Two home matches for Super W champion
ROOSTER Chicken Fijiana Drua's participation in the 2023 Super W Championship has been confirmed with two home and three away round-robin matches.
The season kicks off on March 25 and the Fijian fans will be able to watch the Super W champions play their opening match against the Brumbies at Prince Charles Park. The side will then face Rebels a week after which will be hosted as a doubleheader alongside Swire Shipping Fijian Drua versus Melbourne Rebels game at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva. The Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua then travels to Australia to take on Waratahs on Saturday, April 8 at the Concord Oval in Sydney. In round four they will be hosted by Western Force in Perth and in the final round, Fijiana Drua faces Reds at Sci-Fleet Stadium in Brisbane on April 23. The semifinals will be held on April 30 and final on May 6. Fiji Rugby chief executive John O'Connor extended his appreciation to the Rugby Australia through Pacific Aus Sports for giving the Rooster Chicken Fijiana Drua the opportunity to play in a competitive professional environment.
“FRU has begun with its planning process and is ready to host two big matches at home. We are also grateful to Rugby Australia for understanding the positive impact it will have on women's rugby by hosting the games in Fiji,” O'Connor said.
“A hype of activities is planned for March 25 whereby we will also kick off our 2023 ANZ Marama Championship. It will be a festival for woman's rugby.”
He said about 30 players had started training in three centers - Suva, Sigatoka and Nadi.
“Those players who did not make the cut to the Rugby World Cup have been training since then and the returning players for the Fijiana 15's will start to train from next month.” O'Connor thanked the major sponsor Rooster Chicken and the associated sponsors Fiji Gas, Tropik Wood Industries Ltd, and Pacific Aus Sports for believing in women's rugby and assisting the Fijiana Drua in their bid to defend the Super W title next year.
The tickets for the two home matches will be on sale early next year. Super W Championship fixtures: Saturday, March 25 1.35pm: Fijiana Drua v ACT Brumbies, Prince Charles Park. Saturday, April 1: 1.05pm: Fijiana Drua v Rebels, HFC Banks Stadium. Saturday, April 8: 3.05pm, Waratahs v Fijiana Drua, Concord Oval, Sydney. Sunday, April 16: 1.05pm, Force v Fijiana Drua, McGillivary Oval, Perth. Sunday, April 23, 1.05pm: Reds V Fijiana Drua, Sci-Fleet Stadium, Brisbane, Sunday, April 30: 1.05pm, First v Fourth TBC, Sunday, April 30: 3.05pm - Second v Third TBC. Saturday, May 6: TBC, Winner SF1 v Winners SF2 TBC. ■