Springboks face Fiji in RWC 2027 warm-up as three-peat bid takes shape

South Africa will face Fiji in a Rugby World Cup warm-up Test at Polytec Stadium in Gosford, New South Wales, on Saturday 18 September 2027 — exactly two weeks before the Springboks begin their defence of back-to-back world titles against Italy at Adelaide Oval on 3 October.

South Africa Rugby and the Fiji Rugby Union confirmed the fixture at an official announcement on the Central Coast, attended by Springboks head coach Rassie Erasmus and captain Siya Kolisi, held one year to the day before the match. Both squads will use the Central Coast as a base in the lead-up to and following the Test, with 20,000 tickets going on sale on 29 September.

For the Springboks, the fixture represents a meaningful examination ahead of a bid for an unprecedented third consecutive World Cup title. Fiji, ranked inside the world’s top ten, reached the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France and have drawn Argentina, Spain and Canada in Pool C for the 2027 tournament.

“Fiji are a quality team who have consistently tested some of the top sides in the world over the last few years,” Erasmus said. “They proved that they can be a force to be reckoned with by advancing to the quarter-finals of the 2023 Rugby World Cup, so it’s certainly going to be a great test for our team before the international spectacle in Australia.”

Erasmus also noted the personal significance of the venue, with South Africa’s last Test in Gosford coming against the same opponents in 2004. “We are very excited about the opportunity to play another Test match in Gosford on the Central Coast after last facing the Pacific Islanders there in 2004,” he said.

Fiji Rugby Union CEO Koli Sewabu welcomed the announcement, describing it as more than a routine fixture. “The Springboks have set the benchmark in world rugby, and our players relish every opportunity to test themselves against the very best,” Sewabu said.

After their Pool B opener against Italy in Adelaide, South Africa face Georgia at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium before concluding pool play against Romania in Perth.