The Lansdowne Pub in Canton was turned into ‘The Fiji Arms’ ahead of next month’s match at the Cardiff City Stadium
A Cardiff pub was transformed by the Fijian rugby team(Image: Matthew Horwood)
A Cardiff pub was transformed this week to celebrate a month until Fiji host Wales in the Welsh capital.
Next month will see the inaugural Nations Championship take place, with Fiji playing all of their home games in the UK. The first of those will be against Steve Tandy’s side at Cardiff City Stadium on July 4.
So, to make the side feel at home, the Lansdowne Pub in Canton was transformed into ‘The Fiji Arms’ on Thursday – with a special event bringing together Welsh and Fijian culture.
Former Wales international Josh Navidi was in attendance, with the event bringing together players and guests to celebrate the countdown to the tournament.
There was also a unique joint performance from Welsh and Fijian choirs, combining traditional songs from both nations.
The new Nations Championship will see 12 of the top sides in the world all play each other once across this year’s summer and autumn Test windows, allowing Fiji the chance to face all of the Tier One nations.
Speaking at the event, Fiji prop Tom Hoyt said: “To see Cardiff and Wales as a whole embrace Fijian culture means so much to the team.
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“The sense of community we’ve found in the UK has made us feel genuinely welcome here, and we can’t wait to celebrate our shared passion for rugby when the Nations Championship kicks-off for us on the 4 July.”
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As well as the music, there was also specially-created Fijian-inspired food and drink added to the pub’s menu, while it was also decorated with traditional artwork, matchday memorabilia and tropical-inspired décor.
“Cardiff has shown us exactly the kind of welcome we hoped for when we decided to play our ‘home’ fixtures in the UK this summer,” said Fiji’s director of rugby Lailanie Burnes. “We’re proud to bring the Flying Fijians to both the Fijian community in the UK, and the Welsh supporters who have adopted us as their second team over the years.
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“We want to showcase our culture to as many people as possible, and ‘The Fiji Arms’ felt like a perfect way to blend the best of both countries.”
The transformation of The Lansdowne into ‘The Fiji Arms’ has been designed to give fans and the local community an authentic taste of Fijian culture ahead of the tournament.
It also served as a preview for what will happen on matchday at the Cardiff City Stadium, which will be “transformed into a vibrant slice of Fiji for the day”.
There will be captivating cultural performances, a curated Fijian village showcasing the islands’ rich heritage, appearances from three of Fiji’s leading music groups, and non-stop entertainment throughout the event.
There’s also an official after-party, where fans can celebrate with other supporters, enjoy live music and meet some of the Fiji players.
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