The Flying Fijians celebrating their 2024 PNC final win over Japan. Photo: World Rugby Photo: World Rugby
The Flying Fijians will play the Wallabies and Scotland in two Test matches during the July/August international rugby window.
Former Flying Fijian and new Fiji Rakavi Football Union Limited (FRFU) board chairman John Sanday confirmed the two matches to RNZ Pacific.
"We have held discussions with Australia Rugby around the Vuvale Partnership and confirm that July 6 is the date for the Test against the Wallabies," Sanday said.
"The Flying Fijians then return home to play Scotland the following weekend."
Sanday said the Test matches will be good opportunities for the team to confirm their status in the World Rugby top 10 rankings.
Simione Kuruvoli sets up to fire a pass out against the Wallabies in Saint Entienne, France during the 2023 Rugby World Cup. Kuruvoli kicked Fiji to beating the Wallabies for the first time in 69 years, on Sunday 17 September 2023. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz Photo: Andrew Cornaga/www.photosport.nz
Fiji is currently ninth below both Australia (8th) and Scotland (6th).
The Flying Fijians had defeated Australia, 22-15, for the first time in 69 years, at the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France, sending the Wallabies out of the top 10 rankings.
On their November tour last year, the Fijians lost badly to Scotland.
Sanday said both Test matches would be exciting and tough for the Fiji national side but he was confident the side can cause upsets again.
Under new coach Joe Schmidt the Wallabies began their resurrection in 2024.
They face the British and Irish Lions over three Test matches in July and August, with the Fiji clash lined up as a warm-up for that.
Sanday said that makes the Test clash on 6 July interesting.
"I am sure the Wallabies will be focused on winning that Test, avenging their loss in France and then of course warming up to meeting the British Lions," Sanday said.
The Scotland Test back home in Fiji will also be a chance for the national side to avenge their loss in Murrayfield last November.
"We would like to welcome back Scotland to the Pacific and am excited because that will be the opportunity for the Flying Fijians to claim a win back over them."
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Following the two Test matches the Flying Fijians will then aim to defend their Pacific Nations Cup title when the series rolls off at the end of July and into August.
Two pools, Pacific and Asia, will be drawn up again for the series, which could also become the first qualifying event for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
Pacific teams Samoa and Tonga will need qualification while Asia pool teams Canada and USA also need to qualify for 2027.
Sanday said the board is working with the FRFU management to finalise other Test matches in the November window.
"We are still discussing that with other unions and will confirm the details later."
FRFU Board chairman John Sanday. Image: Fiji Rugby Photo: Fiji Rugby Union
Diaspora involvement critical
Meanwhile, Sanday said one of the critical areas the board was working on is strengthening its commercial arm, which will be charged with securing funding, sponsorships and partnerships.
As a commercial director on the board, Sanday revealed one of the areas they are looking at is working with the Fijian diaspora in Australia, New Zealand, Europe and the USA as partners.
"We are open to ideas and discussions," he said.
"We want all Fijians to come on board and be a part of Fiji Rugby to support the national teams."
The board had held discussions with the 8th Man, a fan group based out of Europe.
They will hold discussions also with similar fan groups and communities in the other countries around the globe.
The Flying Fijians and the sevens teams do not lack support when they travel to play around the globe, with thousands of Fiji fans turning up to support them.
"If you notice while watching these games, the majority of these fans are decked out with some kind of merchandise that identifies them as a fan for the Fijian team playing on the field," Sanday said.
"These patriotic fans have contributed financially to Fiji Rugby by online purchase of merchandise through our distribution partners.
"The board is currently considering a review of the Fiji Rugby business model to introduce a subscription element.
"The basic strategy is to harness the patriotism from our growing supporter base to participate in a loyalty program with benefits/content that come with an annual fee to enable our rugby crazy fans to get a better online media content experience and through that, their annual subscription will directly assist our teams and sport nationally.
"These are being discussed and we are hoping to formalise and launch some of these this new year."
Sanday said they want to make those connections beneficial to everyone involved.
Locally, he said they are working with member unions on understanding the strategic plan and how they can be involved.
He added that is important and they want to have a transparent system with the unions.
"Strengthening relationships with the rugby unions and national teams, improving infrastructure, and ensuring that all stakeholders are working cohesively is critical to the board, and the emphasis will also be placed on continued development of grassroots rugby to create future stars and clear talent pathways," he said.
"My main focus as chairman, though, is to reconnect and strengthen the relationships with member unions and associations and listening to the challenges they face and see how and where FRU can intervene to help fix them. I am not making big promises but I am here to serve and to listen."
He also revealed that sportswear brand Umbro is the new supplier for all team uniforms for five years, replacing Nike, whose sponsorship contract ended in December 2024.
Sanday said they will continue working with World Rugby and other stakeholders to ensure that during their watch Fiji Rugby develops positively and is in a better place when they complete their terms as a board.
