Fiji Secures First Win in Wales in 2024
The upcoming match between Fiji and Wales presents a clash between a team that excels amid on-field chaos and another accustomed to off-field turmoil.
Steve Tandy's squad begins the Nations Championship with an away game at Cardiff City Stadium, located just 11 miles from their training base at the Vale Resort.
Following a crucial Six Nations victory over Italy, Wales seeks consecutive Test wins for the first time since the 2023 World Cup.
However, only three days before the opening fixture, the team faced an unwelcome distraction due to a dispute with the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU) regarding match fees.
"These sorts of things should be put to bed weeks before a Test match," said former Wales and Lions centre Jamie Roberts on the Scrum V podcast.
Nations Championship: Fiji v Wales
Fans can listen to the match on BBC Radio Wales, BBC Radio Cymru, , and the website and app, which also provides live text commentary. The game will be broadcast live on S4C.
Head coach Steve Tandy emphasized that the training schedule remained unaffected, though the issue, resolved late Wednesday afternoon, was an additional distraction.
"It was a tough position that it came into Test week," admitted captain Dewi Lake. "Obviously everybody would have loved these things to be done sooner.
With it being a new tournament, we understand the details behind it and it's a shame that pulled into Test week.
We were able to get it done in plenty of time and all focus has been on the game. It crept into the week but it did not take our main focus off a Test against a quality outfit."
Hooker Dewi Lake and Lions flanker Jac Morgan chose to leave the Ospreys amid uncertainty over the club's future, agreeing moves across the border in December.
Next season, both players will represent Gloucester, with the switch to Kingsholm allowing them to concentrate fully on rugby.
Lake and Morgan were junior members of the Wales squad in 2023 when strike action was narrowly avoided before the home Six Nations fixture against England.
"Unfortunately these things have happened before and they might happen again," said Lake regarding the latest dispute.
"Some things are out of your control, but the important thing is that we have focused on the rugby and were able to thrash that out early in the week."
Sticking to Plan Against Frenetic Fiji
Wales hope that any lost energy due to off-field distractions will not hinder their efforts to upset Fiji.
The proximity of the venue offers some advantage, but Wales remain slight underdogs against Fiji, currently ranked ninth in World Rugby, two places above Wales.
They had a valuable warm-up against the Barbarians at the sweltering Allianz Stadium last weekend and must start strongly ahead of more challenging fixtures in Argentina and South Africa.
Louis Rees-Zammit has been shifted back to the wing, with Blair Murray aiming to build on his lively performance against the Barbarians.
Wales will be without injured lock Dafydd Jenkins and rested tight-head prop Tomas Francis but otherwise field a full-strength squad.
Facing an unpredictable Barbarians side was ideal preparation for maintaining discipline against the Fijians.
"Discipline is more than just penalty count," said Lake. "It's sticking to a game plan when it is getting chaotic.
I have played Fiji and you can get sucked into that way of playing, throwing offloads. That's their game and we will struggle in that chaos, structure will be massively important."
Fiji won for the first time in Cardiff during their last meeting, defeating Wales 24-19 in a hectic match at Principality Stadium in November 2024.
The Fijian squad boasts numerous game-breakers, including a potent back three based in France.
Wing Jiuta Wainiqolo scored 18 tries in 20 games for Lyon in 2025-26, while full-back Salesi Rayasi recorded 15 tries in 27 appearances for European champions Bordeaux-Begles.
Selestino Ravutaumada scored six tries for Racing 92, including a remarkable solo effort against France in November.
Their speed is complemented by a powerful and skilled midfield pairing of Josua Tuisova and Semi Radradra.
"Flair, physicality and enjoyment," said captain Tevita Ikanivere when asked what to expect from his side. "We are looking forward to making the people of Fiji proud."
Nations Championship a Hard Sell in Cardiff
Fiji will spend their summer playing in Cardiff, Liverpool, and Edinburgh, thousands of miles from their home in Suva.
Ticket sales are reportedly strong for matches against England at Everton's 53,000-capacity stadium and Scotland at 67,000-capacity Murrayfield.
However, a week after a largely empty Twickenham, the 33,000-capacity Cardiff City Stadium is expected to be only half full.
This may reflect the current state of Welsh rugby or the limited appeal of July fixtures, but Tandy remains hopeful of robust support.
"I hope as many people can get there as possible to get behind the team," said Tandy.
"I know there is that feeling of connection to our supporters and I just encourage people to go, because it means so much for the players."
Given ticket demand, it is fortunate that the fixture is held at Cardiff City Stadium rather than the larger 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium.
"We are massively excited to play here," said Lake. "There are a couple of Cardiff City fans in the group who are really excited, and a couple of Swansea fans not so much!
What an amazing thing for us to have an away game that is just down the road."
After facing Wales, Fiji will travel to northwest England, while Wales must quickly relocate from Cardiff to San Juan to face Argentina, then onward to Durban for a challenging match against South Africa.
One victory would likely be deemed a successful summer before Cardiff fixtures against Japan, New Zealand, and Australia, culminating in finals week at Twickenham.
Following a week filled with off-field meetings, Lake and his teammates will welcome the opportunity to focus solely on their performance on the pitch.
Team Line-Ups
Fiji: Rayasi; Ravutamada, Radradra, Tuisova, Wainiqolo; Armstrong-Ravula, Lomani; Mawi, Ikanivere (capt), Hoyt, Nasilasila, Mayanavanua, Sowakula, Salawa, Canakaivata.
Replacements: Togiatama, Natave, Ravai, Vocevoce, Senibitu, Kuruvoli, Botitu, Ravouvou.
Wales: Murray; Rees-Zammit, James, Hawkins, Adams; Edwards, Tomos Williams; Carre, Lake (capt), Lewis, Carter, Beard, Mann, Morgan, Wainwright.
Replacements: Elias, Smith, Warren, Plumtree, Botham, Hardy, Costelow, Mee.
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistants: Matthew Carley (England) & Hollie Davidson (Scotland)
