Rugby: All Blacks to face Fiji in San Diego as part of bumper 2024 test schedule

  • 01/02/2024

The All Blacks will face Fiji in San Diego as part of their 14-test schedule for 2024 under new head coach Scott Robertson.

On Thursday, NZ Rugby confirmed the two teams will lock horns in the US in a one-off rugby showcase at SnapDragon Stadium on July 20.  

The All Blacks have played in San Diego once previously, against the USA in 1980.

This year's international season begins against England at Dunedin's Forsyth Barr Stadium on July 6, before heading north to Auckland for a rematch at Eden Park on July 13.

After travelling Stateside to face the World Cup quarter-finalists, the All Blacks return to kick off the Rugby Championship with consecutive tests against Argentina at Wellington's Sky Stadium (August 10) and Eden Park (August 17).

All Blacks coaches Scott Robertson and Jason Ryan.
All Blacks coaches Scott Robertson and Jason Ryan. Photo credit: Getty Images

South Africa will be their next stop, where they'll play the world champions in a rematch of last year's World Cup final in Johannesburg on August 31 and in Cape Town on September 7.

They'll round out their Rugby Championship schedule with Bledisloe Cup tests against Australia at Sydney's Accor Stadium (September 21) and Wellington's Sky Stadium (September 28).

Their annual European tour will include a stopover to face Japan in Yokohama (October 26), before tests against England at London's Twickenham (November 2), as well as Ireland (November 9), France (November 16), and Italy (November 23). Venues for those tests are yet to be confirmed.

"Playing England under the roof in Dunedin is a great start for us in a world class stadium, and then we go up to Auckland where we have a great record that we are really proud of," Robertson said.

"We then fly off to San Diego which is exciting in itself. The Fijians know their way around the world, and they'll come out from everywhere. I know a lot of Kiwis will make the trip as well."

NZ Rugby chief executive Mark Robinson said the San Diego test against Fiji is a key component of their plans to expand the All Blacks' brand in the US.

"It's been a long-held ambition for New Zealand Rugby and part of our wider strategy to increase the visibility and understanding of rugby in North America and to build our brand presence ahead the men's and women's Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033 respectively," said Robinson.

Robertson says the tests against the Springboks on the highveld at Ellis Park and at DHL Stadium in Cape Town will provide an immediate measure on how his squad is tracking.

"They are iconic tests and I know a lot of Kiwis will be excited about that," he added.

"It is a great chance to find out about ourselves against the world champions. It's a chance to support us locally but also internationally.

"It's also a chance to get behind this team and experience it with us, which is the exciting thing about it... and be proud to wear your All Blacks jersey no matter where we go."

All Blacks' 2024 test schedule:

July 6 - England (Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin)

July 13 - England (Eden Park, Auckland)

July 20 - Fiji (SnapDragon Stadium, San Diego)

August 10 - Argentina (Sky Stadium, Wellington)

August 17 - Argentina (Eden Park, Auckland)

August 31 - South Africa (Ellis Park, Johannesburg)

September 7 - South Africa (DHL Stadium, Cape Town)

September 21 - Australia (Stadium Australia, Sydney)

September 28 - Australia (Sky Stadium, Wellington)

October 26 - Japan (Nissan Stadium, Yokohama)

November 2 - England (Twickenham, London)

November 9 - Ireland (venue TBC)

November 16 - France (venue TBC)

November 23 - Italy (venue TBC)