As the 2026 Super Rugby Women’s Grand Final heads to Fiji for the first time, with the NSW Waratahs set to face the Fijian Drua in the competition’s first-ever decider on Pacific soil, the impact and influence of Pacific talent in shaping the women’s game is clear.
That influence is reflected not only in the teams competing in the Grand Final, but also in the growing number of Pacific athletes progressing through elite rugby pathways in Australian rugby.
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The Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program supports stronger sporting partnerships between Australia and the Pacific, including through opportunities for Pacific athletes to develop in high-performance environments.
Alongside its support of the Fijian Drua Women, the program has supported emerging women players from Samoa and Tonga to gain valuable experience with Australian Super Rugby Women’s teams.
Since 2023, the national rugby unions of Samoa and Tonga have identified emerging national team players to take up these opportunities as part of their high-performance pathway strategies. The players were selected to gain high-level match experience and exposure to elite performance environments, helping strengthen the depth and competitiveness of their national women’s teams ahead of the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Together, these investments demonstrate the importance of sustained, Pacific-connected pathways for women and girls in rugby, pathways that are helping strengthen the depth and quality of talent across the region and support the continued development of the women’s game.
At the Queensland Reds, Tongan lock Vineta Teutau and Samoan back Harmony Vatau have brought their Pacific heritage, experiences, and ambition to the squad.
For Teutau, 25, every appearance for the Reds is an opportunity to represent her Tongan heritage and inspire the next generation of players. "Every time I play, I feel that pride in pushing Tonga forward and hope I inspire young Tongan girls to not be afraid and test themselves too."
Teutau said reaching the 2025 Super Rugby Women's grand final had given the Reds a taste of what was possible.
"It's been a tougher year for results this season, but we are still part of that journey to reaching our full potential. My passion is for rugby and I'm always enjoying it.”
For Vatau, 22, her first season with the Reds has followed a significant milestone in her career after representing Samoa at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup in England.
Raised in Melbourne, Vatau continues to embrace her Samoan heritage while making her mark across the backline for Queensland.
"It's an honour and a privilege to be playing at this level. I feel like it sets an example for young Samoan girls coming through that there is space for them to achieve in rugby," Vatau said.
At the NSW Waratahs, 21-year-old prop Seneti Kilisimasi continues to impress while proudly carrying her Tongan heritage both on and off the field.
"Being Pasifika is a big part of who I am and how I carry myself, both on and off the field. It’s shaped me through the values I was raised on faith, family, respect, and resilience. Those values have helped me stay grounded through the highs and lows of rugby,” she shared.
"Playing in Super Rugby Women’s, I carry more than just myself out there, I carry my family, my culture, and the sacrifices of those before me.
"It gives me a strong sense of purpose and pride, knowing I’m representing where I come from and hopefully inspiring the next generation of Pasifika girls to chase their goals too.”
At the Western Force, prop Hannah Palelei proudly represents her Tongan heritage. The 26-year-old, whose father is renowned former UFC heavyweight fighter Soa "The Hulk" Palelei, has risen through the RugbyWA Academy to earn a senior contract.
“I feel like joining rugby has really got me in touch with my Pacific heritage. When I was growing up and going to school in Perth, I didn’t really have friends of the same heritage. Coming into rugby, I’ve got to know people from different heritages and connect with them more.
In the front row, there are girls who I spend a lot of time with who are also Tongan and Māori, so it’s really nice to be able to connect with them and learn more about our cultures”.
Reflecting on this season, Hannah shares, "I feel like this season I've grown a lot as a player, but also as a person.
"I was voted into the leadership group, and that's helped me connect with my teammates on a deeper level, which has made me a better player and person. I've grown a lot in myself."
The remaining players, ACT Brumbies locks Easter Savelio and Thalia Uilealea, have continued to strengthen their presence in Super Rugby Women’s, proudly representing their respective cultures while contributing to the growing depth of Pacific talent across the competition.
Uilealea brings a unique perspective to the Brumbies squad, representing both her First Nations and Samoan heritage and highlighting the diversity of backgrounds that continue to shape women’s rugby in the region.
Rugby Australia’s General Manager of Government Relations and Pacific Partnerships, Daniel Millis, said continued investment in women’s rugby across the Pacific is critical to creating more opportunities for players and strengthening pathways ahead of the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup in Australia.
“Rugby Australia is proud to partner with the national unions of Samoa and Tonga to create more opportunities for their emerging players to develop in high-performance environments and gain the experience they need to strengthen their national teams”.
“When we rise, we rise together in the Pacific, and we are seeing that increasingly across women’s rugby. The growth of the women’s game in one part of the region creates opportunities and inspiration for players, coaches and communities across the Pacific”.
“But the value of Australian investment in Pacific rugby extends well beyond results on the field. It is helping drive social and economic change, creating opportunities for the next generation of Pacific athletes and strengthening the connections between our people”.
“That is why rugby diplomacy has become such an important pillar of Australia’s engagement with the Pacific. Rugby provides a powerful platform to bring people together, create opportunity and build stronger connections across the region. We look forward to continuing to work with the Australian Government to design and develop the next phase of support for Pacific rugby and build on the strong foundations that have already been established.
