By Owen Linnett and Becca Clayton
Everton’s Hill Dickinson stadium has been announced as the venue for Fiji’s home game against England in rugby’s inaugural Nations Championship.
The Fijians will face Steve Borthwick’s side on Saturday 11 July, marking the first time England have played a fixture on home soil away from Twickenham’s Allianz Stadium since August 2019 – when they played Italy at St James’ Park.
2026 sees the first version of the event that has been touted to revolutionise international rugby, with the six best southern hemisphere nations facing off against the top northern hemisphere countries.
England, Wales, Scotland, Ireland, Italy and France will represent the north, while South Africa, New Zealand, Australia, Argentina, Japan and Fiji will compete for the south.
Fiji, who are the smallest country in the competition with a population of just over 937,000 people, are unable to host home fixtures so they have opted to play them across the United Kingdom.
Former England captain Jason Robinson scored the only try in the Roses’ 2003 Rugby World Cup win, but never faced Fiji in his union career.
He spent most of his career playing both rugby league and union in the North West for Wigan Warriors and Sale Sharks. Robinson believes the choice to host such an important fixture at Everton’s new stadium is a great sign for rugby union in the north of England.
The 51-year-old said: “There is so much sport in the North West, we know how passionate people are about it, but to bring this game here is just amazing.
“This could have been anywhere in the country. I’m so glad, as a fellow northerner, it’s up here because I know so many people who would usually love to watch rugby but they can’t get down to Twickenham.
“The stadium itself is just something that the players will be loving to play in. The fans are going to get a great experience and it’s exciting because it’s between two great teams. I can’t wait to come back here in July and watch some great rugby in the North West.”
