Fijiana XVs Launch Rugby World Cup Campaign Against Canada in York

The Fijiana XVs are set to face a formidable challenge as they open their 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup campaign against world number two Canada, a team with a strong recent record including a win over the Black Ferns. Coached by Ioan Cunningham, Fiji has demonstrated significant growth, with a narrow loss to the USA in a recent warm-up match highlighting their potential to compete with higher-ranked teams. The squad, featuring a blend of experienced players and emerging talent such as 21-year-old captain Alfreda Fisher, draws heavily from the successful Fijian Drua Super Rugby team, emphasizing cohesion and development. Fiji is pooled with Canada, Scotland, and Wales—teams ranked in the world’s top 10—making progression beyond the pool stage a tough but realistic goal. The Fijiana are known for their flair and fearless style, aiming to continue their upward trajectory and potentially reach a new high world ranking if they can produce an upset against Canada. The match will take place Sunday at 4:30 a.m. in York, London, with strong fan interest and ticket sales reflecting excitement around Fiji’s promising campaign.