to inspire the country, inspire the next generation of players who want to be Fijiana players of the future," he stated.
"And we can do that with great performances on the field, and that's the responsibility we hold when we go to the World Cup.
"The potential for women's rugby in Fiji is enormous, and I think in the future, we could really challenge the top teams in the world with the talent that's available."
Samoa is in Pool A with England, Australia and USA.
The Manusina will meet the Wallaroos in their opening game on 23 August.
