The Fiji Bulikula women’s rugby league team will need to win with flair and momentum this weekend when they face the Cook Islands Moana to qualify for the Women’s Rugby League World Cup in 2026.
Joe Rabele, head coach of the Bulikula side, revealed this in an interview following the side’s first training session at Albert Park in Suva yesterday morning.
“It is the most important game of their life, especially playing in Fiji, on our home soil,” Rabele mentioned.
“We’ll try to defend our turf and it’s a World Cup qualifier too.”
While he acknowledged their men counterparts, the Vodafone Fiji Bati, were unable to win over the Papua New Guinea Kumuls last week, he noted the loss would serve as a reminder to better prepare themselves.
“The Bati didn’t produce the results last week so we tried to learn from the Bati on what they went through last week and try to prepare better this week in this World Cup qualifier,” Rabele noted.
With the team working on what Rabele says were their attack structures and other key elements of play that will need to be refined ahead of their clash against the Cooks, part of their preparation is ensuring the camaraderie in the team is heavily fortified.
The team were in Qauia Village on Sunday to join the congregation in a church service where they sought spiritual guidance, reflection and understanding prior to the start of their preparations and training, which will occur throughout the week before their match with the Cook Island side.
Meanwhile, the Bulikulas meet the Moana side this Saturday at 6pm, at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
