Vodafone Fijiana XV: Cunningham Optimistic with Team’s Progress

The Vodafone Fijiana XV is settling into camp in the U.S. as they gear up for their test match against the American women’s team this Saturday at Audi Field, Washington D.C. Kick-off is set for 2:05 PM U.S. time.

This match serves as a crucial part of their preparations for the upcoming 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England, scheduled from August 22 to September 27.

Head Coach Iowan Cunningham expressed optimism about the team’s progress, stating that the squad has adjusted well despite the long travel and time zone differences.

“Great opportunity for us in the USA this week. We’ve adjusted really well from obviously the different time zones, traveling from Fiji to Washington in the USA, but the squad has settled really well. We’ve had two great training days,” Cunningham shared.

“We’re excited by the opportunity we’ve got to take on the USA on Saturday in a great stadium with our preparation towards the World Cup.”

The team has been bolstered by the inclusion of four players from the FIJI Airways Fijiana 7s squad, who have seamlessly transitioned into the 15s setup. Among them is Ilisapeci Delaiwau, a seasoned player with experience in both codes. Delaiwau, who represented Nadi in the Marama Cup, was also part of Fiji’s 2022 World Cup squad under former coach Senirusi Seruvakula.

“The training has been a bit different compared to 7s training. I’m glad that we were able to pass the fitness test for 15s,” Delaiwau said.

Her dual-code experience and past World Cup exposure will be invaluable as the Fijiana XV aims to make an impact in Pool B, where they will face Canada, Scotland, and Wales.

With the test match against the U.S. serving as a key stepping stone, the Vodafone Fijiana XV is determined to fine-tune their game ahead of rugby’s biggest stage.