Source :- PERTH NOW NEWS
Songs from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga are on high rotation in the Ballymore gym as the Queensland Reds women lean into their growing Pasifika influence.
And in the lead-up to Sunday’s Super Rugby Women’s season opener against the ACT Brumbies, the group chat’s been pinging as the Reds’ Samoan contingent share a different word each day as part of the country’s Language Week.
“Little things like in the gym and the music on the playlist, everyone considers everyone,” Auckland-raised Reds lock Vineta Teutau, who has played for Tonga, told AAP.
“We play a mix of songs … and you know us Islanders; we’re very loud and once we hear our songs, it’s a hype-up and that carries on to the other girls too.
“The vibe’s good; we’ve come a long way given it’s a whole new team with lots of young’uns.”
The eight-week season begins on Saturday when the six-time champion NSW Waratahs host Fiji Drua at Leichhardt Oval. Western Force have a bye.
On the horizon is the 2029 Women’s Rugby World Cup to be held in Australia, an event the Wallaroos hope to be competitive in thanks to the gradual rise in professionalism of their national league.
Teutau, who first played for the Reds late in the 2024 season and hasn’t played for Tonga in two years, will be eligible to play for Australia next year and wants to contribute to that growth.
“The Aussie locks are leaner, smaller but the coaches just loved my physicality and that’s just big ups to back home,” she said.
Former Tongan women’s coach Eddie Aholelei is an assistant at the Reds this season while Fijian-born Black Ferns tighthead prop Tanya Kalounivale is a big addition this year.
Harmony Vatau has played for Samoa, hooker Mary Tuaana has Cook Islands heritage while Kaelyn Passi and Zophronia Setu have Samoan heritage.
Wallaroos-capped centre Ava Wereta has Australian and Maori heritage while Eva Karpani has Tongan roots and debutante flyhalf Akira Kelly (Indigenous) has played for the NRLW’s Indigenous All Stars and also enjoyed a stint playing golf.
Teutau said their influence had been felt on field too, singling out Kalounivale as crucial to Australia bridging the gap.
“For someone like me from NZ, who’s been there, I can tell the difference from rugby here and rugby back home,’ she said.
“I know what she came here to do and I love to see the girls listen and be wowed by the little details she has to share.”
Winger Ivania Wong will line up against her former team in her Brumbies debut on Sunday while Japanese prop Wako Kitano will start in the front row.
The Reds were beaten in last season’s final by the powerhouse Waratahs, who will start their campaign without Wallaroos flyer Maya Stewart (ankle).
Arabella McKenzie, Katrina Barker and Tatum Bird have left while Waiaria Ellis (knee), Faliki Pohiva (concussion) and star sevens talent Tia Hinds (calf) are also on the injury list
Dutch international Pleuni Kievit will wear No.10 in her debut for the six-time champions.
