England had originally been scheduled to face Fiji on November 28, but have now set up a game against Australia for November 7. Fiji will now play a test match against the USA before playing Australia in Sydney in a ranking Test in June 2010.

All these changes have been approved by the International Rugby Board (IRB) and are part of a package of global measures to offer enhanced financial support to the Fiji Rugby Union which has been faced with the loss of its major sponsor, Flour Mills of Fiji, and the recording of a F$770,000 loss in its last financial year. The changes also complement ongoing IRB support for Fiji including significant annual development and high performance investments and the awarding of the hosting rights for the IRB funded 2009 ANZ Pacific Nations Cup.
 
“We are delighted to host a great rugby nation like Fiji,” USA Rugby’s CEO Nigel Melville said. “The Pacific Coast has a strong rugby following and there is no doubt that the community will get behind this match and make it a success.”

Francis Baron, Chief Executive Officer of the RFU added: "Moving around our autumn schedule is not ideal but to be able to offer Fiji substantive support we needed to find a multi-union approach. Playing a Test against Australia in replacement for the Fiji Test will allow us to generate additional revenue to provide meaningful financial support to the Fiji Rugby Union as part of the global package."

Keni Dakuidreketi, Chairman of the Fiji Rugby Union reiterated the positives of this change saying: "These changes will have a positive effect in improving the present difficult financial position of Fiji Rugby. There are other significant outcomes as well: the Wallabies will now have the opportunity to repeat their historic Grand Slam win of 1984; England now hosts the opening Test of that Grand Slam quest; Fiji secures an additional Test against the Wallabies to be played in Australia next year and the USA secures a new home Test against Fiji in November. All around it is great for rugby.”

For more information on the USA Eagles, please visit www.usarugby.org/goto/mens_eagles or contact Sara John at sjohn@usarugby.org.