FIJIANA Olympians Litia ‘Arnold’ Naiqato and Luisa Tisolo will leave for their France-based club Stade Rennais Rugby next Monday.
The duo collected their visas yesterday from the French Embassy.
Their stint in France would allow them to gain more experience when they join Stade Rennais for a season. The embassy said the duo would make their debut in professional rugby in the 2016/17 season.
Embassy public relations adviser Moira Vilsoni-Raduva said the duo had created a new chapter in the French-Fijian rugby history books.
“They (Litia and Luisa) are the first Fijian female rugby players to secure rugby contracts with a French rugby club. This is a great opportunity for the rest of the women playing rugby in Fiji,” Vilsoni said.
The duo would join a number of Fijians who are playing in France. Moira revealed 150 Fijians are playing in the Top 14, ProD2 and Federation 1 and Federation 2 competitions.
“Stade Rennais Rugby Club is one of the respected women’s rugby clubs in France and they also play in the highest level of the French women’s rugby competition. Several of the players also play in the French national women’s rugby team in the 15s and the 7s,” she added.
French ambassador to Fiji, Michel Djokovic also wished the two rugby players the best as they prepare to join their new rugby club.
Naiqato is originally from Dakuivuna Village in Tailevu while Tisolo is from Naqarani, Lomanikoro in Rewa.
