Former Fiji national women’s rugby team head coach Ioan Cunningham has embarked on an exciting new chapter in his coaching career by joining the Scotland Women’s rugby team as a senior assistant coach. This move highlights the expanding influence of Fiji’s women’s rugby program on the international scene.
Cunningham’s appointment was announced this week as part of an expanded coaching team under newly appointed head coach Sione Fukofuka. Before taking on this role, Cunningham played a pivotal role in preparing the Fijiana for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, making significant contributions to the development of the national women’s program during his tenure.
At 42, Cunningham brings a wealth of experience to Scotland, having previously coached 30 international Test matches with Wales Women and worked at the professional level with the Scarlets, where he was part of their victorious Pro 12 title winning coaching staff. He also served as head coach of the Wales Under-20 men’s team, demonstrating his versatility and breadth of coaching knowledge.
Cunningham’s reputation as a high-performance coach has been solidified through his experiences in both emerging and established rugby nations. David Nucifora, Scotland Rugby’s Performance Director, expressed confidence in Cunningham’s ability to enhance the team’s performance, emphasizing his strong technical expertise and understanding of the demands at the international level.
Residing at the Oriam high-performance center in Edinburgh, Cunningham is poised to work closely with Fukofuka and a contracted group of players as part of Scotland’s new centralized women’s program. Expressing his enthusiasm for the role, Cunningham mentioned his personal connection to Scotland through his grandfather, making this opportunity particularly meaningful for him and his family.
For Fiji, Cunningham’s new position serves as a testament to the high-quality coaching talent that has emerged from the Fijiana system, further amplifying the nation’s growing impact on the global women’s rugby stage. In conjunction with this development, the Fiji Rugby Union has recently advertised the vacancy for the head coach of both the Fijiana XV and Fijian Drua Women teams, with applications closing on October 18.
As the international rugby landscape evolves, Cunningham’s journey reinforces the importance and potential of developing women’s rugby across the globe, particularly in fostering talent from nations like Fiji.