Scotland’s summer tour heats up with a fierce clash against Fiji in Suva this Friday. Both sides have named bold lineups — and a few surprise changes — as they gear up for their 11th face-off in rugby history.
Big Debuts and Bold Picks for Scotland
Scotland’s selectors have rolled the dice. New face Fergus Burke, who qualifies through his Edinburgh-born grandad, gets his first start at fly-half. It’s a big shout — Burke slots in next to Jamie Dobie at scrum-half, with captaincy duties shifting to flanker Rory Darge.
Behind them? A backline built for speed. Darcy Graham, Cameron Redpath and Kyle Rowe add zip out wide, while Tom Jordan steps in at inside center. This same backline gave the Māori All Blacks a scare in an uncapped match earlier this month.
One-liner: It’s a blend of youth and grit, but untested combinations could be a gamble.
Fiji Look to Muscle Up After Aussie Test
Coach Mick Byrne isn’t shy about where Fiji must dominate — the breakdown. After pushing Australia close in a 21-18 loss, Byrne made two changes: Mesake Doge returns at tighthead prop, and Sireli Maqala comes in at outside center. He’ll link up with big guns like Tuisova and Botitu to keep Scotland’s back row honest.
Byrne loves his midfield depth — no bad thing when the Scots arrive looking to bash you up front.
One word locals keep repeating? Physicality.
Kickoff Time and How to Watch
If you’re staying up stateside, better brew the coffee now.
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Kickoff: Friday, July 11 at 11 p.m. ET
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Where: HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji
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Watch: Live on FloRugby and the FloSports app
Not much beats a late-night test match with Pacific Island flair.
Series History: Familiar Foes, New Stakes
This will be the 11th meeting between these sides. The last clash in 2022 saw Scotland edge past Fiji at Murrayfield. Now, with a fresh-faced Scottish XV and a hungry Fijian outfit at home, all bets are off.
A quick glance at the tale of the tape:
| Fixture | Wins (Scotland) | Wins (Fiji) | Draws |
|---|---|---|---|
| Overall | 8 | 2 | 0 |
Fiji haven’t beaten Scotland since 1998 — but home advantage in Suva changes everything.
What’s at Stake for Both Sides
Scotland’s Southern Tour is about building depth for a busy year ahead. Coach Gregor Townsend wants to see how new players gel under pressure far from home.
Fiji, meanwhile, have an eye on building consistency after so many near-misses against top-tier nations. Byrne says this summer is about showing they can match muscle with precision.
Fans expect fireworks — and probably a few flying tackles worth staying up for.
