Fiji will play NZ in NZ next year and host Ireland in Fiji

Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:05 am

The Flying Fijians are set to play the All Blacks next year in what would be their first test against the three-time world champions in a decade.
The Flying Fijians last test against the All Blacks was back in 2011.

The Flying Fijians last test against the All Blacks was back in 2011. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

Fiji have played New Zealand nine previous occasions, including five tests, the last of which was a 60-14 defeat in the last ever test at Carisbrook in Dunedin in 2011.

Fiji Rugby chief executive John O'Connor said they were also in talks to host Ireland during the July test window, when the British and Irish Lions were scheduled to be in South Africa.

"I think next year we have the All Blacks so we will look forward to preparing for that and [hosting] Ireland and hopefully we have that vaccine and the test schedule for next year continues as per plan."

The Flying Fijians have played four tests against the Irish, including a narrow a 23-20 defeat in Dublin three years ago.

"We're also having discussions with some of the Northern Hemisphere teams that will be coming down and are a possibility to fill in the gaps that are available to play them."
Timoci Nagusa heads for the tryline against Ireland in 2017.

Timoci Nagusa heads for the tryline against Ireland in 2017. Photo: PHOTOSPORT

The 2020 Pacific Nations Cup was scrapped as a result of the Covid-19 pandemic, with Manu Samoa and the 'Ikale Tahi not having kicked a ball since the the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

O'Connor said it remained unclear whether the normally annual event would be able to return next year.

"I'm really not sure because of Covid-19.

"Usually there is always plans for the Pacific Nations Cup but Tonga and Samoa have not qualified for the World Cup and I'm not sure what the plans are for that qualification."

Fiji completed a disrupted Northern Hemisphere tour at the weekend with a 38-24 victory over Georgia, after their first three Autumn Nations Cup tests were cancelled following a Covid-19 outbreak in the squad.

we gonna kill them leprechauns!

Wed Dec 09, 2020 6:11 am

Awesome - on both counts.

Wed Dec 09, 2020 7:34 am

Was really looking forward to the Italy-Fiji game, bloody 'Rona!

Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:41 am

Great news.

Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:09 pm

That's awesome. How often do they play tier 1 Nations at home?

Wed Dec 09, 2020 9:11 pm

Win - win.

The Irish get to see an island nation that isn't a plague-ridden hellhole.

The Fijians get to see what rugby looks like when coached by the clueless and played by the living dead.

Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:39 pm

Is that what passes for "funny" in your neck of the woods?

Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:44 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:09 pm That's awesome. How often do they play tier 1 Nations at home?

uhm, depends on what tier 1 is? we had scotland over during the B&I Lions tour in 2017 and Italy as well (we beat both).. thats about it, we haven't had any other tier 1 teams over since before fijians knew what a coup was.

Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:59 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 10:39 pm Is that what passes for "funny" in your neck of the woods?

An appointment with the dentist passes for funny in Coalfalls

Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:01 pm

stemoc wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 11:44 pm
Uncle fester wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:09 pm That's awesome. How often do they play tier 1 Nations at home?
uhm, depends on what tier 1 is? we had scotland over during the B&I Lions tour in 2017 and Italy as well (we beat both).. thats about it, we haven't had any other tier 1 teams over since before fijians knew what a coup was.

Great to see. Hope we pump you in gratitude for your hospitality.

Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:21 pm

Uncle fester wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:09 pm That's awesome. How often do they play tier 1 Nations at home?

iirc it's more fiscally beneficial for them to play away, which is part of why they don't get many visits. Could be bollocks but I feel like I read that somewhere.

Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:37 pm

sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:21 pm
Uncle fester wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:09 pm That's awesome. How often do they play tier 1 Nations at home?
iirc it's more fiscally beneficial for them to play away, which is part of why they don't get many visits. Could be bollocks but I feel like I read that somewhere.

Thats not strictly true. It applies more to Samoa.

Fiji had to pay $250k to get the NZ Maori to play in Fiji last year.

Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:47 pm

Glaston wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:37 pm
sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:21 pm
Uncle fester wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:09 pm That's awesome. How often do they play tier 1 Nations at home?
iirc it's more fiscally beneficial for them to play away, which is part of why they don't get many visits. Could be bollocks but I feel like I read that somewhere.
Thats not strictly true. It applies more to Samoa.

Fiji had to pay $250k to get the NZ Maori to play in Fiji last year.

Thanks for the cprrection. Jeez that doesn't seem right (morally) at all. That's a lot of, presumably, WR's money being used there for something the NZRU should probably be doing anyway?

Thu Dec 10, 2020 10:44 pm

Glaston wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:37 pm
sockwithaticket wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 1:21 pm
Uncle fester wrote: Wed Dec 09, 2020 8:09 pm That's awesome. How often do they play tier 1 Nations at home?
iirc it's more fiscally beneficial for them to play away, which is part of why they don't get many visits. Could be bollocks but I feel like I read that somewhere.
Thats not strictly true. It applies more to Samoa.

Fiji had to pay $250k to get the NZ Maori to play in Fiji last year.

Yep, live international Rugby is profitable in Fiji.

People often lump Fiji, Samoa and Tonga together as facing the same challenges, but the reality is that Fiji with it's one million inhabitants, has five times the populace of Samoa and ten times the population of Tonga.

Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:42 pm

Sounds like the plan is Fiji then Italy x2 in July, TRC + Bled 3, then 5 EOY games with Italy, Ireland, France plus 2 more to be confirmed.

Not sure what the benefit is in pumping Italy 3 times in a year? I know it's a Lions year, but would home tests against Italy even sell out? Genuinely can't think of a more boring fixture - never going to be competitive, and not contributing to the development of a team who don't get enough T1 tests.

Would much rather see another game against Fiji, or a game against Samoa, Tonga, or Japan. Could even be a good chance to keep the momentum going against Moana Pasifika.

Guess they're just trying to pack in as many money-making opportunities as possible after this year.

Fri Dec 11, 2020 12:02 pm

mrbrownstone wrote: Thu Dec 10, 2020 11:42 pm Sounds like the plan is Fiji then Italy x2 in July, TRC + Bled 3, then 5 EOY games with Italy, Ireland, France plus 2 more to be confirmed.

Not sure what the benefit is in pumping Italy 3 times in a year? I know it's a Lions year, but would home tests against Italy even sell out? Genuinely can't think of a more boring fixture - never going to be competitive, and not contributing to the development of a team who don't get enough T1 tests.

Would much rather see another game against Fiji, or a game against Samoa, Tonga, or Japan. Could even be a good chance to keep the momentum going against Moana Pasifika.

Guess they're just trying to pack in as many money-making opportunities as possible after this year.

I agree, matches against NZ should be special occasions, not a yearly occurrence (or thrice yearly!!) also what is the point of two test series?

I imagine that this was what WR promised Gavazzi so that he wouldn't kick up a fuss about the cancelled WC match last year.

As a fan I'd much rather see us playing a 3 test series in Fiji or Japan, the matches would probably be more competitive and entertaining. I guess having a pretty young team out in new zealand for a few weeks will do them some good, especially if they manage to put in a good performance, but yeah these matches are going to be very one sided.