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28/02/2026Published On: 27/02/2026
The Minister for Foreign Affairs and External Trade, Hon. Sakiasi Ditoka, met with Chief Executive Officer Mr. Koli Sewabu and Director of Women’s Rugby Ms. Cathy Wong of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) during his recent official visit to the United Kingdom under the Commonwealth Parliamentary Association (CPA) programme.
The meeting coincided with the official media launch of preparations for the inaugural Nations Championship — a milestone moment following Fiji’s elevation to Tier 1 rugby status. Fiji will play Wales, England and Scotland in coordinated fixtures hosted across the UK on 4, 11 and 18 July respectively.
Beyond the field of play, the Government views the Championship as a high-value investment platform in one of Fiji’s most important strategic markets. The United Kingdom hosts a vibrant Fijian diaspora, a strong tourism source market, and established trade and defence partnerships. Leveraging the global visibility of elite rugby, Fiji aims to generate tangible economic and diplomatic returns.
The 3 UK-hosted matches will anchor a coordinated “Team Fiji UK” strategy integrating Government leadership, the diaspora, private sector partners and sporting institutions. Match-week programmes will include targeted tourism promotions, export showcases, investment roundtables and policy dialogues — positioning Fiji not only as a rugby powerhouse, but as a premium tourism destination, a climate leader and an emerging investment hub.
Sports diplomacy offers measurable returns: increased visitor arrivals from UK markets, strengthened brand recognition for Fijian products, expanded business networks, and deeper institutional ties with British counterparts. It also provides a compelling platform to elevate Fiji’s global climate advocacy to influential audiences across government, business and civil society.
Community roadshows beginning in Wales on 27 February, followed by engagements in Stoke, Edinburgh, Aldershot and London, will further mobilise diaspora networks as ambassadors for trade, tourism and national branding.
Hon. Ditoka reaffirmed that Government support for the Nations Championship aligns directly with Fiji’s Sovereignty, Security and Prosperity priorities. By transforming elite rugby fixtures into structured economic and diplomatic engagements, Fiji is positioning sport as a strategic investment delivering long-term returns in tourism growth, export expansion, foreign direct investment and strengthened bilateral partnerships.
The Nations Championship will therefore serve as a coordinated soft-power campaign — uniting sport, diplomacy, climate leadership and commerce into a single national narrative that advances Fiji’s interests in the United Kingdom and beyond.
