No hard feelings for ex-Wales boss Cunningham

Ioan Cunningham coached Wales Under-20s and worked as a forwards coach for Scarlets

Women's Rugby World Cup 2025: Wales v Fiji

Venue: Sandy Park, Exeter Date: Saturday, 6 September Kick-off: 14:45 BST

Coverage: Live on BBC One, BBC iPlayer, BBC Sport online and app, Radio Wales, Radio Cymru and BBC Sounds

Fiji head coach Ioan Cunningham says there are no hard feelings as he prepares to meet his former team Wales at the Rugby World Cup.

The two sides go head to head in Exeter on Saturday knowing neither can progress to the quarter-finals, with Canada and Scotland already confirmed as the Pool B qualifiers.

Cunningham led Wales for three years before leaving amid a contract row involving players and the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

While he could not explain the reasons for his exit last November, Cunningham said he bore no ill will towards his former players.

"No, not at all, I'm just focused on working with Fiji. I'm really enjoying this opportunity with a great team and great people," he said.

Embracing the culture

Fiji is a far cry from Cunningham's native west Wales and he admits going there was "definitely a culture change".

"It was great as well, learning a different way of coaching and a different approach towards the game," he said.

"Also coaching in extreme heat, I hadn't done that before, like you can't fall on a tackle bag because it's too hot, little things like that which you wouldn't think about in Wales.

"I've loved the opportunity to try something different to me and work with a different group of athletes."

Fiji second row Jade Coates is full of praise for Cunningham, who was told of the coaching opportunity by World Rugby.

"It's been great having a coach coming into our team who's really embraced our culture and who we're so grateful for as a team that he hasn't tried to change us," she said.

"It has been cool to embrace a part of his family and his culture too."

Cunningham admits he has tried his best to learn some of the language.

"Yes I am learning some words. I try to compliment and praise in Fijian," he said.

"I'm trying my best, but they're not quite getting the Welsh out of me yet, I'm trying to teach them some Welsh."

Fiji are playing in their second Rugby World Cup

'I want Welsh rugby to thrive'

Cunningham led Wales to their highest ever world ranking of sixth in 2023, but results have been on a downward trajectory ever since.

Sean Lynn took charge just before the 2025 Six Nations, but could not prevent another Wooden Spoon campaign.

And while pre-season had shown encouraging signs, including a historic win on Australian soil, Wales have yet to hit their straps at the World Cup, losing heavily to both Scotland and Canada.

Reacting to their downfall, and the state of Welsh rugby as a whole, Cunningham said: "I think as a proud Welshman, I want Welsh rugby to be a thriving game in general.

"It's not nice seeing what Welsh rugby is going through at the moment."

Untapped potential

Wales and Fiji are both winless in the tournament so far, but Fiji showed their threat by scoring three tries in last weekend's 29-15 defeat by Scotland.

It was a display that encouraged Cunningham, who will rightly fancy his side's chances in their final outing on Saturday.

"There was a purple patch at the start of the second half against Scotland where we totally dominated possession and territory, but possibly didn't quite get the points on the board, so the positives are there for us, we just have to try and replicate that this week, " said Cunningham.

And after a red and yellow card last weekend, he said discipline was going to be key against Wales.

"We always look to play hard but fair, and within the laws of the game," he said.

"We only conceded eight penalties against Canada and nine against Scotland, so discipline is good. We've just had tackles that are a bit high, which we've got to just work on."

Looking beyond the World Cup, Cunningham said he is excited about the "untapped potential" of his group, who are currently ranked 14th in the world - just three places below Wales.

"They're fantastic," he said.

"I think we've shown growth and improvement over the last three months, but where this team can go is really exciting.

"The talent and athletic ability is unbelievable and we're starting to mould and create a style of play that we want to take to the world stage. I'm loving it."