VODAFONE Fijiana locks Asinate Serevi says the team is excited and well-prepared for the 2025 Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship, which starts next Friday and ends on June 14.
Fijiana will go into the tournament as defending champions. They will face Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa as part of their build-up to the Rugby World Cup.
Serevi said training has been going well under new head coach Ioan Cunningham.
“It’s been exciting and very different from the past coaches we’ve had. Coach Cunningham has brought a new style, and the girls are enjoying it.
“We have new players coming in, and that changes a lot of things. But we still have our experienced players, so it’s been very dynamic,” Serevi explained.
She said the new players have added speed, aggression, and physicality.
“Just when I thought we had a solid team, more talented girls have joined, which is good. It lifts the level of competition in the team,” Serevi added.
She said one of the key focus areas is team chemistry.
“We’ve tried different combinations during training. It’s important that all the girls feel comfortable playing with each other.
“We just need to trust the system and stick to what we’ve been training. Sometimes we get too excited in games and move away from the plan that’s when things fall apart.”
Serevi said the tournament is also a chance for players to prove themselves before the World Cup.
“It’s a good opportunity for everyone to show the coaches what they can do and make it hard for them to pick the next team,” she added.
Veteran presence remains critical. The return of senior players like Asinate Serevi brings much more than game-day impact.
“Her experience is vital not just on the field, but off it,” the coach explained.
“She sets the tone in terms of behavior and standards. She’s a guiding voice for the younger players, and that balance is important.”
Leading the team into this year’s campaign is rising star Alfreda Fisher, who Cunningham says has been making impressive strides as a leader.
“She’s a great young leader who has grown in stature over the last few weeks. She’s still learning to be her true self as a leader, and she’s finding her strengths both on the field and in her communication off it.
“She’s growing every day, and we’re really proud of her.”
Like any elite team, Fijiana is managing injuries, with some players still on the path to full recovery.
The Fijiana XV have been training together for several months and are aiming to defend their title and build strong momentum heading into the World Cup.
