A Win for Rugby and Soccer

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU), Fiji Sports Council (FSC), and Fiji Football Association (FFA), representing the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC), have reached a deal allowing shared use of the HFC Bank Stadium in mid-July, ensuring both rugby and football fans can enjoy major sporting events.

The agreement paves the way for the highly anticipated July 12th test match between the Fiji Water Flying Fijians and Scotland to proceed as scheduled, while OFC’s football matches will be held around the same period.

FRU’s General Manager of Operations & Development, Sale Sorovaki, expressed gratitude to FFA/OFC and FSC for their cooperation.“We are grateful to the Fiji Sports Council for providing the facilities over the years,” Sorovaki said. 

“This stadium has hosted numerous local, regional, and international tournaments, allowing athletes in both codes to fulfill their sporting dreams.”

He acknowledged the challenges of double bookings but highlighted the growth of sports in Fiji.

“This situation reflects the increasing demand in the sports space. We remain optimistic as both organizations understand the importance of high-performance sports.”

Sorovaki also thanked OFC for accommodating the rugby test, emphasizing its significance. 

“This match is a major event on our rugby calendar, especially following the British and Irish Lions Tour in Australia. It’s an opportunity for Scottish fans in the region to support their team in Fiji before returning to Australia for the Lions matches.”

The Fiji FA, acting on behalf of OFC, confirmed that while OFC matches will proceed as planned that week, they have made adjustments to allow the Fiji-Scotland rugby clash to take center stage on July 12th at 3:35 PM.

FFA CEO Mohammed Yusuf stated, “The OFC schedule remains intact, but we have allowed the Fiji vs. Scotland rugby match to proceed on Saturday. Additionally, July 11th has been allocated for the teams’ captain’s run, giving Fiji Rugby a two-day window forFiji Sports Council CEO Gilbert Vakalalabure praised both parties for reaching a compromise, emphasizing the need for improved facilities to host high-profile events.

“I thank both organizations for working together to find common ground,” Vakalalabure said.

“However, this situation highlights the shortage of world-class venues in Fiji. Stakeholders must collaborate with financiers and the media to push for better sporting infrastructure.”

Meanwhile, the Fiji Water Flying Fijians will first face the Wallabies in Australia on July 6th before returning home to take on Scotland at HFC Bank Stadium, as confirmed during the meeting which was held at FFA.