Five overseas players have secured their place in the Fijiana 15s side, which will take part in the Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship on July 9-17.

This was confirmed by head coach Senirusi Seruvakula yesterday.

And three overseas players who were training with the side at Bidesi park were Asinate Serevi, Kolora Lomani and Sera Ravatudei.

Seruvakula will name his final squad next week before they march into camp on June 19.

He indicated that 16 players who were also in the 45-member squad were selected from the ANZ Marama Championship and he was happy with what the local players had shown.

“There are five overseas girls, that’s directly into the team.

“They bring in experience, culture and value to the players and for these girls, there is a lot of competition in their position,” he said.

“Some of our super Rugby players are being rested but at the same time they are doing their own training at the gym with strength and conditioning.

“They (local players) lift the standard and I’m surprised. For Nadroga they are six players and Suva.

“I’m very happy that they have not come in and shy or start over again but they really want to play for Fiji and that’s going to be a big threat for our Super Rugby girls.

“The door is still wide open. This week we will be doing the talent id again, as long as we get a lot of girls into our depth chart, the better.

“It’s good for me as the coach to have a strong one when we come into selection so we can take the best when we go into the World Cup and Oceania,” Seruvakula added.

“At the moment there are 45, overseas girls start marching in next week.”

Playing the two test matches against the Wallaroos and Japan after its Super W was a learning experience.

“It was a lot of learning. It was another step up from super rugby level and you are playing for your country and you have to give it all.

“We have learnt how to play according to our set pieces like lineouts and scrums.

“But it was a good start for us building up to the World Cup,” Seruvakula added.

Seruvakula indicated that former national halfback Mosese Rauluni and Asaeli Tikoirotuma will join the coaching staff.

“There is a lot of things, a lot of work on, two of the overseas players arriving next week.

“Asaeli Tikoirotuma and Mosese Rauluni will part of the Fijiana 15s going into the Oceania.

“We need a lot of quality coaches, going into this management because of the consistency we want from these girls ad a lot of learning.”

Meanwhile, the annual Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship will return over three match days between Massey Park and Navigation Homes Stadium for the first time since 2019.

The 2022 Championship provide valuable preparation for Fiji, ahead of Rugby World Cup 2021 (playing in 2022), and for the first time Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga have played on the international stage.

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