First some excellent news: the Fiji Sports Commission has allocated $1.5m to support the national team.
We just have to hope these moneys came through early enough to make their presence felt.
The squad
Forwards:
JADE COATES
NUNIA DAUNIMOALA
MANUOALA KOMAITAI
ALFREDA FISHER (captain)
KELENI NARAWA
VIKA MATARUGU
MEREONI NAKESA
SELAI NALIVA
RUSILA NAGASAU
KARLAINI NAISEWA
ADI RAILUMU
TIANA ROBANAKADAVU
LORAINI SENIVUTU
ASINATE SEREVI
BITILA TAWAKE
BULOU VASUTURAGA
SULITA WAISEGA
CARLETTA VEE (18)
Backs:
EMA ADIVITALOGA
ILISAPECI DELAIWAAU*
SALANIET KINITA
KOLORA LOMANI
KELERAYANI LUVU*
ALOWESI NAKOCI
ADI SALOTE NAILULO
JOSEFINI NEIHAMU
SETAITA RAILUMU
MICHELLA’E STOLZ
REPEKA TOVE
MERE VOCEVOCE*
LITIANA VUETI
VERENAISI DITAVUTU* (14)
* the 4 players transferring across from the SVNS team
It’s a great shame that so few of these names are familiar to European eyes, unless they have followed the World Series SVNS tournament.
Tours by the South Pacific sides to the northern hemisphere nations are not yet part of rugby’s fabric. Their style of play offers so much to delight the spectator.
But one name stands out: Asinate Serevi; daughter of the great Fijian Waisale.
Cunningham is able to include eleven players who took part in the 2021-22 RWC, so experience won’t be lacking.
They had a great send-off in Nadi. The nation is behind them. They should get a rousing reception when they arrive.
They face a tough time in the pools. In sequence, they play Canada, Scotland and Wales.
