WOMEN ruggers should get the same treatment as men in order to improve women’s rugby in the country say coach Seremaia Bai.

Former Flying Fijians utility backline player Bai, who worked with the Fijiana 15s team for a short time before the team played the Asian champions Japan and Hong Kong for a spot in the Women’s Rugby World Cup, said there were still a lot of areas that needed improvement.

After losing both matches, to what was their first overseas tour after a decade, Bai said their discipline got the better of the women ruggers.

The tour also exposed the need for more work to be done on tackling techniques and building patience during attack, Bai mentioned.

Compared with the men’s team, Bai said he would want to see an equal platform for the women.

“I would love to see that happen in the near future-equality agenda. We have always preached about it but nothing happens,” Bai said.

He added “would love the parent body to appreciate the women’s contribution to rugby in Fiji and then to invest into women’s programs too because these ladies need the same opportunities as our men.”

For Bai, the improvement of women’s XV for Fiji would mean more “exposure to international games need to be played” and “need better local rugby programs and competition.”

The Asia-Oceania qualifier gave Fiji an opportunity to qualify for their first women’s world cup but unfortunately they missed out again.

Radio NZ reported Bai having said: “We don’t have any programs, we don’t have any systems in place for our women’s rugby in Fiji, that’s something we’ve been trying to discuss with the union, and hopefully there will be a program where we can build up from the work that has been done from our campaign.

“In the history of Fijiana 15s that’s our first 15 tour after ten years, we don’t have a proper competition here in Fiji and it’s a big step from playing club rugby to international levels, so from my perspective, it’s successful,” he said.