Wales beat Fiji 39-24 as Jac Morgan sparks Cardiff win

Six tries carried Wales to a 39-24 victory over Fiji in the opening round of the Nations Championship. The result gave Steve Tandy's side consecutive Test wins for the first time since the 2023 World Cup, following their Six Nations victory over Italy in March. Yet the scoreline hides how much pressure Wales absorbed before turning the match through set-piece power, sharper second-half execution and Jac Morgan's two-try return. For Welsh supporters, it was a rare result that mixed resilience with a convincing finish.

The Bottom Line

• Wales beat Fiji 39-24 at Cardiff City Stadium in their Nations Championship opener.
• Jac Morgan scored twice and was named player of the match after a major defensive contribution.
• Rhys Carre, Josh Adams, Ryan Elias and Eddie James added Wales' other four tries.
• Fiji led the attacking statistics for long periods but were repeatedly stopped by Welsh defence, breakdown work and set-piece pressure.
• The win was Wales' second Test victory in a row, their first back-to-back international wins in three years.

Breaking It Down

Fiji needed only two minutes to show the danger Wales were facing. Pita Gus Sowakula finished a flowing move for the opening try, and the Fijian backline kept producing breaks, offloads and metres. Wales answered in a completely different way: scrum pressure created field position, and Morgan twice finished driving mauls to keep the contest level at 10-10 by half-time. The full match report records Fiji's first-half advantage at 25 offloads and 469 metres, compared with no offloads and 66 metres for Wales.

The game changed quickly after the interval. Blair Murray broke from deep, Tomos Williams helped move Wales forward and Rhys Carre finished the attack for Wales' third try. Two minutes later, Josh Adams chased a kick that Selestino Ravutaumada appeared ready to shepherd dead, reached the ball first and scored the bonus-point try.

Fiji did not disappear. Elia Canakaivata scored from a driving lineout, then Ravutaumada made amends for his earlier error by finishing a fast attack that cut the deficit to one point. Wales responded through their bench and their pack. Ryan Elias powered over from another maul, before Joe Hawkins created the final opening for Eddie James to score beneath the posts and complete the 15-point win.

That sequence captured the contrast described in the Guardian's match account: Fiji repeatedly threatened in open play, while Wales kept turning scrums, lineouts and breakdown pressure into points. It was not a match won by having more of the ball. Wales won by making their decisive moments count.

Why This Matters

Wales had not won consecutive Tests since the 2023 World Cup. That gives this result more weight than a single opening-round victory, especially after Fiji had beaten them 24-19 in Cardiff in November 2024. Morgan's return was central: he scored twice, made major interventions at the breakdown and gave Wales the defensive presence needed when Fiji's runners repeatedly broke the first line.

The victory also came after a difficult week. A dispute between the Welsh Rugby Union and the players over match fees was resolved only three days before kick-off, while the crowd of 16,456 left large sections of the 33,000-capacity stadium empty. On the field, though, Wales produced the kind of result that can rebuild interest: six tries, a bonus point and a win over a Fiji side ranked two places above them.

For rugby followers across Britain, the wider tournament context matters too. Fiji are playing their July home matches in the UK because they do not currently have a stadium that meets Nations Championship criteria. Their next match is against England in Liverpool, while Wales leave Cardiff with momentum before a much harder trip.

What Comes Next

Wales travel to face Argentina in San Juan next Saturday, with the BBC live report describing the hosts as fifth in the world rankings going into this weekend. Steve Tandy's side will be chasing a third straight Test win after victories over Italy and Fiji.

Fiji next play England at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool, before facing Scotland at Murrayfield. The confirmed next fixtures place both teams back into high-profile British venues within a week.

FAQ

What was the Fiji vs Wales score?

Wales beat Fiji 39-24 at Cardiff City Stadium. Wales scored six tries, while Fiji scored three.

Who scored for Wales against Fiji?

Jac Morgan scored two tries. Rhys Carre, Josh Adams, Ryan Elias and Eddie James scored the other four, while Dan Edwards and Sam Costelow added nine points from kicks.

Why was Fiji the home team in Cardiff?

Fiji were officially the hosts even though the match was played in Cardiff. Their July home fixtures were moved to the UK because they do not currently have a stadium that meets Nations Championship criteria.

Who was player of the match in Fiji vs Wales?

Jac Morgan was named player of the match. He scored twice and made major defensive contributions, including interventions at the breakdown.

Who do Wales play next?

Wales travel to face Argentina in San Juan next Saturday. Fiji next play England at Hill Dickinson Stadium in Liverpool.