Mark Evans, CEO of the Fijian Drua, believes the British and Irish Lions should prioritise a warm-up match against Fiji over a lucrative fixture in France ahead of their 2029 tour to New Zealand.
With the tour limited to 10 games, Evans insists a choice must be made between commercial gain and rugby development, arguing that Fiji offers a better challenge than a weakened French team, which would likely be missing top players due to the Top 14 final and France’s own tour commitments.
In an interview with RUGBYPASS, Evans emphasises the importance of regular Tier One opposition for Fiji to remain competitive on the global stage and says the venue, Suva or Auckland, is secondary to the opportunity itself.
He acknowledges Fiji’s limited stadium capacity and financial constraints but believes a Lions clash could still boost the Fiji Rugby Union’s profile and development, especially with the Drua now providing a domestic professional pathway.
Evans also criticised the Lions’ 2025 Australia tour, suggesting Fiji would have been a better draw than composite sides. Lions CEO Ben Calveley confirmed discussions are underway about including teams like Fiji or Japan in future pre-tour fixtures.
Evans concludes that consistent top-level matches and a fairer share of broadcast revenue are crucial for the long-term sustainability of Fijian rugby.
