Fijiana barely rated a mention before the Olympic tournament, understandable after fading to eighth place following a promising start to the women's world sevens series. Already, World Rugby's Get Into Rugby program, plus the Pacific in Union venture, a partnership between Oceania Rugby, the Australian Rugby Union and the Australian government, have drawn about 20,000 players each, but there's plenty of room for more growth, Fiji Rugby Union women's development officer Vela Naucukidi told the Fiji Sun. Thanks to qualifying for the Olympics last November, the Fiji women's squad became contracted in March to the FRU for the first time. "They started playing rugby when not many other women did, and they made their way to compete in the Olympics. The FRU is also researching through the University of the South Pacific the barriers and motivations for women playing rugby in Fiji's male-dominated society.

Source: New Zealand Herald August 06, 2016 23:15 UTC