Imagine England’s rugby team playing a 'home' match outside Twickenham for the first time since 2019—and in a stadium typically associated with football. That’s exactly what could happen this July, as Everton’s Hill Dickinson Stadium emerges as the frontrunner to host England’s Nations Championship clash against Fiji. But here’s where it gets controversial: this isn’t just a simple venue change. It’s a strategic move by the host union to maximize revenue by shifting the game to a neutral ground. And this is the part most people miss: the Fiji Rugby Union reportedly requested the switch to England, despite the match originally being scheduled in South Africa. Why? Could it be a calculated effort to boost their financial gains, or is there more to the story?
The game, set for 11 July, is technically an away fixture for England, part of the inaugural Nations Championship following their opener against South Africa in Johannesburg. However, World Rugby, the Six Nations, and Sanzaar have all given their approval—with one condition: the match cannot take place at Twickenham, England’s traditional home ground, to maintain competitive integrity. While the contract isn’t signed yet, Everton’s 53,000-capacity stadium is the preferred choice, though negotiations are still ongoing. Other venues like Wembley, the Emirates, and Tottenham Hotspur Stadium are unavailable due to prior bookings, and Manchester’s clubs haven’t been approached.
Why does this matter? England matches away from Twickenham are rare, and the Rugby Football Union is quietly thrilled to take the team on the road. The last time this happened was in 2019, when England played a World Cup warm-up at Newcastle’s St James’ Park. Before that, a 2015 World Cup pool game against Uruguay was held at the Etihad Stadium. World Rugby’s approval reportedly stems from Fiji’s lack of suitable venues and a desire to support smaller unions financially. Yet, this raises questions: Is this a fair move, or does it give England an unintended advantage by playing on familiar soil?
Everton’s Bramley-Moore Dock stadium has quickly established itself as a multi-sport hub. It hosted a sold-out rugby league Ashes Test between England and Australia in November and will welcome the Super League’s Magic Weekend in July. Scotland also chose it for a friendly against Côte d’Ivoire in March as part of their World Cup preparations. Despite this, Everton and the Six Nations have remained tight-lipped on the matter.
Meanwhile, England’s Six Nations preparations have hit a snag. Second-choice loosehead Fin Baxter needs foot surgery, ruling him out indefinitely. He was set to join the squad’s training camp in Girona ahead of their 7 February opener against Wales but will now focus on rehabilitation. Adding to the woes, tighthead Will Stuart is out for the entire tournament with a ruptured Achilles, and Asher Opoku-Fordjour is sidelined after shoulder surgery. Harlequins’ Jack Kenningham has joined England’s training squad, while Ben Curry remains at Sale for injury recovery.
So, what do you think? Is moving Fiji’s 'home' game to England a fair play for financial growth, or does it tilt the scales unfairly? And how will England’s injury setbacks impact their Six Nations campaign? Let’s hear your thoughts in the comments!
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