FRU is driving the construction of at least one or two new stadiums that would be able to hold crowds of up to 30,000. Photo: AFP / Glyn Kirk
Fiji Rugby (FRU) is expected to confirm venues to host the July Nations Championship Test matches against England, Wales and Scotland soon, the union's chairman says.
John Sanday said FRU is awaiting on the announcement by SANZAR for the England match, following its request that the initial venue be changed from South Africa to England.
He said the union is in the final phases of locking on a venue to play England, while the the venues for the Wales and Scotland matches should also be confirmed and signed by mid-February.
"The negotiations are still ongoing with the venues. We submitted a request justifying reasons for it and now awaiting the announcement by SANZAR for the England match," he told RNZ Pacific on Thursday.
"We are coming to the final moments of finalising the venues and a few little issues remain to be cleared before we can sign contracts for venues to lock them down.
"We must remember, this is the first time it's been done that we are negotiating for venues in the United Kingdom from the boardroom of FRU House in Gordon St, Suva. It is historic in that sense."
John Sanday Photo: Facebook / John Ian Nasson Sanday
Sanday said they have "made very good progress", especially with board members and chief executive Koli Sewabu working through the Christmas holidays to follow up on negotiations.
"We should be in a position to initial some of the contracts for the venues for Wales and Scotland match by middle of February," he said.
"Also hoping that by this time also we can bed down the details for the England game."
Fiji Rugby will host its July internationals outside of Fiji, seeking to maximise financial returns from these "home matches".
Local venues do not have the capacity to host big crowds, with maximum sitting capacities only between 10,000 and 15,000. But venues in England, Scotland, Wales, France and South African can hold between 35,000 and 60,000 fans.
As part of its focus, the FRU is also driving the construction of at least one or two new stadiums that would be able to hold crowds of up to 30,000.
Meanwhile, Sanday said the matches, plus the Autumn Internationals in November, also scheduled to be played in Europe, were important for the Flying Fijians heading into the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.
He believes the Flying Fijians can work past the quarterfinal stages at the event, adding the work is being done now to see that materialise.
"This year will be bigger and better than last and next year is world cup year where we expect to reach semifinals," he said.
"So all the hard work is starting to show results and we just have to keep the focus, keep it simple and just continue to work hard and work diligently ... it will all be good."
