The success of the Fiji and New Zealand women’s rugby sevens teams at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games is going to be one of the highlights of the Oceania Rugby’s Women in Rugby Month.

According to Oceania Rugby from next Wednesday, September 1, and throughout the entire month, they will celebrate the achievements of Women in Rugby to inspire the next generation- both on and off the field- to pick up a rugby ball and enjoy everything that the game has to offer.

Themed, ‘Women in Rugby…Re­spect’, the month will highlight, celebrate, and acknowledge girls and women across the game, all of whom deserve respect for their courage and contributions as elite rugby players, community par­ticipants including young girls, coaches, officials, volunteers, sport administrators and leaders. The absolute best of Oceania’s women in rugby across the region, will be cel­ebrated.

With a 200 per cent global increase of registered female rugby players over the last six years, the expo­nential growth of the sport among women and girls is topical.

Oceania Rugby general manager, Bruce Cook said that there is a lot of excitement around the launch of the event.

“Our member unions, partners and a range of programmes over the past four years, have been dedi­cated to changing attitudes, making rugby safe and accessible to girls and women,” Cook said.

“Oceania is spring boarding off wonderful success at the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games.

“The women’s rugby sevens tour­nament was of outstanding qual­ity, New Zealand Black Ferns won their first ever Olympic gold medal in rugby sevens, and the Fijiana, through winning bronze, made his­tory with not only their first wom­en’s rugby medal, but Fiji’s first Olympic medal for any women.

“It is the perfect foundation for what will be a fantastic month of inspiration, discussion, and cel­ebration.”

Cook said Oceania Rugby will host four regional webinars that will ad­dress different Women in Rugby…Respect themes.

Meanwhile, the vanua of Nacula in the Yasawa accorded a tradition­al welcoming ceremony for Fijian women’s rugby sevens winger Lai­sana Likuceva on Wednesday.

The former Jasper Williams High School student was part of the women’s side that won the bronze medal at the Tokyp 2020 Olympic Games.