'This is business': Fiji Rugby negotiating to host 'home' Test matches in UK

RNZ News

6 days ago

Fiji's prop Peni Ravai celebrates after scoring a try during the France 2023 Rugby World Cup quarter-final match against England.
Photo:
AFP
The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) is currently negotiating the hosting of three Test matches against Six Nations teams - England, Scotland and Wales - away in their respective countries.
FRU Board chairman John Sanday confirmed the negotiatons with RNZ Pacific on Tuesday.
He said that as a Tier 1 team, the Flying Fijians are now entitled to play against the top 10 teams in World Rugby.
The matches against England, Scotland and Wales are classified as "home" tests for Fiji and are scheduled for the July international Test window.
However, the FRU wants to host the matches in the three countries to maximise financial returns.
Sanday said being in Tier 1 means a lot and the demand is also greater.
He said the FRU is now a global business and the thinking must be in the commercial mindset.
"In order for the FRU to become a global brand and a financially successful business, we have to make the tough but smart decisions in the interim," Sanday said while confirming the union is taking the home matches away.
"We will eventually get the games here once we can demonstrate that it will be financially successful. There is just no way we can host it at home at the moment as we dont have the stadium with the minimum stipulations.
"This is business and it must be economically viable."
The former Flying Fijian said they want to confirm the deals by September.
He said "we are very confident" about getting the games hosted in the three countries they will play against.
"It's just getting the right stadiums for each match. That's why we ned to go up and finalize and sign."
He said winning the test matches is critical for the Flying Fijians rankings and also will help in attracting major sponsors.
"We move into preparation and build up to those tests as it will have a huge impact on our ranking if we can beat Engald and Scotland," he stated.
"Moving higher up in the rankings and showing the world a great brand and style of winning rugby, we can attract better terms and also pitch to bigger global brands for major sponsorship."
FRU Board chair John Sanday
Photo:
Fiji Rugby Union
The end of the year tour for 2026, which annually happens in November, will likely feature matches against Ireland, France and Italy.
The Flying Fijians were recently given Tier 1 status by World Rugby and have been included in the Rugby Nations Championship, which is scheduled to kick off in 2026.
The new competiton will have the Six Nations teams of England, Wales, Scotland, France, Italy and Ireland plus Rugby Championship teams Australia, Argentina, New Zealand and South Africa, along with Japan, the new inclusion with Fiji.
A close loss to the Wallabies early July and a win over Scotland were the two first Tier One test matches for the Flying Fijians, who will defend their Pacific Nations Cup title from the end of August.
The side is also scheduled to play England, France and Spain in November.