2026 Swyftx Super Rugby Women's Grand Final preview

When it comes to Super Rugby Women’s history, no rivalry has been more hotly contested than the New South Wales Waratahs and the Fijian Drua. The two teams are now set to meet in a first-ever final played on the islands.

Both sides have taken very different journeys to get to the big dance, the Drua bounced back from their opening round 42-29 loss to the Waratahs in Sydney to build into the season and eventually topped the table.

The women in sky blue, meanwhile, have had to do it the hard way. They sustained a first-ever losses to the Western Force and Queensland Reds before bouncing back superbly in the semi-final last week in Perth to win 33-22 at HBF Park.

Both sides have confirmed stacked line ups and for Waratah wing Desiree Miller, who celebrates her 25th cap for the side this weekend, it felt like an inevitable finale.

“I remember round one of this season, shaking the hands of the Fijian girls,” Miller said, “I remember a few of them said, good job, we’ll see you guys in the final.

“I think there’s a bit of a mutual respect we have between each other: that we respect their footy and they respect ours.

“It’s always a good rivalry, it’s always a great game to watch and [has] a great impact on the people watching, the spectators.”

“They’re the benchmark,” Fijian Drua head coach Mike Legge echoed. “For us, it’s testing ourselves against the best.

“Whoever’s in front of them [Drua], and they’ll attack it how they see it. With the Waratahs, we expect it’s going to be a real Grand Final, I think it’s going to be a really good game.”

The Drua will feature an unchanged starting side to the one that defeated the Reds 31-5 last week, with the most capped player in the club’s history, Karalaini Naisewa, starting at prop in her 31st appearance.

The hosts boast plenty of sevens stars in captain Kolora Lomani and Atelaite Buna, while the bench will feature veteran Bitila Tawake at hooker, headlining weapons for the Drua all over the park.

Of note, 11 players are set to play in the Super Rugby Women’s final for the first time ever, the side markedly different from the team that went down in the semi-finals last year.

Despite the large turnover of players Legge is expecting his side, who had 14 debutants at the start of the year, to rise to the challenge against the six time champions, having played against the Aussies frequently since the Test opener in Canberra back in March.

“With our players, even our young ones that played against the Wallaroos at the beginning of the year, in previous times, I guess the girls would have been in awe of the opposition,” Legge said.

“The girls would have been in awe, probably a little bit intimidated. But now, for them, it’s just another game. This current group, nothing intimidates. They just play whatever is in front and relish the opportunity.

“[I’ve] been massively impressed, but not surprised [by the growth of the new players]. We’ve got a good blend here, and the girls have been together for a little while now.”

The Drua will be tough to beat at home, but they will face a Waratahs side that has welcomed back plenty of their biggest stars, head coach Mike Ruthven making four changes to the side that beat the Force last week.

Caitlyn Halse will return to the starting side at full-back, with Miller returning to her traditional position on the wing, retaining the vice-captaincy, with Wallaroo top try scorer and recent sevens star Maya Stewart completing a dangerous back-three.

Sevens star Tia Hinds will retain her position at scrum half, partnering Waiaria Ellis, with fellow sevens star and Waratahs Women’s Rookie of the Year Piper Simons returning from injury and to come off the bench in support. Taj Heald completes the changes.

Front of mind for the Drua, however, will be containing an imposing set piece: with the forwards in the 23 boasting nearly 200 international caps and the starting eight for the Waratahs all boasting international experience, led by captain Emily Chancellor.

“The team is extremely excited about the opportunity we have this week to compete for another Super W title,” Ruthven said.

“We have drawn a huge amount of confidence over the last few weeks from training and the way the players performed last weekend in Perth.

“We are expecting a great atmosphere over in Fiji and we can’t wait to get over there.”

Miller is all too aware of the challenges that will await the side, the Drua having not lost in Fiji since round two of the 2025 season, and across their men’s and women’s sides have not lost a game in Ba.

However, with the side having worked the hard yards to get into the final, she expects that focus to pay dividends this weekend.

“We know the home ground advantage, especially in a place like Fiji, where the whole country gets behind them,” Miller said.

“It’s going to add a layer of challenge to it. But I think we’re coming in with the focus on ourselves and working within ourselves as a team. I think that will be the point of difference for us.

“We’ve faced a lot of adversity through injuries and a couple of key losses. We’re really excited that we’re building and hopefully it turns out to be the footy we’ve wanted to play all season in this Grand Final.

“We were really happy with how [the] semi-final went, but we know that’s still not our standard.”

Swyftx Super Rugby Women’s Grand Final

Fijian Drua

15. Litiana Vueti, 14. Atelaite Buna, 13. Merewairita Neivosa, 12. Josivini Naihamu, 11. Aqela Raitubu, 10. Varanisese Qoro, 9. Kolora Lomani (c); 1. Karalaini Naisewa, 2. Keleni Marawa, 3. Tiana Robanakadavu, 4. Mereoni Nakesa, 5. Carletta Yee, 6. Nunia Daunimoala, 7. Salaseini Railumu, 8. Sulita Waisega

Replacements

16. Bitila Tawake, 17. Zipporah Sorokacika, 18. Keri Lawavou, 19. Karavaki Lutumaibau, 20. Alfreda Fisher, 21. Evivi Senikarivi, 22. Repeka Tove, 23. Verenaisi Ditavutu

NSW Waratahs

15. Caitlyn Halse, 14. Maya Stewart, 13. Pleuni Kievit, 12. Rosie Ferguson, 11. Desiree Miller (vc), 10. Waiaria Ellis, 9. Tia Hinds; 1. Brianna Hoy, 2. Brittany Merlo, 3. Faliki Pohiva, 4. Leilani Nathan, 5. Kaitlan Leaney (vc), 6. Ruby Anderson, 7. Emily Chancellor (c), 8. Piper Duck

Replacements

16. Nancy Volkman, 17. Emily Robinson, 18. Bridie O’Gorman, 19. Grace Gillies, 20. Nicole Nathan, 21. Taj Heald, 22. Piper Simons, 23. Amelia Whitaker