VODAFONE Fijiana XV captain Kolora Lomani is looking forward to testing Fiji’s strength against some of the world’s best women’s rugby teams in the inaugural WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong.
The Fijiana arrived in Hong Kong ahead of the three-week tournament, which brings together Fiji, Hong Kong China, the Netherlands, Samoa, Spain and Brazil at the Kai Tak Youth Sports Ground.
Fiji will open its campaign against Spain on Sunday, with Lomani expecting a tough contest against a side she knows well.
“We played against Spain in Dubai in the last WXV.
“They’re very physical and a strong team. We’re really excited for the challenge,” Lomani said.
The Fijiana will then face Hong Kong China on September 19 before completing their campaign against the Netherlands on September 26.
The tournament will feature nine international matches over three weekends, with three matches played on each match day.
For Fiji, the series provides an important opportunity to gain valuable international exposure and build momentum towards the next Women’s Rugby World Cup cycle.
The centrally hosted WXV Global Series Challenger is part of World Rugby’s evolving WXV Global Series, designed to provide more competitive matches for women’s teams while building towards the Women’s Rugby World Cup 2029.
Fiji is among 13 teams still competing for the remaining 11 places at the 2029 World Cup.
Five teams have already secured qualification, with hosts Australia joining the top four teams from the last World Cup champions England, Canada, New Zealand and France.
Eight of the remaining places will be decided through 2027 regional competitions, while two will go to the highest-ranked non-qualified teams in the World Rugby Women’s Rankings at the end of the 2027 international window.
The final place will be decided through the WXV Global Series Challenger in 2028.
Vodafone Fijiana XV captain Kolora Lomani during the WXV Global Series Challenger captains photo-shoot in Hong Kong. Picture: Supplied
