Share this article
loading filters
loading posts
Loading...
“Music has never simply been something we just consume here. It has helped define who we are.”
£8.5m work experience boost for young people furthest from the labour market
Mayor announces changes to Liverpool City Region Cabinet
Liverpool City Region’s music sector worth £780 million – on track to become a £1 billion powerhouse
Landmark Anti-Racism Strategy launched for Liverpool City Region
Fiji Rugby today announced they will take on England at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium on Saturday 11 July.
The Fiji Water 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. Fiji 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.
Announcing the Fiji v England match are Fiji’s Rugby Union Director Lailanie Burnes Fiji (47 caps) and Saracens prop Eroni Mawi, former England dual-code international Jason Robinson and former Fiji international captain and Gloucester flanker Akapusi Qera
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.
Mr Koli Sewabu, CEO of Fiji Rugby Union, shared his excitement ahead of the tournament:
“As this constitutes a home match away from Fiji, we will be bringing Fiji to you – and ensuring that you will feel a very different atmosphere – with the tropics, fun and sun, and spectacular free flowing rugby.
“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, showcase our culture, and connect with our diaspora and 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.”
Bill Sweeney, Rugby Football Union CEO said:
“We are pleased to be taking the England men’s team to the North West to play Fiji at Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium; a fantastic new venue that is fitting for the inaugural year of the Nations Championship.
“The Nations Championship delivers more meaningful, high-stakes fixtures that will energise existing fans and attract new audiences. Hosting this fixture in a new stadium will only add to this. As this will be Fiji’s home fixture in the Nations Championship, I have no doubt that their supporters will create a brilliant atmosphere, alongside the England supporters.”
Angus Kinnear, Chief Executive Officer at Everton Football Club, said:
“We are incredibly proud to welcome Fiji and England to Hill Dickinson Stadium for what will be a landmark international occasion.
“Our new stadium was built to host world-class sport and entertainment, and this fixture is another powerful statement of its status as a global events venue. To see an international rugby match of this calibre staged here so soon after opening reflects our ambition and the confidence event organisers have in our facilities and the city region.
“We look forward to working closely with Fiji Rugby to create a spectacular celebration of their culture, while showcasing Liverpool and our stadium to a worldwide audience.”
Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium
Steve Rotheram, Mayor of the Liverpool City Region, added:
“We’re absolutely delighted to welcome Fiji and England to Hill Dickinson Stadium this summer. Bringing a major international fixture like this to Liverpool is brilliant news for our region – not just for rugby fans, but for local businesses too.
“We know what these big occasions can do. They fill our hotels, our restaurants and our pubs, and they put money back into the local economy. Just as importantly, they showcase Liverpool to a global audience as a city that knows how to host world-class sport.
“It is likely that those visitors will return time and again to enjoy the warmth of our welcome and the unparalleled visitor experience.”
Cllr Liam Robinson, Leader of Liverpool City Council, added:
“We are delighted to be hosting the Fiji v England Nations Championship match this summer, adding to an ever-increasing line-up of prestigious global sporting events in our city.
“The fixture will not only give rugby fans the unique opportunity to enjoy a taste of authentic Fijian culture here in Liverpool, but it will once again boost our visitor economy and, in turn, bring longer-term benefits to our people and communities.
“It’s also another fantastic chance to cement our reputation as a city that delivers world-class events on a global stage – we are looking forward to welcoming the players, teams, and supporters to Liverpool in July for what promises to be an unforgettable experience.”
Fiji Rugby Nations Championship – Pool Stage Fixtures
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.
Tickets for Fiji vs England will go on exclusive pre-sale at 0930 on Tuesday 3rd March until 23.59 on Wednesday 4th March. General sale will commence at 09.30 on Thursday 5th March.
Hospitality options are available directly from the venue.
Supporters can sign up now at www.FijiRugby.com/nations-championship to join the pre-sale and get first access to tickets when they go on sale.
