FIKA Vucago Seruitanoa, fondly known as Di Fika, is rewriting the playbook, not with brute force, but with heart, resilience, and an unshakable belief in the power of women.
This year she steps into history as the head coach of the Naitasiri Women’s Provincial team.
This appointment crowned her as the first female teacher in Fiji to earn a Level 3 World Rugby Coaching Certificate.
She’s only the fourth woman in the country to reach this milestone, and her story is as inspiring as the achievement itself.
Her coaching journey began in 2018 at Nausori Primary School. She had no background in rugby, but when the girls at her school showed interest in the sport, she stepped up.
With the help of the Get Into Rugby PLUS program, Di Fika tapped into a new passion and began her formal training, earning her Level 1 Coaching and Level 1 Strength and Conditioning certifications.
“The girls’ enthusiasm lit something in me.
“Their courage in taking on a male-dominated sport pushed me to give them my best,” she recalls.
Di Fika’s commitment extended beyond school boundaries.
She took on the challenge of coaching the Villain Girls’ Club which is the Rewa Rugby Union’s sole female team, who competed in the Marama Championship.
Her coaching journey evolved further as she served as assistant coach of the Rewa Women’s Provincial team from 2022 – 2023.
A turning point came during a match in Vanua Levu, where a player shortage forced her onto the field.
A single play left her with a broken fibula and three months in the hospital.
Alone on the first night, pain fused with doubt as she reflected on societal expectations and her role as a woman in rugby.
But she wasn’t alone for long.
Her husband, family, principal, and fellow teachers stood by her and her players.
Back at school, still on crutches, her young team rallied around her.
“I forgot all about what I went through when my girls came to ask me to coach them again,” she said.
“With my crutches, I stood on the sideline, guiding them on the field.”
Oceania Rugby and the Fiji Rugby Union recognized her potential and supported her growth.
She earned her World Rugby Level 2 accreditation and secured an attachment to a Shute Shield club in Australia.
This exposure sharpened her understanding of the game at an elite level and solidified her place as a future leader in Fijian women’s rugby.
Last year, she was appointed assistant coach for Naitasiri Rugby Union’s Women’s Provincial team.
And in 2025, she rose to the helm as head coach, a historic move that reflects her determination and her federation’s belief in her leadership.
“I want to thank Naitasiri Rugby Union for having faith in me.
“I also thank Mrs Noame Rabeni and my fellow male Get Into Rugby PLUS coaches who supported me on this journey.”
Through every injury, challenge, and victory, Di Fika’s unwavering Christian faith remains her anchor.
She believes her story is proof that nothing is impossible with God.
“To all the women out there, know that God can uplift you in your darkest moments. With Him, no challenge is too big.”
Her journey is not just about coaching. It’s about pioneering a path for women in spaces where they were once unseen.
This means that Seruitanoa joins a very small circle of women who have a level three World Rugby Coaching Certificate.
Former Fijiana representatives Tavaita Rowati and Leilani Burnes are the other two females who are level three accrediated coaches.
Rowati is the head coach of the Suva Women’s Rugby teamn and her side has been considered the rugby queens for a number of years now given their consistent performances in the Marama Cghampionship.
She is also a certified strength and conditioning coach with the Fiji Rugby Union- one of a few women in this space along with former national player Mere Moto.
Rowati has been in the field for 20 years now, wearing diffeerent hats from being a player, coach, mentor and educator.
Just like Di Fika, she is driven by the struggles that women rugby players have faced over the years. Issues that still persist to this date.
Meanwhile, Mere Moto is currently with the Vodafone Fijiana XV team preparing for the historic Test match against the Wallaroos this weekend.
Coach Fika Vucago Seruitanoa conducts clinic. Picture: SUPPLIED
