The Lilian Amazon Women’s 7s team may have fallen just short in the cup final of the Women’s LIT 7s tournament in Shelford, but their spirited performance has left a mark both on the field and back home in Fiji.
In their debut outing, the Fijian side pushed tournament favourites Shogun all the way in a thrilling main cup final, going down narrowly 14–17.
“This is the second of four tournaments in the series and while we didn’t participate as Lilian in the first round, this was our first run as a club and we’re already looking forward to the next two rounds,” head coach Tirani Uluinakauvadra said. The team is being guided in the UK by Solo Baleisolomoni, who Uluinakauvadra acknowledged for his support and mentorship.
“We are grateful to Solo for his willingness to coach and look after the girls while in the UK. We also want to thank our relatives and the Lilian Amazon supporters in the UK for their continued encouragement,” he added.
Facing off against players with international experience from Great Britain, Wales, and Scotland, the Fijian women held their own with grit and determination.
“This is a huge step up for the girls and it’s been a great learning experience to play against top-tier talent. The exposure is priceless.”
The impact of the team’s performance has already rippled back to Fiji, where excitement around women’s rugby is growing fast.
More than 30 players are eager to learn rugby.
