Fijiana Drua beat the Waratahs 29-10 on April 1 to secure their place final of Super Rugby W Photo: Wellington Times
Six more players from Pacific Island rugby union playing coutries will join Australian Super W clubs for the 2024 season, made possible through the continued funding from the Australian government.
This will the continuation of a program hat rolled off in 2022, funded by the Australian government's PacificAus Sports partnership program with Rugby Australia and Oceania Rugby.
The six players selected to join the Super W clubs for season 2024 are Neomai Funga (Tonga) and Fa'alua Tugaga (Samoa),who will join the ACT Brumbies, Easter Savelio and Ana Mamea (Samoa) who will join the Melbourne Rebels and Tongan pair Seneti Kilisimasi and Siutiti Ma'ake, who are going to be with the Western Force.
The Australian Buildcorp Super W competition is the Southern Hemisphere's premier Women's Rugby competition.
Fiji's Fijiana Drua Rugby team had won the Super W titles in 2022 and 2023.
A joint statement issued this week quoted Australia's Minister for International Development and the Pacific Pat Conroy saying the partnership offers te talented players the opportunity to join Australian Super W clubs for the 2024 season and inspire women and girls across the Pacific to pursue their dreams.
"The Albanese Government is proud to be increasing the pathways for aspiring female athletes in the Pacific in the region. There's so much potential for our shared love of sport to bring people across the Pacific closer together," Conroy said.
Oceania Rugby President Richard Sapias acknowledged the Australian government's commitment to sports diplomacy in the Pacific, promoting unity and collaboration through the platform of sport.
"Fostering partnerships in the region enhances cultural exchange, builds bridges, and nurtures lasting friendship," Sapias said.
"Oceania Rugby is proud to be driving this initiative through our partnership with the Australian Government and Rugby Australia supported by World Rugby. Having these six players spending time in the 2023 Super W season before returning to National duties with Samoa and Tonga will be game-changing for Women's Rugby in the Pacific," he said.
Rugby Australia chief executive and former Wallaby great Phil Waugh said players of Pacific heritage have made so much contribution to Rugby Australia, including their national teams and giving players the opportunity to learn and develop their skills and knowledge of the game would be a great way to repay that.
"It will be great to welcome a further six players from the region to our Super W clubs in 2024," Waugh said.
Rugby Australia will continue to partner with Oceania Rugby and the Australian government to create development opportunities and pathways to elite rugby for Pacific athletes, and we acknowledge the positive outcomes PacificAus Sports continues to deliver for rugby in our region," he added.