Wales to face Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium

The Wales rugby men’s side are set to face Fiji at the Cardiff City Stadium when they kick off the inaugural Nations Championship in July.

It will be the first time the Welsh men’s national side will play an international at the home of Cardiff City football club, with the game scheduled for Saturday, 4 July.

Details for the fixture are expected to be confirmed this week.

Wales play three away games in the summer campaign against Fiji, Argentina and South Africa in World Rugby’s new biennial competition.

South Africa have confirmed the game against Wales will be in Durban on 18 July, while the destination of the Argentina match has yet to be announced, although it is expected to be in San Juan on 11 July.

The choice of the Cardiff City Stadium venue for the Wales and Fiji match is not related to recent lower ticket sales at the Principality Stadium, and the July game will not be organised by the Welsh Rugby Union (WRU).

Fiji are considered the official home side but will be staging games outside their own country during the tournament.

Cardiff City Stadium hosted Welsh rugby’s “Judgement Day” in 2024, a Welsh regional derby double-header played on the same day in the United Rugby Championship (URC).

Cardiff Rugby also played at the ground between 2009 and 2012, before returning to the Arms Park, while the European Challenge Cup club final was held at the Cardiff City Stadium in 2011.

The stadium, which was opened in 2009, has become the home of the Wales football team and has a capacity of 33,280, compared to just under 74,000 at the Principality Stadium.

Football Association of Wales (FAW) chief executive Noel Mooney has also raised the prospect of the Wales football team playing at the Principality Stadium before the European Championships in 2028, with the ground hosting six matches in the tournament, including the opening game.