“She Sees Me Play”

On the rugby field every Saturday, 26-year-old Meresiana Naisau from Nukuloa Village in Saivou, Ra, runs with purpose—not just for herself, but for her young daughter who watches from the sideline.

A single mother and dedicated athlete, Meresiana has been playing rugby for three years. She started in club rugby and her talent and determination saw her selected to represent Ba Rugby at the national level. Her daughter is with her at every game because there’s no one at home to care for her—but for Meresiana, her daughter’s presence is powerful.

“She watches me play. I want her to see what women can do—not just in the home but out here, too,” Meresiana says.

Before rugby, she played netball. But she shifted codes when she saw how little investment and growth there was for women in netball compared to the opportunities opening up in rugby.

Through the Ba Women’s Rugby Association, supported by Mama Cash, Meresiana and other women athletes are being empowered not only to

play the sport they love—but to also build sustainable futures off the field.

Whether it’s through farming initiatives, community training, or simply creating space for women to thrive in a male-dominated sport, the association is challenging stereotypes and expanding what’s possible for women like Meresiana.

“We’re not just playing rugby. We’re learning, we are earning and we’re showing our daughters that they can do anything.”