The revelation that the Flying Fijians and Japan are expected to join Six Nations teams in a revised eight-team tournament in November is like a breath of fresh air.
BBC reported yesterday that “this year’s Autumn Tests are set to be replaced by an eight-team tournament in which the Six Nations sides will be joined by Japan and Fiji”.
“It will begin on November 14, two weeks after the final round of the 2020 Six Nations is completed.”
Interestingly, the Flying Fijians have been placed in Pool A with England, Wales and Ireland, with Japan in Pool B with Scotland France and Italy.
According to the report, England will face Wales, Ireland and Fiji in one group, with two fixtures at Twickenham, and the venue of the first game still to be decided.
In the other pool, it stated, Scotland will host Japan and France at Murrayfield and face Italy in Rome.
Wales’ game with Scotland, Ireland’s trip to France, and England’s match in Italy have been scheduled for October 31 after being postponed in March.
The other outstanding tie —Ireland vs Italy — will be played the week before. Scotland’s meeting with Wales appears more likely to be held at Twickenham than in Cardiff.
However, with COVID-19 restrictions in place, BBC reported no decision had been taken yet on whether fans would be allowed into the matches.
The Rugby Football Union was hopeful though that supporters would be able to attend games.
RFU chief executive Bill Sweeney is reported saying last month the union was planning for up to 40,000 fans to be able to attend the Twickenham Tests, pending government approval.
The final schedule and venues is expected to be confirmed in August.
This is encouraging news indeed. It sets the stage for our entry into the platform reserved for the big boys of the sport.
After years of being forced to only play intermittent Tests against tier one nations, we finally have an opportunity to be part of a regular competition.
For thousands of Fijian fans, the thought of the Flying Fijians playing regular top level games, consistently, is something to look forward to.
This is what we have long dreamed of. This is what Fiji rugby needs. We know we have the potential to be world beaters.
We know we have the potential to turn heads at the highest level of the game.
We know we have the calibre of players who can rock the world.
We just needed a platform, and consistency of a regular competition at the highest level, to live our dreams.
We now look forward with anticipation to the governing Fiji Rugby Union to set the process, to prepare our team, in motion.
Go Fiji, go.
