NEWLY appointed Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Ioan Cunningham is focused on getting the Vodafone Fijiana XV ready for the 2025 Rugby World Cup in England, where they will face Canada, Scotland, and Wales in Pool B.
In an interview with this newspaper Cunningham is keen to harness Fiji’s natural flair and talent while adding structure and discipline to their game.
“There’s a lot of great individual talent with flair and passion.
“I believe if we can bring more structure and clarity to certain areas, we can make big strides,” Cunningham said.
Under his leadership, Fijiana XV will continue to play an expansive game, moving the ball into space and encouraging off-loading. However, he also wants the team to develop a ruthless defensive mindset.
“We need to be a hard team to break down, one that never goes away,” he stressed.
The Welshman has already observed the Rooster Chicken Fijian Drua Women’s performances in Super Rugby W, noting their dominance in the scrum and attacking flair.
“The talent is awesome. The scrum is a powerful weapon, which is encouraging because you can always build your game from there. Our backs are dangerous with the ball, strong runners with great handling ability.”
One key area of focus for the coach will be developing Fijiana’s kicking game as an attacking weapon.
“Sometimes, instead of passing, we can kick the ball into space. That variety will make us a more complete team.”
With heavyweights like England and New Zealand dominating the women’s game, Cunningham acknowledges that Fiji faces a steep challenge. However, he believes his team can push the top sides to their limits.
“We can definitely give them a scare,” he said.
“The challenge is staying in the game for the full 80 minutes. We can compete strongly for 30 or 45 minutes, but the top matches are won in the last 15 minutes. That’s where we must be competitive.”
Cunningham’s appointment comes with an interesting subplot, he will lead Fiji against his former team, Wales, at the World Cup. Having left the Welsh setup in 2024 after three years, he is now set to face his former players on the biggest stage.
Despite this, his focus remains solely on Fiji and ensuring the Fijiana XV are ready to make their mark on the global stage.
“Our ambition is to be more than just competitive, we aim to win.”
