Interim Flying Fijians head coach Senirusi Seruvakula Photo: Facebook / Fiji Rugby
The Flying Fijians have named their 50-man extended squad for the new inter-hemisphere rugby competition, the Nations Championship.
Six teams from each hemisphere compete in round-robin play to decide the rankings for finals at Twickenham.
Fiji, alongside other southern hemishphere teams New Zealand, Australia, South Africa, Argentina and Japan, will swquare off against six teams from the northern hemisphere.
Flying Fijians acting head coach Senirusi Seruvakula said this extended squad blends experience and emerging talents.
The squad will be reduced to 32 players two weeks before Fiji's first game on 4 July, against Wales in Cardiff.
Fiji has decided to play their 'home' matches against Wales, England and Scotland in the UK rather than in Fiji for financial reasons.
Samoa and Cowboys second-rower Jeremiah Nanai has re-injured his shoulder and is facing at least a month out of action.
Nanai injured his shoulder while playing for Samoa in the Pacific Championships last October and missed the final against the Kiwis after undergoing a reconstruction.
He returned to NRL action in round eight against the Sharks and was promoted to the North Queensland starting side against the Bulldogs on Friday 1 May, but left the field early in the second half.
A club statement released on 4 May said the damage was not as severe as first feared and Nanai would not need immediate surgery.
The Fijiana women's rugby team will host South Africa for the first time this year.
Fiji Rugby CEO Koli Sewabu said the two matches are confirmed for August, as part of a 10-match schedule for the year.
The Fijiana will also play in the World Rugby XVs series in September.
Sewabu said they are also negotiating with Japan for possible Test matches, as part of a new memorandum of understanding between the two unions.
Fijian rugby league international Jahream Bula has signed a four-year contract extension with the Wests Tigers.
It keeps the fullback in Tigers colours until the end of 2030.
Coach Benji Marshall has been impressed with the 24-year-old's development and says he brings a lot to the group on and off the field.
Meanwhile, Samoan international Taylan May, who signed a two-year contract in late 2025, has extended for a further three seasons with the Tigers.
Eighteen-year-old Samoan weightlifter Seine Stowers claimed four gold medals at the 2026 Universal Weightlifting Championship, in Apia.
