Latest news with #IoanCunningham
RNZ News
31-07-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fijiana coach: 'Positive growth overall' ahead of Women's Rugby World Cup
The Fijiana XV held off a spirited Samoan fightback to retain their Oceania Rugby Women's Challenge title with a hard-fought 24-20 victory. 14 June 2025 Photo: Facebook / Fiji Rugby Fijiana head coach Ioan Cunningham believes he has a strong squad that can put Fiji on the world rugby map at the 2025 Women's Rugby World Cup in England. Cunnigham has been with the squad for the last five months since his apppointment in February. In that time, he has seen the team take on the Wallaroos in a one-off test match, defend their Oceania Women's Rugby Championship title against both Samoa and Tonga, and take the ninth ranked American Eagles women's side to the wire in a close loss. Cunnigham, who has stints with the Welsh national women's team as head coach from 2021 to 2024, has introduced systems aimed at strengthening the Fijiana flair and style, while able to compete against the top teams in set-pieces and open play. In an interview with RNZ Pacific, Cunnigham said the team made progress through all commitments they have been involved in this year. "We've, firstly, connected well as a group and starting to really understand how we want to play and how we how win Test matches," he said while reviewing the team's performance do date. "That's still a development within our group. But we made good progress coming off the Wallaroos test back in May, into the Oceania and the tough test we had in USA. "It was exactly what we needed to see where we are against a top 10 team in the world rankings as we progress towards the World Cup. So, I think it's positive growth overall, but still a lot of work to do." Vodafone Fijiana coach Ioan Cunnigham Photo: Facebook / Fiji Rugby Cunnigham had the opportunity to work with players who have been in the mix now for their second World Cup, and others who have had some experience with the Fijian Drua women's team in the Super Rugby Pacific Women's competition. There are players who have also been recruited from the Fijiana Sevens team that has been playing in the annual HSBC Sevens Series. He said the players were all talented and have their own individual skills that helps make the team tick. "We've got an incredible group of athletes that can play the game very well, especially when opportunities open up," he stated. "We showed some of that against USA, that when we go forward and we can offload and win collisions, we can threaten anyone in the world,. But he said the key for Fijiana is getting the "balance right" and not overplaying. "Because if we turn the ball over against top sides, we get punished. It's really important that we get that balance right. "We've got some incredible athletes, which are powerful, fast, good skill set, and it's my role to try and allow them to express themselves within our structure, really, especially on a global stage in the World Cup." The squad is currently training in Fiji and going through the final pieces of their preparation. The players will have the opportunity to have "controlled" games against the Manusina side next week. The Samoan women's team is heading to Fiji for a final training camp before they also fly out to England. "We've got a great opportunity to have a sort of controlled game against Samoa, who come to Fiji for the training camp," Cunnigham said. "We'll have good preparation week in Nadi against against Samoa, before we all depart and head to England." Fijiana centre Josivini Naihamu tries to run away from the Wallaroos defence on Saturday. Photo: FRU Media The Fijians appeared at the 2022 Rugby World Cup and won against South Africa in their second pool game. They are in Pool B alongside Canada, Wales and Scotland at the 2025 event. Fiji will meet Canada in their opening game on August 24. Cunnigham reckons that will be their toughest game, being their first and against the second ranked team in World Rugby. "Obviously, Canada, first match is going to be a tough one," he said. "They're ranked second in the world at the moment and they are a very well coached team that has got a good mix in their play. "They can go through you with the ball carrying off a game, but they can also go around you with the pace they've got as well. So from our point of view, defensively, we've got to be at our best and also take our opportunities when we get them." He said both Scotland and Wales will offer different game patterns, expecting them to go to the air with a lot more high balls and tactical kicks for territory. "Probably the biggest difference there is, from what our players are used to with Super Rugby, is probably the kicking game," he said. "Scotland and Wales will kick a lot more, so, that presents opportunities for us to counter attack, but also we have to be really sharp and wary in our backfield, because they do kick well. "They probably value territory more of than possession, and that's something that we're going to have to adapt to fairly quickly." A good finish at the world cup, led by good performances, will be a positive for women's rugby in Fiji. It is something that is not lost on the squad, fully understanding the importance of putting up the best they can do. "Our task at the World Cup is to inspire the country, inspire the next generation of players who want to be Fijiana players of the future," he stated. "And we can do that with great performances on the field, and that's the responsibility we hold when we go to the World Cup. "The potential for women's rugby in Fiji is enormous, and I think in the future, we could really challenge the top teams in the world with the talent that's available." Samoa is in Pool A with England, Australia and USA. The Manusina will meet the Wallaroos in their opening game on 23 August.
RNZ News
08-06-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 9 June
The Fijiana women's rugby team kicked off their campaign at the Oceania Rugby Women's Challenge with a 59-5 win over Tonga in Sigatoka. Photo: Ridiqiulas Photography The Fijiana women's rugby team kicked off their campaign at the Oceania Rugby Women's Challenge with a 59-5 win over Tonga in Sigatoka on Friday afternoon. Defending the title at home, the Fijians took a 30-0 lead at halftime. Fiji's head coach, Ioan Cunningham, expressed pride in his team's performance, particularly under the challenging ground conditions at Lawaqa Park. He also praised the impact of the five debutants. Tonga will meet Samoa on Tuesday in the second game of the tournament. Meanwhile, in the Oceania Under-20 Rugby Challenge, the Fiji under-20s team retained their title for another year when they swept through the event undefeated. Fiji will host Samoa and Australia in a tri-nation international boxing event at the FMF Gymnasium in Suva at the end of June. FBC reports the Fiji Amateur Boxing head coach Cam Todd confirmed a team of 30 boxers from Australia and a 10-member squad from Samoa will be competing. The event will feature boxers in the 12 to 19-year-old bracket, in both the male and female categories. Todd said the Australian team features several state champions and elite-level fighters. Team Samoa are currently seeking more funding to make their trip possible. Independent Boxing Samoa Incorporated president Tavui Mike Lemisio said while they have received assistance from the Samoa Olympic Committee and the Ministry of Sports and Recreation, it's not enough. The Samoa Observer reported the team needs the funding to pay off their airfares, accommodation and other expenses. Former New Zealand sevens and Hurricanes player Salesi Rayasi has been named in the Flying Fijians extended squad for upcoming international matches in July. Rayasi, who played 50 games for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby, signed a two-year deal with French club Vannes last year. Fijians' head coach Mick Byrne has named him in the squad to prepare for matches against the Wallabies and Scotland. The squad includes Hawke's Bay scrum half Sam Wye, some players from the Fijian Drua team and a number of players playing in Europe. The draw has been made for the FIFA under-20 World Cup which includes Oceania qualifiers New Zealand and New Caledonia. OFC champions New Zealand are in group A, alongside hosts Chile, Japan and Egypt. Second qualifier New Caledonia will make its tournament debut and face USA, France and South Africa in Group E. The tournament, which will start in late September, will see matches played in four different cities across Chile. The inaugural six-team Rugby Premier League 7s is set to debut in India from 15 to 29 June. A number of international sevens stars have been named in the six franchise teams, including some from Fiji and New Zealand. Rahul Bose, President of Rugby India, said the event will be a game-changer for rugby in India, and fans can expect nothing less than world-class rugby action that will inspire the next generation of athletes in the country. The Fiji national women's football team scored a 3-1 win over Papua New Guinea in Port Moresby in the team's final international friendly. FBC reported PNG drew first blood through Marie Kaipu, who gave the home side an early lead. But Fijian striker Cema Nasau scored a hat-trick to give her team the win. Both sides now shift their focus to the 2025 OFC Women's Nations Cup, which will be held at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
BBC News
17-03-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Women's Six Nations 2025: How to follow Wales on the BBC
BBC Wales will offer comprehensive coverage of Wales' progress in the 2025 Women's Six go into the tournament with renewed optimism after last year's disappointing campaign saw them finish bottom of the table. Sean Lynn has been appointed the new head coach following Ioan Cunningham's departure in November, with Hannah Jones once again leading the to seeing the season through with Gloucester-Hartpury, Lynn will have precious little time to prepare the team for their opener against Scotland on 22 March. Wales head to Edinburgh looking to avenge last year's defeat in Cardiff while also laying down a marker for the summer's Rugby World Cup, with both sides drawn in Pool return to Cardiff on 29 March as they host defending Grand Slam champions England in front of what they hope will be a record-breaking crowd for a women's game at the Principality Stadium.A trip to Brive follows on 12 April to take on another of the world's leading women's sides in France, before facing a high-flying Ireland side at Newport's Rodney Parade on 20 round-off their campaign, as they did in 2023, with a trip to Parma to take on Italy on 26 April, the only side they beat in last year's can watch every Wales game live on BBC One or BBC Two Wales, as well as on BBC you are out and about, you can listen to live commentary on BBC Radio Wales and Radio will also be previews and reaction on the weekly Scrum V podcast, with all the big stories and talking points on the BBC Sport Wales website and app, and via our social media channels:BBC Sport Wales on Instagram, externalBBC Scrum V on Instagram, externalBBC Sport Wales on Facebook, externalBBC Sport Wales on X, externalBBC Scrum V on X, external
BBC News
27-02-2025
- Sport
- BBC News
Ex-Wales coach Cunningham takes charge of Fiji Women
Former Wales Women head coach Ioan Cunningham will take charge of Fiji Women at this summer's Rugby World Fijiana XV are in the same group as Wales for August's tournament in England, along with Scotland and 42, resigned as Wales Women's head coach in November after a turbulent year on and off the are ranked 16th in World Rugby's rankings and Fiji Rugby says Cunningham will bring "fresh ideas and depth in planning, along with an understanding of northern hemisphere rugby".The Welshman expressed excitement for his new role."The potential of this group is huge, and I am excited and honoured to be given this opportunity to work with the team and represent Fiji," said Cunningham."It is a very important year in women's rugby, and I look forward to unlocking the talent within this team." Cunningham was appointed Wales Women's head coach in 2021 and a year later led them to their best finish in the Six Nations for 13 also took the side to a World Cup quarter-final in 2022, before losing to New Wales registered only four wins in 11 Tests in 2024 and Cunningham was involved during difficult contract negotiations with senior players, after which the Welsh Rugby Union admitted serious left by mutual agreement after three years at the helm, having originally been contracted to lead Wales at the World Cup where he will now come face-to-face with his former players."Ioan is a professional coach who has been in the women's game for several years," said Fiji Rugby women's high performance manager Alana Thomas."He will bring strong leadership and direction to the team and work to unlock the talent we have in this squad in what is a very exciting year for the Vodafone Fijiana XV with the Rugby World Cup ahead of us."
