Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Ioan Cunningham praised his players for their grit and composure after they held off a strong Samoan side to win 24-20 and successfully defend their Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship title at Lawaqa Park.
Speaking after the match, Cunningham commended both teams for putting on a thrilling display of women’s rugby.
“I’m proud of everyone proud of the girls and proud of Samoa. It was a great match,” he said. “That’s exactly the kind of test we needed at this stage.”
Cunningham acknowledged the intensity of the contest, especially as Samoa fought back hard in the second half, putting the Fijiana pack under real pressure.
“The message to the girls was simple: keep the faith and stick to the structure,” he said.
“The players did exactly that. It was a great test match and valuable preparation as we build toward the World Cup.”
With the Oceania title now secured, the focus shifts to their next major challenge a showdown against the United States as part of their World Cup buildup.
“We’ll be turning our attention to the USA test match next month.
“There’s still a lot of work to be done. We’ll focus on improving our breakdown areas and tightening up our defence,” he added.
Despite the areas for improvement, Cunningham remains confident in his squad’s growth and believes matches like these are critical for their journey.
“This was a great step forward, and the pressure Samoa brought out the best in us in many moments. We’ll take the lessons from today and move forward stronger.”
The Fijiana XV’s victory continues their upward momentum, with confidence building ahead of their World Cup campaign.
Repeka Tove on attack for Fijiana XV against Manusina during their Oceania Rugby Women’s XV Championship clash at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka on Saturday, June 14, 2025.
Picture: BALJEET SINGH
