What a week it has been for rugby! We lost to England the previous week, and succumbed to France on Sunday. They were Tests that saw us push the two giants to the limit. They were Tests that highlighted a lot of good things in the Flying Fijians.
They elevated our set pieces, and to a large extent, actually highlighted the impact of our backrow.
Leave aside the calibre of backliners we are packed with, and the uncanny ability to find gaps in the tightest of spots, and still make a headway to the tryline.
And our scrums. They held.
Besides, the Australian Wallabies lost to Ireland and the New Zealand All Blacks succumbed to England along the way.
Just goes to show the calibre of Tests at the weekend, and the level we are playing right now.
So it was encouraging to hear the Prime Minister Sitiveni Rabuka raising the importance of us getting into the inaugural Nations Championship which is set to begin in July 2026.
As the PM said: “For us, it means that we are elevating to a higher level and for our players this means almost a full season of Tests.”
Rabuka, who was part of the 1970 national team that toured England and Wales, acknowledged the Fiji Rugby Union for their work in getting the national team a place among the best rugby nations in the southern and northern hemispheres.
The trickling effect of this will be huge for Fiji Rugby pathways and the PM is urging young players to keep their heads in the game.
“I feel proud for Fiji Rugby Union and I would like to encourage all the young players who are in the squad or are aspiring to get into the squad to set their targets high.”
Under the new structure, we are set to play Wales on July 4 in round one, followed by England in round two on July 11 and Scotland on July 18 to complete the first three rounds of Tests.
In the week of November 6-8, we will play France followed by the big clash against Ireland on the week of November 13-15.
We will complete our tour on November 21 against Italy.
The July window will see the northern hemisphere teams travel down South while the southern hemisphere teams will travel to the North in November.
There is no doubt about the positive impact this will have on our game.
Think about it!
The impact of this exposure will reshape the foundations of our rugby. High school rugby, especially Deans Trophy competition preparation, will lift another level. Competition for club and provincial places will intensify. The Fijian Drua will benefit from a deeper and more battle-hardened talent pool. Coaching, strength and conditioning, and refereeing standards will all rise in response.
What we are seeing is the start of a potential transformation that may redefine our rugby culture, strengthen the pathway from schools to professional ranks, and raise the identity and profile of both the Drua and the Flying Fijians.
The countdown to the next Rugby World Cup suddenly feels more exciting, more promising, and more within reach.
What a week. What an announcement! This is big. The stuff of dreams, and the beginning of something truly special for our rugby!
