Fijiana beat Wales in a thriller, 28-25, in the Rugby World Cup showdown

The Vodafone Fijiana XV beat Wales 28-25 to ensure they did not leave Rugby World Cup 2025 empty-handed after an entertaining match in front of a 14,082 sell-out crowd at a sun-drenched Sandy Park this morning.

Wales started and finished the first half strongly with tries from Carys Cox and Sisilia Tuipulotu, respectively, and added another through Alex Callender.

Fiji's ability to keep the ball alive with their trademark offloading game when Josifini Neihamu scored two tries from brilliant running lines before scrum-half Setaita Railumu's snipe from the base of the scrum, and Repeka Adi Tove's made it four for Fiji in the first half.

Kayleigh Powell's clever footwork gave Wales hope early in the second half, but we had to wait until the 72nd minute for the next score, Wales moving within three points of Fiji after Lisa Neumann dived over in the corner.

But in a frantic finish, Fiji held out for just their second victory in Women's Rugby World Cup history.

Source: Women's England 2025