Rugby-South Africa to face Fiji in final 2027 Rugby World Cup warm-up fixture

FILE PHOTO: Sep 12, 2026; Baltimore, MD, USA; Members of the South Africa Springboks sing their national anthem before the start of Rugby's Greatest Rivalry: South Africa Springboks v New Zealand All Blacks at M&T Bank Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brent Skeen-Imagn Images/File Photo

Sept 18 (Reuters) - South ⁠Africa will take on Fiji at ⁠the Central Coast Stadium north of Sydney ‌in a final warm-up fixture ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup, officials said on Friday.

The Springboks, who ​are chasing a third straight ⁠World Cup title, will ⁠play the Fijians on September 18 next year ⁠before ‌their tournament opener against Italy in Adelaide on October 3.

Springboks coachRassie Erasmus ⁠said Fiji would present a tough ​test for ‌his side.

“They are one of the top ⁠10 ranked ​teams in the world, and they are a physical and talented side who will undoubtedly ⁠want to take full advantage of ​the match, similarly to us, before the Rugby World Cup kicks off,” he added.

South Africa ⁠and Fiji have met on three previous occasions with the Springboks winning all three. Their last meeting was at the 2011 World Cup.

The ​Springboks also haveGeorgia and ⁠Romania in Pool B at the World Cup, ​while Fiji open their ‌campaign against Spain in Newcastle ​and later meet Canada and Argentina.

(Reporting by Nick Said; Editing by Peter Rutherford)