Springboks to face Fiji in final 2027 World Cup warm-up

South Africa and Fiji will meet in a final Rugby World Cup warm-up match at Polytec Stadium in Gosford, Australia, on Saturday, September 18, 2027. The fixture, announced on September 18, 2026, will serve as the last Test for both teams before the 2027 tournament begins in Australia. The match is scheduled to kick off at 18:00 AEST (10:00 SA time) and will be played at a venue with a capacity of 20,000 seats. It will be the fourth meeting between the two nations and is being dubbed the "Contest on the Coast." Springbok head coach Rassie Erasmus expressed excitement about the announcement. "We are very excited about the announcement of the clash against Fiji as part of our preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia, and for the opportunity to play another Test match in Gosford on the Central Coast after last facing the Pacific Islanders there in 2004," Erasmus said. He added that Fiji are "a quality team who have consistently tested some of the top sides in the world" and noted their quarterfinal appearance at the 2023 World Cup. Fiji Rugby Union CEO Koli Sewabu called the fixture "historic" and said it is "about more than a rugby match.