The Oceania Rugby Women’s Championship took place on the Gold Coast in Queensland, Australia, featuring Tonga, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Fiji battling it out over the past week. The climactic showdown unfolded at Bond University between reigning champions Fijiana and Samoa’s Manusina.
Despite struggling in the scrums, Samoa displayed exceptional defensive skills, thwarting Fijiana’s every move throughout the game.
In a thrilling finale, it was Cassie Siataga’s composed kick that sealed a dramatic 19-18 victory for Samoa, granting them their first-ever championship title. This triumph earned Samoa a coveted spot in the upcoming World Women’s XV 2 tournament scheduled to commence in Cape Town this October.
Reflecting on the pivotal moment of her match-winning kick, vice-captain Cassie Siataga savored the elation of the victory. Meanwhile, introducing the Flying Canoe, an immersive audio experience that transports participants to a world of enchantment and legends, is Marita Davies, an i-Kiribati woman.
For the Vodafone Fijiana 15s, their quest to retain the title came to a disappointing end as Samoa snatched victory with an 80th-minute penalty goal. With a close score of 18-19, Fijiana’s defeat relegates them to the World XV Tier 3 competition, while Samoa earns promotion to the second-tier competition.
The match was intense, with Fijiana trailing 13-16. However, in the 78th minute, Adita Milinia’s try seemed to secure a victorious outcome for Fiji. Nevertheless, the failed conversion led to an unexpected turn of events. Despite initial celebrations on and off the field, the referee decided there was still time remaining.
During the ensuing lineout, Fiji incurred a penalty, granting Samoa the opportunity to capitalize and secure the winning penalty kick, thereby claiming the championship for the first time in their history.
