Fiji-born number eight Hughes, 35, won 22 caps for England between 2016 and 2019 and gets another shot at international rugby late in his career.
He is eligible to represent Fiji under World Rugby's revised Regulation 8, which allows players to switch international allegiance after a three-year absence from their previous national team provided they have a qualifying birthright connection and World Rugby's approval.
Hughes will form a loose trio with Pita-Gus Sowakula and Kitione Salawa in the back row of the scrum, with locks Mesake Vocevoce and Isoa Nasilasila ahead of them.
Props Eroni Mawi and Luke Tagi will be either side of captain Tevita Ikanivere at hooker.
Isikeli Rabitu is at flyhalf with Simione Kuruvoli in the number nine jersey and centres Vinaya Habosi and Iosefo Masi filling the midfield.
Wings Jiuta Wainiqolo and Selestino Ravutaumada are part of a back three that also includes Salesi Rayasi.
Fiji also meet Ireland in Dublin on November 14 and Italy in Udine a week later.
Nations Championship 2026
The inaugural Nations Championship will see six northern hemisphere and six southern hemisphere nations battle it out across six rounds in the July and November international windows before assembling in Twickenham for one unforgettable finals weekend on November 27-29.
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Fiji team:
Starters: 15-Salesi Rayasi, 14-Selestino Ravutaumada, 13-Iosefo Masi, 12-Vinaya Habosi, 11-Jiuta Wainiqolo, 10-Isikeli Rabitu, 9-Simione Kuruvoli, 8-Nathan Hughes, 7-Kitione Salawa, 6-Pita-Gus Sowakula, 5-Isoa Nasilasila, 4-Mesake Vocevoce, 3-Luke Tagi, 2-Tevita Ikanivere (captain), 1-Eroni Mawi
Replacements: 16-Zuriel Togiatama, 17-Peni Ravai, 18-Inoke Ravuiwasa, 19-Peceli Yato, 20-Elia Canakaivata, 21-Frank Lomani, 22-Ben Volavola, 23-Sireli Maqala
France team:
Starters: 15-Theo Attissogbe; 14-Aaron Grandidier-Nkanang, 13-Kalvin Gourgues, 12-Yoram Moefana, 11-Louis Bielle-Biarrey; 10-Romain Ntamack, 9-Antoine Dupont (capt); 8-Francois Cros, 7-Cameron Woki, 6-Paul Boudehent; 5-Mickael Guillard, 4-Florian Verhaeghe; 3-Sipili Falatea, 2-Maxime Lamothe, 1-Jean-Baptiste Gros
Replacements: 16-Peato Mauvaka, 17-Jefferson Poirot, 18-Regis Montagne, 19-Charles Ollivon, 20-Tom Staniforth, 21-Esteban Capilla, 22-Maxime Lucu, 23-Emilien Gailleton
