Match Preview: Fiji v Scotland

Scotland’s fixture against Fiji on Saturday 18 July at Scottish Gas Murrayfield marks the conclusion of the Southern Hemisphere leg of the inaugural Nations Championship. While officially classified as an away tie for Scotland, the match takes place in Edinburgh as the final stop of Fiji’s UK residency that consisted of games in Cardiff and Liverpool in the first two rounds of the championship. This encounter provides both teams with a critical opportunity to collect points for the final time before the competition pauses until November. Tickets can still be bought here match. 

Scotland’s Form

Scotland enter the final weekend of the July window having established a competitive baseline against top-tier Southern Hemisphere opposition. The tournament began with an emphatic seven-try, 47-38 victory over Argentina in Córdoba, a result that elevated Gregor Townsend’s side to fifth in the official World Rugby rankings.

This was followed by a demanding and deeply physical encounter against world champions South Africa at the high-altitude environment of Loftus Versfeld in Pretoria. Four tries from Scotland secured a well-earned bonus point from what was a back and forth match, however, the Springboks ultimately played a strong 80-minute performance to clinically see out the victory.

Scotland now sit third in the Northern Hemisphere table riding a wave of momentum going into the match with Fiji this Saturday. Appearing in the top three nations for metres made, carries and offloads across the tournament, the attacking style that has become synonymous with this Townsend side over the last few years has been well and truly on display.

Fiji’s Form

The Flying Fijians arrive in Edinburgh at the end of an intensive UK-based tour that has tested the depth of their roster. Operating under acting head coach Senirusi Seruvakula, Fiji opened their campaign with a high-scoring 39-24 loss to Wales in Cardiff before facing an England side that had a point to prove in Liverpool last weekend. Coming off a difficult 8-73 defeat to England, Fiji will be eager to make amends and earn their first points of the Nations Championship.

Fiji still remains one of the most dangerous counter-attacking nations in international rugby, specialising in rapid offloads and high-tempo transitional play. Despite match results, the Flying Fijians sit at the top of the tournament standings for offloads – by a significant margin. Shifting the ball out of the tackle 42 times in their first two matches, they eclipse all other nations with France trailing behind on 25 and Scotland third with 21. This style of play will test the Scottish defensive resilience in what is gearing up to be an offensive shoot-out.

Josh Bayliss and Kyle Rowe during a Skyscanner Pacific Tour match between Fiji and Scotland at the HFC Bank Stadium, on July 12, 2025, in Suva, Fiji.

The last encounter

The last time the sides met at Scottish Gas Murrayfield in November 2024, Scotland produced a clinical performance to secure a convincing 57-17 victory. However, Fiji reversed the narrative during Scotland’s summer tour to the Pacific Islands last year to claim a 29-14 win in Suva. Although Scotland took an early lead inside three minutes, ill discipline and a four-try Fiji attack proved too much for the away side. The Flying Fijians have never won on Scottish soil but acting as the hosts for the first time offers a unique game scenario that both sides will want to attack from the off.

Debut of the new home kit

Saturday’s match will also mark the first outing of the 2026/27 Scotland home kit . Having officially launched last week under the campaign banner Ready for the Global Stage, the jersey retains the traditional deep navy hue while honouring the rugged wilderness of Scotland’s coastlines and glacial history in the trim. Taking the field in their new colours for the first time at Scottish Gas Murrayfield provides a fitting milestone as the squad concludes its opening Test series of the new global tournament. You can buy your kit here now.