By Lehlohonolo Lehana.
South Africa will take on Fiji at the Central Coast Stadium north of Sydney in a final warm-up fixture ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup.
The Springboks, who are chasing a third straight World Cup title, will play the Fijians on September 18 next year before their tournament opener against Italy in Adelaide on October 3.
The match against Fiji, which is supported by the Central Coast Council and was launched on Friday – exactly one year before kick-off – marks only the fourth time the two nations have met.
SA Rugby CEO Riaan Oberholzer said, “It will give fans the first opportunity to see the four-time and defending RWC champion Springboks, and fan favourite Fijians, in Australia ahead of the 2027 tournament.”
“The Test will serve as a vital part of both teams’ preparation for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with the Springboks aiming for a historic three-peat, while the Flying Fijians will look to build on their 2023 quarter-final appearance as they carry the hopes of the Pacific into a home-region tournament.”
“As part of their commitment to the region, both teams will take up residence on the Central Coast, leading into and following the Test, with the establishment of high-performance training camps which will see them integrated with the local community and utilising its world-class facilities, said Oberholzer.
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus said: “We are very excited about the announcement of the clash against Fiji as part of our preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and for the opportunity to play another Test match in Gosford on the Central Coast after last facing the Pacific Islanders there in 2004.”
“Fiji are a quality team who have consistently tested some of the top sides in the world over the last few years, and they proved that they can be a force to be reckoned with by advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, so it’s certainly going to be a great test for our team before the international spectacle in Australia.”
Erasmus said, “They are one of the top 10 ranked teams in the world, and they are a physical and talented side who will undoubtedly want to take full advantage of the match, similarly to us, before the Rugby World Cup kicks off.
“I’d like to thank everyone who made this possible from the Central Coast and SA Rugby, and I have no doubt it is going to be an exciting encounter in an area where both teams enjoy fantastic support, added Erasmus.”
With a 18h00 AEST (10h00 SA time) kick-off confirmed, the match is expected to drive visitation of proud Springbok and Fijian fans to the Central Coast to mix with locals for the match.