Aaron Wainwright played a key role as Wales secured a victory over Fiji at Cardiff City Stadium, marking the start of their Nations Championship campaign with a third consecutive win under coach Steve Tandy. The match, held at the Sky Bet Championship venue located near their usual home at the Principality Stadium, was the first Test ever played by Wales at the ground. Fiji, serving as the official hosts for this series, had moved their Nations Championship fixtures to the northern hemisphere.

Wainwright, 28, who recently joined Leicester, returned to familiar surroundings despite never having appeared at the stadium during his time in Cardiff’s system. Having been part of the Cardiff academy for several years, he was released at 16 without making a senior appearance. “I never got the chance to play here,” said Wainwright. “We had training sessions on the pitch as kids and I took part in many team photo shoots before the coaches decided to drop me.”

Since then, Wainwright has developed into a formidable back-row player, contributing significantly to Wales’s ongoing success in the Nations Championship. The victory over Fiji continues a positive trend for the team under Tandy, building momentum in the tournament’s opening stages. The match at Cardiff City Stadium also marked a new chapter for Welsh rugby, expanding the venues that host international fixtures within the country.