Partnership a boost for women’s rugby in Fiji

RUGBY Australia and Fiji Rugby Union joined forces to organise a specialised coaching clinic for the Lautoka Maroons women’s rugby team set to compete in this year’s ANZ Marama Championship.

Rugby Australia’s head of coaching Michael Magriplis spearheaded the clinic with the assistance of rugby icons Lote Tuqiri and Nemani Nadolo.

The session emphasised on core skills, serving as a timely reminder for the team to prioritise the basics of rugby ahead of their upcoming matches.

Impressed by the team’s performance during the training session, Magriplis remarked, “Some of these girls have a very bright future ahead of them. They need to stay focused on rugby and keep up their training. These girls could be the future of Fijian women’s rugby.”

The ANZ Marama Championship signifies a pivotal moment for women’s rugby in Fiji, offering a clear pathway for aspiring players from grassroots rugby to the Fijian Drua and the Fijiana XV.

Maroons’ star player Avolonia Lewaiwaca expressed her motivation to eventually join the Fijian Drua team.

“Since 2019, I’ve been a dedicated club member and fully committed to my training. I made it clear to my manager and coach that I didn’t want to miss the chance to train today and meet some of our rugby idols.”

Lewaiewaca has been chosen to be a part of the Nadi high performance unit (HPU) and harbours hopes of advancing her career and ultimately donning the Drua jersey. Rugby Australia’s head of Pacific partnerships Daniel Millis was also present at the session.

Millis expressed his positivity about the future of the Fiji-Australia rugby partnership.

“When we partner together, we can achieve great things for rugby in our region. We have seen this through our PacificAus Sports partnership and what it has delivered for the Fijian Drua on and off the pitch. If these girls keep improving and transition to the Drua team, I see more Super Rugby Women titles coming Fiji’s way”.

The Australian government’s PacificAus Sports program provides Fijian and Australian rugby players, staff, and administrators opportunities to play, train, and grow together.

This partnership aims to develop rugby in the Pacific region and provide a platform for players to showcase their skills on the world stage.