Fiji Rugby has today announced that the nation will take on England at Everton’s Hill-Dickinson Stadium on Saturday 11 July. Mick Bryne’s Flying Fijians will be taking on England as part of their Nations Championship campaign and while many of the nations will travel south for their fixtures, Fiji Rugby are hosting their home games in the Northern Hemisphere.
The inaugural Nations Championship matches are scheduled to kick off in July 2026. The Fijians will take on England after taking on Wales in Cardiff and before then heading to Scotland over three consecutive weekends in July.
The game will provide a fantastic opportunity for English rugby fans to experience a taste of Fijian culture. As designated home fixtures, the matches will be a celebration of Fiji’s culture and heritage, with fan zones that feature traditional music, food, entertainment and cultural performances, creating an authentic home-match atmosphere to bring the team closer to its global fan base.
Hosting the home game in England will be a historic moment and an unprecedented opportunity for Fiji Rugby to generate significant commercial returns that can be reinvested into grassroots rugby, enhanced facilities, player welfare, women’s rugby and high-performance programmes back in Fiji. By hosting the fixture in England, Fiji is looking to preserve its status as a High Performance Union by helping nurture and retain talent and build long-term competitiveness.
Fiji’s Rugby Union Director, Lailanie Burnes, shared her excitement ahead of the tournament:
“Although the match against England will not be in Fiji, that doesn’t mean it won’t feel like a home match. We will be bringing our very best performances, and we expect the fans to bring a brilliant atmosphere to every match throughout the tournament.
“It’s an exciting opportunity to play in a fantastic stadium and we know we will be well supported.
“It’s also a great opportunity to raise the profile of Fijian rugby, and our culture, and connect with fans from the Northern Hemisphere. The success of these fixtures will enable us to invest more into grassroots rugby supporting the continued growth and success of the team.”
The England Rugby Union said, [TO ADD]
A spokesperson at Everton added, [TO ADD]
Liverpool City Council commented, [TO ADD]
Fiji Rugby Nations Championship – Pool Stage Fixtures:
Round 1: Fiji vs Wales – 4 July @ Cardiff City Stadium
Round 2: Fiji vs England – 11 July @ Hill-Dickinson Stadium
Round 3: Fiji vs Scotland – 18 July @ Murrayfield Stadium
With three high-profile encounters scheduled in iconic venues, Fiji are poised for a thrilling Nations Championship campaign as they aim to make their mark on the Northern hemisphere, providing a world class experience for fans.
For more information, and the chance to sign up for Priority Ticketing, see FijiRugby.com/nations-championship
