Colombia warmed up for their Women’s Rugby World Cup 2025 Sudamérica qualification play-off with Brazil on 29 June with their biggest win and score in test rugby.
Las Tucanes ran in 15 tries in a 96-0 victory against Trinidad and Tobago that bodes well for their chances of making their tournament debut in England next year.
After inside-centre Maria Arzuaga slotted an early penalty, Las Tucanes scored tries at regular intervals and they would have easily reached three figures had 15 points not gone begging from the kicking tee.
Twelve different players got their names on the scoresheet, with Juliana Soto, Maribel Mestra and Nikol Durango each scoring twice.
It only took 31 minutes for Colombia to beat their previous best score of 30 points, while the final margin of victory was over four times more than their previous record of 21 points, also against Brazil.
For Trinidad and Tobago, it was a harrowing reintroduction to test rugby after a 13-year absence, and they will fall below Colombia in the rankings as a result of the defeat.
Colombia are set to gain two places, to move up to 26th, while the Scarletts will drop a couple of places to 27th.
Meanwhile, in the match between the current Asia and Oceania champions, Japan came out on top 24-15 against Fiji in Suva.
Ill-discipline cost Fijiana dearly with yellow cards to Sulita Waisega late in the first half and Atelaite Buna in the second half preventing them building on an encouraging start.
Fijiana took an early lead thanks to a try from flanker Nunia Daunimoala, but Japan hit back and Yoshimura Otoha’s converted try and Minoru Yamamoto’s penalty made the scoreline 10-5 to the visitors.
The prolific Luisa Tisolo, who had a hand in Daunimoala’s third-minute try, kicked a penalty to close the gap to just two points at the break.
Japan’s Moe Tsukui and Merewairita Neivosa, for Fiji, traded tries as the match remained finely balanced, but the Sakura 15s secured the win when Sakurako Hatada crossed for their third try.
With only 0.31 points set to be added to their rating, Japan will remain in 12th place when the World Rugby Women's Rankings are officially updated at 12 noon BST (GMT +1).
The second match of the two-test series between Fijiana and the Sakura 15s takes place at Churchill Park in Lautoka on Thursday.
Photo credit: Colombia Rugby
