FIJI RUGBY JOINS HISTORIC NATIONS CHAMPIONSHIP – A NEW ERA FOR FIJI AND THE WORLD GAME

The Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) proudly announces that Fiji has been officially invited to compete in the inaugural Nations Championship, launching in July 2026. This ground breaking global tournament is set to redefine international rugby and elevate Fiji onto the world’s premier competitive stage every two years.

This milestone represents one of the most significant achievements in Fiji Rugby history, firmly establishing the nation among the world’s elite rugby powers. Fiji joins Japan as an 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.

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 tournament transforms the traditional July and November test windows into a dynamic, high-stakes format, culminating in a spectacular 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, whilst the Southern Hemisphere teams including Fiji, will travel north in November. For Fiji, this guarantees regular, meaningful, world-class test rugby, a historic first for the nation.

FRU Chairman John Sanday reflected on the achievement, saying: “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.”