Springboks and Fiji confirm Gosford warm-up
South Africa and Fiji will meet in a 2027 Rugby World Cup warm-up match, the two unions have confirmed. The fixture will take place at Polytec Stadium in Gosford, north of Sydney, on Saturday, 18 September 2027, with kick-off at 18:00 AEST (10:00 SA time). The match will complete both nations' preparations for the tournament in Australia. South Africa will begin the defence of their world title just over two weeks later, facing Italy in Adelaide on Sunday, 3 October.[S1]
This will be the fourth meeting between the Springboks and Fiji in their history. South Africa are aiming for a historic first-ever World Cup 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 before and after the Test, establishing high-performance training camps that will see them integrated with the local community and utilising its world-class facilities.[S1]
Erasmus and Sewabu welcome the fixture
Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus said he was very excited about the announcement of the clash against Fiji as part of their preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and about the opportunity to play another Test match in Gosford on the Central Coast after last facing the Pacific Islanders there in 2004. He described Fiji as a quality team who have consistently tested some of the top sides in the world over the last few years, and said they proved they can be a force to be reckoned with by advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup. He added that it would certainly be a great Test for their team before the international spectacle in Australia.[S1]
Erasmus noted that Fiji are one of the top 10 ranked teams in the world and a physical and talented side who will undoubtedly want to take full advantage of the match, similarly to South Africa, before the Rugby World Cup kicks off. He thanked everyone from the Central Coast and SA Rugby who made the match possible, and said he had no doubt it would be an exciting encounter in an area where both teams enjoy fantastic support.[S1]
Fiji Rugby Union CEO Koli Sewabu said Fiji Rugby was delighted to confirm this historic Test Match against the Springboks, one of the most respected and successful teams in world rugby. He said the Springboks have set the benchmark in world rugby and that their players relish every opportunity to test themselves against the very best. He added that the fixture is about more than a rugby match, as it is about inspiring their people, engaging their global Fijian community and continuing to showcase the unique style, spirit and talent that Fiji brings to the world game.[S1]
Sewabu expressed gratitude to their partners for helping bring the event to life and for providing a platform that celebrates international rugby while strengthening the connection between the two proud rugby nations. He said there is a strong Fijian community across Australia and that they look forward to seeing their supporters turn out in force to support the Flying Fijians in Gosford. He added that the match will provide valuable high-performance preparation as they continue to build towards the Rugby World Cup and their long-term objectives, while also creating a memorable occasion for rugby fans to witness two passionate rugby cultures come together in what promises to be a highly competitive and entertaining contest.[S1]
