Springboks to face Fiji before 2027 Rugby World Cup
JOHANNESBURG: Defending champions South Africa will complete a seven-match build-up next year for the 2027 Rugby World Cup by playing Fiji in Australian city Gosford on September 18, it was announced on Friday.
South Africa, the defending champions, are set to play Fiji in a build-up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup on September 18 in Gosford, Australia. This will be their seventh match before the tournament, following their opening Pool B fixture against Italy on October 3 in Adelaide. They will also face Georgia in Brisbane and Romania in Perth during their preparations.
Fiji will compete in Pool C alongside Argentina, Spain, and Canada. If South Africa advance to the quarter-finals, they could face New Zealand, their rivals who they defeated recently. The Springboks will play two matches each against Argentina, Australia, and New Zealand in the Rugby Championship before the World Cup.
This will be the first time the southern hemisphere event will feature a double round in a World Cup year, unlike previous editions where the four sides played each other only once. South Africa has triumphed over Fiji in three Tests, including two at World Cup tournaments. The match promises a clash of styles, with the Springboks' powerful game contrasting Fiji's ball-in-hand approach. South Africa is currently in Australia, preparing for a one-off Test against the Wallabies in Perth on September 27.
In November, the Springboks will tour Italy, France, and Ireland in the Nations Championship before traveling to London for the climax of the tournament, which includes a play-off.
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