FRU hopeful match against the All Blacks will go ahead

The Fiji Rugby Union is hoping that the proposed test match against the All Blacks goes ahead next year.

CEO John O’Connor says they hope that by then things will be cleared so they can travel to New Zealand for the match.

He says this year Fiji was scheduled to play Australia but that did not eventuate because of COVID-19.

The NZ Herald is reporting the All Blacks are likely to play Fiji in July next year.

The All Blacks last played Fiji nine years ago in Dunedin, winning 60-14, while it's been 11 years since Italy lost 27-6 in their last appearance on New Zealand soil.

Fiji is also scheduled to join the Six Nations sides in an eight-team tournament that is set to replace this year's Autumn Tests.

The tournament will begin on 14th November.

Fiji will face England, Wales and Ireland in one group while in the other pool, Scotland will host Japan and France at Murrayfield and face Italy in Rome.

The tournament will be staged on four consecutive weekends until 5th December, with each team facing their equivalent in the other pool on the final weekend, with the venue to be decided.