After being forced to withdraw from the 2019 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship in Fiji due to health reasons, the World Rugby have decided to give “a fair go” to Tonga’s women’s rugby team and schedule new games set for early next year.

The 2019 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship will end this weekend with the result determining which teams form the Pacific will automatically qualify for the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

Tonga’s Women’s rugby team were ruled out from playing in the tournament after one their players were identified with measles by Fijian health officials. The team officially withdrew from the tournament in round 2 without playing a single game. 

Now they have been given a new chance to qualify. They will compete against the third placed team from 2019 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship in early 2020, at location and date yet to be determined. The winner of the game will than play against the second placed team of the championship with the winner qualifying for repechage at the 2021 Women’s Rugby World Cup