Fiji joins Nations Championship

Fiji will join the inaugural Nations Championship, which will be launched in July next year. Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) director of rugby Lailanie Burnes made the official announcement last night.

Fiji joins Japan as the two invitational Southern Hemisphere nation, completing a formidable lineup alongside New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and the Six Nations giants of England, France, Ireland, Italy, Scotland and Wales of the Northern Hemisphere.

“Fiji is now a Tier 1 nation, recognized and included among global elite,” Burnes said.

The Nations Championship is a landmark collaboration between the Six Nations Rugby and SANZAAR bringing together the 12 strongest rugby nations in a single elite competition.

The biennial tournament will be held during the July and November Test windows with finals weekend in London featuring three days of double-headers to crown the first-ever Nations Champion and determine the dominant hemisphere each cycle.

Under the new structure every nation will play six cross-hemisphere fixtures.

The Northern Hemisphere teams will travel south in July, while the Southern Hemisphere teams including Fiji, will travel north in November. Fiji will face Wales, England and Scotland in the first, second and third round, respectively, in July.

They will take on France in round four, faceoff against Ireland in round five and meet Italy in the sixth round.

“For Fiji, this guarantees regular, meaningful, world-class test rugby, a historic first for the nation,” Burnes said.

FRU chairman John Sanday said: “This is a historic moment for Fiji. Being invited into the Nations Championship places us alongside the very best in world rugby. For our children playing on village grounds, for our families gathered to watch every test match and for Fijians everywhere, this milestone belongs to you.”

“Fiji’s rugby, courageous, dynamic and full of flair has long captured the world’s imagination. Now, we have a consistent, structured top-tier stage to showcase our talent.” FRU acting chief executive officer Koli Sewabu said Fiji’s inclusion would reshape Fiji’s rugby landscape.

“Access to the world’s top-tier nations will elevate our game at every level from grassroots pathways to professional development to the international stage. This platform accelerates our growth, strengthens our systems and provides a clear pathway for future generations to thrive in elite rugby.”

Host venues for Fiji will be confirmed soon