Willie Walker named new Fijiana XV head coach
The three-time Super Rugby Aupiki-winning coach has been appointed to lead the Fijian national women's team.
Willie Walker, a mentor to the Blues Women's team, has been appointed as the new head coach of the Fijian Women's 15s side. The announcement was made during a news conference in Suva on Tuesday. Walker, who has led the Blues Women to three consecutive Super Rugby Aupiki titles from 2024 to 2026, has been praised for his successful track record in women's rugby in New Zealand.
The Fiji Rugby Union believes he will strengthen the national women's rugby programme and contribute to the growth of women's rugby in Fiji. Walker's influence at the Blues Women's team extends beyond the field, with the Blues highlighting his impact on team culture, standards, relationships, and belief. Walker expressed his vision for the Fijiana XV, stating that they have a solid plan and good targets for reaching higher levels of success.
He emphasized the need for technical and tactical growth, as well as building depth for the team. The current ranking of the Fiji national women's rugby team is 13th in the world. The Fijiana XV, led by Walker, will participate in a two-Test Series against the Springbok Women this month. The first match is scheduled for 8 August at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, followed by the second match on 15 August at Churchill Park in Lautoka.
Written by urgent.news from RNZ Pacific's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — it may contain errors, so check the original before relying on it.
