PENINA PASIFIKA SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 SEASON

PENINA PASIFIKA SQUAD ANNOUNCED FOR 2025 SEASON 

[Sydney, 11^th February 2025] – Oceania Rugby have confirmed the final squad for the 2025 Penina Pasifika campaign, unveiling a 30-player roster set to take on a landmark season. After an extensive selection process, the coaching team has carefully chosen a group of talented athletes, each of whom has been personally informed of their selection and commitment to the campaign.

The Penina Pasifika program, delivered in partnership with Rugby Australia under the Pacific Women's Pathway initiative, is part of the Australian Pacific Rugby Union Partnership (APRUP II) and is supported by PacificAus Sports, a program funded by the Australian Government. The initiative aims to strengthen the pathway for Pacific women in rugby, offering valuable playing opportunities and professional development to aspiring elite athletes.

This year’s squad sees strong representation from both Samoa and Tonga, with 17 Samoan and 13 Tongan players selected. The Tongan contingent includes six locally based athletes, four of whom have previously represented the national Lofa women’s team. These players emerged from the on-island combine, highlighting the success of localised talent identification and development initiatives. Meanwhile, the Samoan players were drawn primarily from the Manusina 15s and 7s squads, as well as the Rugby World Cup preparation squad. Impressively, 15 of the selected Samoan players have experience in the Farah Palmer Cup (FPC) or Super W competitions, showcasing the squad’s high level of competitiveness.

Despite the positive selections, challenges remain in developing the women's rugby pathway in the Pacific. While Tonga benefited from the on-island combine, the absence of a domestic XVs competition in Samoa has hindered the identification and selection of locally based players. Oceania Rugby recognise the opportunity to implement a similar talent identification structure in Samoa in the future

Head Coach Ramsey Tomokino highlighted the effectiveness of the Tongan Women’s combine. 

“A highlight in selecting this team was being able to attend the Tongan combine, a vast improvement on their 2024 version and a great platform for Tonga women’s rugby and certainly a template for our other Pacific nations to try and emulate.  It was great to see the local resident Tongan team win their combine competition and rewarded with the highest representation of players selected (6) with 4 on standby from the teams that competed in the Kingdom.”

In 2025, the Penina Pasifika team will embark on a four-to-five-week tour of Australia, playing against each of the four Australian Super W clubs during their respective bye weeks. This tour provides an invaluable opportunity for the players to gain experience at an elite level and test themselves against some of the best talent in women's rugby. The campaign will kick off with a highly anticipated clash against the Queensland Reds at Ballymore Stadium on Saturday, March 1, at 3:00 PM.

Coach Tomokino expressed his excitement about the squad’s composition and the potential it holds. "It is an absolute position of privilege to be given the opportunity to lead this year’s Penina Pasifika program, it is an honour, and we are grateful to Oceania Rugby, Pacific Aus Sport and Rugby Australia for their support. We have amongst the squad, 18 players that have had test match experience, nine that have represented their National 7s teams, six retuning players from 2024 and a total of 19 players that have Farah Palmer Cup or Super W experience. This team is young and exciting with some key experience.”

“We will be behind the eight ball so to speak with our limited preparation, however we will be aiming to be competitive and give an excellent account of Pasifika rugby from our region and provide a high-performance experience for our players, to also prove that we are capable of playing at this level. The beauty about our pacific nature is that we thrive on challenges, we are navigators by nature and the ocean is what binds us, so we are prepared for obstacles and happy to wear the underdog tag as we journey through Australia, we know it won’t be easy, just as wasn’t easy for our ancestors who found a way.  I love that in the youthfulness of this team, players are wanting to represent their Pasifika heritage despite having the choice to opt for other opportunities,” Tomokino added.

Frank Puletua, General Manager of Oceania Rugby, underscored the significance of the Penina Pasifika program in advancing women’s rugby in the region. "The growth and visibility of women’s rugby in our region continues to have a profound impact on young people across the Pacific. The inspiration drawn from Penina Pasifika is truly immense and highlights the importance of this team in advancing the game for the women and girls of the Pacific. Oceania Rugby extends its sincere gratitude to Rugby Australia and the Australian Federal Government for its continued support of this great initiative

Aisea Aholelei, CEO of Tonga Rugby Union, emphasised the importance of the initiative for the continued growth of women’s rugby in Tonga. “The Penina Pasifika program is a vital initiative for the continued growth of women’s rugby in Tonga. Seeing six locally based players selected is a testament to the progress we are making in developing our women’s game and providing opportunities for our athletes to compete at higher levels. This program not only strengthens our player pathway but also inspires the next generation of young Tongan women to pursue rugby with confidence. We appreciate the support of Oceania Rugby, Rugby Australia, and PacificAus Sports in making this possible.”

Meanwhile, Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun, Lakapi Samoa CEO, reinforced the value of the program, noting its critical role in strengthening the development pathway for women and girls in Samoa. “For our Samoan women in rugby, Penina Pasifika is more than just a team—it’s a vital pathway to elite competition and high-performance development. With 17 Samoan players selected, including those from our Manusina squads and the Rugby World Cup preparation group, this program plays a key role in their journey. As we continue working towards establishing a domestic XVs competition, initiatives like this help ensure our players remain competitive on the international stage. We acknowledge and appreciate the commitment of Oceania Rugby, Rugby Australia, and PacificAus Sports in supporting the growth of women’s rugby in the Pacific.”

Final Penina Pasifika Squad 2025:

The 2025 season promises to be an exciting chapter for Penina Pasifika, with a highly competitive squad prepared to take on elite-level opposition. The program remains a vital stepping stone for Pacific female athletes striving to reach the top tiers of the sport, and with strong support from key stakeholders, its impact on the women’s game in the region continues to grow.

Jilly Collins, General Manager Women’s Rugby at Rugby Australia is excited for what the team brings to the Super W competition.

“We're absolutely delighted to welcome the Penina Pasifika back for their second year. It's fantastic to have them playing against all our Australian Super Rugby teams. This provides more quality match opportunities for players gunning for their place on the plane to England for the Rugby World Cup later this year.”

With 2025 being a World Cup year, the significance of this campaign is amplified, as four Oceania teams have qualified for the tournament. The Penina Pasifika program will provide essential high-performance opportunities, ensuring players are well-prepared to compete on the world stage and further elevate women's rugby across the Pacific.

For media inquiries, please contact:

Sheridan Graham-Tupaea

Women’s Rugby Programs Manager, Oceania Rugby

0425133539

Sheridan.graham-tupaea@oceaniarugby.com

PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy initiative developing pathways for Pacific teams and athletes to compete in elite competitions and access high performance coaching in Australia and internationally. The program partners with Australian national sports organisations to support a range of Pacific sports, including rugby league, rugby union, netball, football, AFL, cricket and Olympic/Paralympic sports, with funding split evenly between women and men. PacificAus Sports also partners with the Australian Broadcasting Commission (ABC) to promote Pacific sport through ABC Television’s ‘That Pacific Sports Show’ and ABC Radio’s ‘Fresh Off the Field’. The high-performance outcomes of PacificAus Sports are complemented by the Australian Government’s Team Up program, which focuses on sport for development in the Pacific. For more information about PacificAus Sports and its initiatives, visit www.pacificaussports.gov.au and follow PacificAus Sports on Facebook.