Five Tongan women rugby players are among 20 women from Papua New Guinea and Samoa who will compete in the 2^nd Oceania Rugby Women’s Combine in Fiji, from 21-26 August.

They are Lu'isa Pita - LH Prop, Sokopeti 'Akauola - Lock, Seneti Kilisimasi -No 8, Siutiti Ma'ake - Centre, Asipau Mafi - Front Row.

They will have a chance of scoring nine scholarships to join Australian Super W clubs during the 2024 season. This was after, they were selected in May during the Oceania Women’s Championship at Bond University in the Gold Coast.

Oceania Rugby’s General Manager Frank Puletua said Oceania continues to produce some of the most gifted athletes in the world.

This is the second year Oceania Rugby are hosting the Women’s Combine competition, which has proven to be a good pathway to elite rugby for Oceania Rugby’s female rugby players, he said.

After last year’s Women’s Combine competition, seven players and a coach were offered placements with Super W teams in Australia this year.

Stephen Deklin of DFAT’s Pacific Sports Section said the Australian government is proud to support and continue to host this initiative which has opened opportunities to Pacific Islands women, now in its second year, which simply had been inaccessible in the past.

"We continue to look forward to seeing the women thrive, grow as players and as leaders, and be welcomed and embraced in Australia."

Similarly, World Rugby Women’s High Performance Manager, Nicky Ponsford said this high-performance training environment, and elite level competition will accelerate player development and strengthen women’s rugby pathways, especially for island-based players.

"It will help drive the competitiveness of national teams like Samoa, Tonga, and Papua New Guinea."

Samoa’s Manusina players Penina Tuilakepa, Angelica Uila and Saelua Leaula received scholarship placements and joined the Western Force Super W team this year. 

They were a powerful addition to the squad both on and off the field. The players contributed to our program, and it was exciting to see all players make their debut for the Force, said Melbourne Rebels General Manager, said Nick Stiles.

Tonga Women’s players, Tilila Hifo and Shonte To’a were also part of ACT Brumbies this season. 

Meanwhile, the selection process for the Women’s Combine was led by World Rugby Women’s High-Performance Manager, Nicky Ponsford with the support of Oceania Rugby International Partnership Officer, Koli Sewabu.

20 women rugby players selected

• Lu'isa Pita - Tonga - LH Prop
• Lulu Leuta - Samoa - Hooker
• Jacqui Aiono - Samoa - TH Prop
• Alanis Toia-Tigafua - Samoa - Lock
• Sokopeti 'Akauola - Tonga - Lock
• Nina Foasese - Samoa - Flanker
• Marie Boyama - Papua New Guinea - Flanker
• Seneti Kilisimasi - Tonga - No 8
• Fa'alua Loe Tugaga - Samoa - Halfback
• Cassie Siataga - Samoa - First 5/8
• Fatima Rama - Papua New Guinea - Winger
• Joanne Butler - Papua New Guinea - Centre
• Siutiti Ma'ake - Tonga - Centre
• Linda Fiagia - Samoa - Winger
• Hasting Leiatua - Samoa - Fullback
• Asipau Mafi - Tonga - Front Row
• Ana Mamea - Samoa - Front Row
• Easter Savelio - Samoa - Lock/Flanker
• Joanne Lagona - Papua New Guinea - Outside Back
• Naomi Kelly - Papua New Guinea - Outside Back