Fiji Rugby open Women’s High Performance Academy

30 women’s players were inducted into a new program as Fiji Rugby Union introduced its new Women’s High-Performance Academy.

These 30 inductees are players from our national teams, the Fiji Airways Fijiana XVs, Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s and the Under-18’s including few other local club players. These players will be monitored under a high-performance academy program.

Speaking at the induction, Fiji Rugby Union HPU General Manager Simon Raiwalui stated that the Academy is an initiative put in place to develop the game of rugby for our local women.

FRU CEO John O’Connor explained that FRU is strengthening inclusivity in the union aiming to take women’s rugby in Fiji to a whole new level.

The men’s HPU Academy program has been in place since 2010 which has been a stepping stone for most players helping them take off on their rugby career.

FRU CEO John O’Connor explained how FRU is strengthening inclusivity in the union aiming to take women’s rugby in Fiji to a whole new level.

“With the introduction of women’s Academy the Union aims to take women’s rugby to the next level” 

“When I first join FRU back in 2013 there wasn’t enough support and inclusivity for women’s rugby and since then we’ve set out a plan to change this around” he said.

He added “Comparing then to now we qualified for the 2016 Olympics Games and then last year we managed to book a spot in the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.”

Fiji Rugby Elite Player Pathway Manager Bill Gadolo said that the women’s Academy is the first of its kind and the program will underpin Fijiana XV’s preparation heading into the Rugby World Cup next year.

Gadolo said “This program will assist our coaches in preparing our women players at high performance.

It’s never been done before and it’s pretty exciting for us. We’re looking forward to the program as it will unfold in a couple of weeks and we hope the girls will optimize their talents through this program.”

Fijiana XV’s player Lailanie Burnes knows that this move by FRU will surely take women’s rugby to the next level.

She said “This is such an exciting time for women in rugby in Fiji, this is something we’ve been dreaming about for such a long time”

Lailanie said that having an academy specifically focusing on women is such aHe added “Comparing then to now we qualified for the 2016 Olympics Games and then last year we managed to book a spot in the 2021 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.”

Fiji Rugby Elite Player Pathway Manager Bill Gadolo said that the women’s Academy is the first of its kind and the program will underpin Fijiana XV’s preparation heading into the Rugby World Cup next year.

Gadolo said “This program will assist our coaches in preparing our women players at high performance.

It’s never been done before and it’s pretty exciting for us. We’re looking forward to the program as it will unfold in a couple of weeks and we hope the girls will optimize their talents through this program.”

Fijiana XV’s player Lailanie Burnes knows that this move by FRU will surely take women’s rugby to the next level.

She said “This is such an exciting time for women in rugby in Fiji, this is something we’ve been dreaming about for such a long time”

Lailanie said that having an academy specifically focusing on women is such a great initiative from Fiji Rugby which will grow women’s rugby in the country.

“With Rugby World Cup just next year this program will help us in preparations as we’ve got all the tools going forward and it’s up to us to work hard.”

She added that this is the first step for women’s rugby and them to be able to go all the way, it is the first step for more great things to come.