Manuqalo Komaitai: 'Most of the girls back at home want one day to play here'

Signing for Premiership Women’s Rugby‘s Harlequins was just another highlight in Manuqalo Komaitai‘s remarkable rise.

When the Fiji back-row forward arrived in the United Kingdom in 2019 to join the British Army, she had never played rugby. Even though her sister, Alisi, was a member of the Fijiana.

Rugby became a weekend escape for the 29-year-old member of the Irish Guards. She is the first Fijian woman to be part of the regiment.

Over the years her responsibilities included standing guard at Buckingham Palace, adorned in their traditional uniform, she also took part in the coronation and the Trooping of the Colour.

It was in 2021 that Komaitai took up rugby with London Irish. In the four-and-a-half years since then she has represented the British Army and at the end of 2025 participated in the Women’s Rugby World Cup for Fiji.

“I came to the UK in 2019 to join the British Army,” Komaitai told PWR. “Before then I had never played rugby in my entire life, I only played netball, which I played from a very young age, through high school and to uni.

“But when I moved to the UK, my brother told me to try out rugby and give it a go, it was something to keep me busy and to give me something to do on the weekend.

“I joined London Irish, and from there I went for my first training session, and I started to get into rugby. I loved it, it is something that makes me happy, so I never stopped doing it.

“Both my sisters play rugby, so it was just me, I was not into rugby at that time. One of them has managed to be in the Fiji team.

“When she found out I was playing rugby and was really enjoying it, she didn’t believe me. It was only when I went back home last year to play rugby for Fiji, and she got to see me play, that she believes that I play.”

Ahead of the PWR season opener, Harlequins confirmed that Komaitai had joined the club off the back of her Women’s Rugby World Cup performances.

The 29-year-old was also named the British Army’s Sportswoman of the Year at the Army Sports Awards.

She left London Irish on a high with a Player of the Match outing against Exeter University and made her debut for Ross Chisholm’s Quins in Round 3 of the 2025/26 campaign against defending champions Gloucester Hartpury.

Just the second Fijiana to play in England women’s rugby’s top flight since former Saracen wing Rachel Laqeretabua, Komaitai not only hopes to inspire players back in her native Fiji, but make the very most of her PWR experience with Harlquins too.

“Like every other islander, I am so proud to have that name, bringing my home, bringing Fiji to the PWR,” she said.

“I don’t know how to say it; the feeling is just overwhelming. Most of the girls back at home want one day to play here. It is a very good opportunity for me to play in PWR, in the toughest league in women’s rugby is surreal.

“But it is scary at the same time, as I am in a new environment and a new league. I am so happy that I have been given the opportunity, Harlequins is a really good club.

“I’ve been learning from the girls, they are so good, and everyone is so strong, so it is a really good experience, and it is an environment I really want to be in and to experience things with them.”