ACHIEVING a World Rugby Level 3 coaching qualification is not simply a personal milestone for Adi Fika Vucago Seruitanoa.
She sees it as part of a broader step forward for women in rugby.
The Get Into Rugby Plus coach and teacher at Nausori Primary School is one of only four women in Fiji to hold the World Rugby Level 3 coaching accreditation.
Originally from Deuba in Serua, with maternal links to Saqani in Cakaudrove, Seruitanoa has risen through the coaching ranks and is now head coach of the Naitasiri Women’s Senior team competing in the 2026 Subrails Marama Cup.
She is also preparing to join the Fiji Rugby Union High-Performance Unit.
However, she remains humble about her progress.
“I don’t see it as an achievement,” she said. “I see it as growth and a pathway for women in the sport of rugby.
“I was inspired by other women who went ahead of me in this arena and will continue to grow in the future.”
Her coaching journey began through the Get Into Rugby Plus programme, which she credits with opening a pathway she had never imagined.
“It was Get Into Rugby Plus that introduced me to coaching,” she said.
“The programme motivated me and gave me the passion to take up coaching, as well as changed how I become a better version of myself.”
For her, developing young players at grassroots level is crucial to Fiji’s future rugby success.
She believes strong foundations in primary schools are essential if Fiji is to produce players capable of reaching elite and international level.
“It’s always best to start small and excel from there,” she said.
Seruitanoa’s journey has not been without challenges, particularly stereotypes faced by women in a traditionally male-dominated rugby environment.
But she says she refuses to let negative perceptions stop her progress.
“The change begins with us, and the progress begins with us,” she said.
Now, after five years in the programme and steady growth in the rugby arena, she hopes more women will step into coaching and leadership roles.
“We need a lot of women in this space,” she said.
“The more we collaborate and support each other, we will close the gap between men and women in the sport.”
Her message to aspiring coaches is simple: challenges will come, but they should never become barriers — continue to grow and move forward.
