Everton is poised to host a significant match for England’s Nations Championship, as they have been presented with the opportunity to welcome Fiji for their game in July at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. This match marks a noteworthy occasion, being the first time since 2019 that England will play a match in their own country away from the traditional venue of Twickenham.
Scheduled for July 11, this Test match against Fiji is classified as an away fixture for England, occurring after their match against South Africa in Johannesburg the week prior. The governing body for the host union is keen on relocating the match to a neutral ground to maximize ticket sales and revenue, which is a critical aspect of hosting international games.
Originally, England was set to compete against Fiji in South Africa before heading to Argentina to face the Pumas on July 18 for their final summer game. However, it has come to light that the Fiji Rugby Union sought permission from the organizers of the Nations Championship to relocate the match to England, allowing for a more favorable financial scenario.
World Rugby, along with the Six Nations and Sanzaar, has approved this switch, contingent upon the stipulation that the match cannot take place at Twickenham for reasons relating to competition integrity.
Although a formal contract is still pending, it appears that Everton's newly constructed stadium is emerging as the preferred location for all concerned parties, with discussions around the terms of the agreement actively continuing. The options for alternative venues are limited, as Wembley, the Emirates Stadium, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are already booked for various events in July. Notably, neither Manchester United nor Manchester City have been approached regarding the use of their facilities.
Matches for England outside of Twickenham are quite rare, and the Rugby Football Union is reportedly pleased to have received this unexpected chance to showcase the national team in different locales. England last played a World Cup warm-up match at St James' Park in Newcastle during 2019, and previously featured in a pool match against Uruguay at the Etihad Stadium during the 2015 World Cup.
This venue shift has been permitted by World Rugby partly due to the absence of proper facilities in Fiji and a commitment to fostering financial growth among smaller rugby unions. Furthermore, details regarding Fiji’s remaining home matches against Wales and Scotland in this summer's Nations Championship are yet to be disclosed.
Since the beginning of the season, Everton has swiftly positioned Bramley-Moore Dock as a key multipurpose venue, boasting a capacity of 53,000. They recently hosted a rugby league Ashes Test match between England and Australia that drew a full house in November. Additionally, the venue will host the Magic Weekend, featuring all 14 Super League teams in July, and Scotland has just announced it as the site for an international friendly against Côte d’Ivoire on March 31, in preparation for the upcoming World Cup.
In other news related to England's national team, preparations for the forthcoming Six Nations tournament have hit a snag due to the announcement that backup loosehead Fin Baxter will require foot surgery. Initially, Baxter was slated to travel to Girona for a training camp ahead of their opening match against Wales on February 7. He was one of five players listed for rehabilitation with hopes of recovering in time for the tournament’s early rounds, but now there is no established timeline for his return.
Moreover, senior tighthead Will Stuart has already been ruled out for the entirety of the Six Nations due to a ruptured Achilles, while Asher Opoku-Fordjour is also unavailable after undergoing shoulder surgery. In response to these injuries, Jack Kenningham from Harlequins has been included in England's training squad for their trip to Spain, whereas Ben Curry remains at Sale to continue his rehabilitation.
