Selecting the final 32-member squad for the Women’s Rugby World Cup was a challenging task, says Vodafone Fijiana XV head coach Ioan Cunningham.
The squad was announced on Saturday night at the Tanoa International Hotel in Votualevu, Nadi.
Prior to that, the team had a scrimmage session with the Manusina Samoa team at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka where this newspaper caught up with him.
Cunningham said it has been a challenging task for him and his fellow coaches in deciding who would get the nod for the World Cup in England.
“It’s been challenging, the competition for players has been great. Players have been putting their hand up,” Cunningham shared at Lawaqa Park.
“A lot of players really want to represent Fiji in the World Cup; they’re showing that in their training and in their playing.”
“There’s a lot of competition, which is what we want as coaches. We want challenges, we want healthy discussions around selection.
“The players have given us headaches, so that’s been good.”
The desire for a chance to wear the white jumper was prevalent in the players, as they engaged in different segments of training before the team faced off against Samoa.
They would win the match 34-12 before heading back into another scrimmage session before departing Sigatoka.
Meanwhile, with the squad now finalised and ready for travel, he said they were pleased with the group and shared what the atmosphere with the players in camp was like.
“Great people to work with, great staff. We’re all excited by the opportunity we’ve got at a global tournament to represent Fiji,” he mentioned.
The team departs Fiji for England on Wednesday, with the WRWC starting on Friday, August 22.
The Fijiana XV are grouped with Canada, Scotland and Wales in Pool B.