World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup

World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
Current season, competition or edition:; 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
Sport	Rugby union
Founded	2006; 18 years ago
First season	2006
No. of teams	Canada; Fiji; Japan; Samoa; Tonga; United States;
Most recent; champion(s)	Fiji (2024)
Most titles	Fiji (7 titles)
Official website	world.rugby/pacific-nations-cup

The Pacific Nations Cup is an international rugby union competition held between Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Canada, Japan and the United States. First held in 2006, the tournament is intended to strengthen the Tier 2 rugby teams by providing competitive test matches in a tournament format.

Former teams include the Junior All Blacks (2006, 2007, 2009), Australia A (2007, 2008, 2015), Georgia (2018) and the Māori All Blacks (2008). The inaugural tournament was the only one that carried the title of IRB Pacific 5 Nations; from 2007 the competition was known as the IRB Pacific Nations Cup and subsequently the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.

Format

The tournament is a round-robin, where each team plays one match against each of the other teams. There are four points for a win, two points for a draw and none for a defeat. There are also bonus points offered with one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing by 7 points or fewer.

The tournament generally occurs every year in the June mid-year international test window. The tournament was played mainly throughout June, with the last round in early July. The revised tournament begins in May due to pre-existing Test commitments and concludes in late June.

History

The Pacific Nations Cup was funded as an International Rugby Board (IRB) tournament which was part of the $US50 million, three-year, global strategic investment programme launched in August 2005. The competition was aimed at developing the Pacific rim sides in the second tier of the rugby countries: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga. The Junior All Blacks were also invited to compete, who are New Zealand's second XV. "The IRB Pacific 5 Nations is a tournament that will provide more certainty for Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga in terms of regular high level Test match rugby, while also providing a high level of competition for the Junior All Blacks," said Mark Egan, the IRB's Head of Rugby Services.^[1]

In the first year only it was called the Pacific 5 Nations and did not include Australia. Australia had been invited to take part in the inaugural 2006 tournament but decided against sending a team stating that they wanted to focus on their domestic competition. The inaugural tournament kicked off 3 June 2006 and was played in a round-robin format, with some games being held in Australia. The Junior All Blacks won all of their matches en route to winning the 2006 tournament. The inaugural tournament was a success in providing a platform for Pacific states and Japan in gaining valuable exposure.

Australia A joined an expanded competition for the 2007 season. The inclusion of Australia A meant that the tier 2 teams would have an even greater number of matches in the buildup to the 2007 Rugby World Cup. For Australia, it provided a stepping stone for Wallaby selection. Following the 2008 tournament, however, the ARU announced Australia A would not play in 2009 due to the current economic environment.^[2] Australia has not participated since then.

In 2008, the New Zealand Māori team replaced the Junior All Blacks in the competition. The New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) had decided that the New Zealand Māori needed to play more matches at home and that the Junior All Blacks would not be assembled in 2008 for reasons of "player welfare."^[3] The Junior All Blacks returned for the 2009 tournament, but no New Zealand team has participated since then.

From 2010 to 2012, the Pacific Nations Cup was a four-team tournament, contested by Japan, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga, with Samoa winning in 2010 and 2012, and Japan winning in 2011.

In January 2013, the IRB announced that both the United States and Canada teams would be joining the 2013 competition on a permanent basis. For the first time, the reigning champion Samoan team did not compete as they took part in a competition in South Africa.^[4]

The Pacific Nations Cup was downscaled for 2016 and 2017 with these two editions featuring only Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. The sides from Canada, Japan and United States played in their respective regional qualifiers for the 2019 Rugby World Cup. As part of the Oceanian qualification, places at the 2019 Rugby World Cup were awarded to the two top teams of the 2016 and 2017 PNC (on aggregate), whereas the bottom team played a repechage match against the second best Rugby Europe Championship team. Georgia was invited for the 2018 tournament hosted in Suva.^[5]

For 2019, Canada, Japan and the United States returned to the tournament, serving as a prelude to the 2019 Rugby World Cup. Japan won without losing a match.^[6]

The tournament was not held in 2020 or 2021, largely due to the COVID-19 pandemic and other related logistical issues. It was revived in 2022, with the ever-present Fiji, Samoa and Tonga being joined by Australia A. Samoa won all three matches, ahead of Australia A. The 2023 version saw Australia A replaced by Japan. Fiji won the championship this time, ahead of Samoa who narrowly edged-out Japan for second place.

In October 2023, World Rugby announced that beginning in 2024 the Pacific Nations Cup will be contested by six permanent teams from North America, the Pacific, and Asia: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and the United States.^[7]^[8] The competition format would, however, be staged with a round-robin pool stage followed by a knockout stage (finals),^[8] hosted by Japan or the United States, to decide the tournament winner, unlike the previous format.^[8] In August 2024, it was revealed that the 2025 edition (finals hosted by the United States) of the Pacific Nations Cup would double as the qualification tournament for the newly-expanded 2027 Rugby World Cup,^[9] merging North America and the Asia-Pacific regions, replacing the former regional qualification method.^[9] With this announcement, five of the six teams that compete in the Pacific Nations Cup will automatically qualify for the 2027 Rugby World Cup as Fiji and Japan had qualified via the 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool stage.^[10]

Teams

2006–2023

The teams in the Pacific Nations Cup and their finishing positions are as follows:

Team	06	07	08	09	10	11	12	13	14	15	16	17	18	19	22	23
Pacific teams
Fiji	3rd	4th	4th	2nd	2nd	3rd	2nd	1st	2nd	1st	1st	1st	1st	2nd	3rd	1st
Samoa	2nd	3rd	3rd	3rd	1st	4th	1st	—	1st^*	2nd	2nd	3rd	4th	4th	1st	2nd
Tonga	4th	5th	6th	5th	4th	2nd	3rd	3rd	3rd	3rd	3rd	2nd	2nd	5th	4th	4th
Other teams
Canada	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2nd	3rd	6th	—	—	—	6th	—	—
Japan	5th	6th	5th	4th	3rd	1st	4th	4th	1st^*	4th	—	—	—	1st	—	3rd
United States	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	5th	2nd	5th	—	—	—	3rd	—	—
Former teams
Australia A	—	2nd	2nd	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	2nd	—
Georgia	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	3rd	—	—	—
Junior All Blacks	1st	1st	—	1st	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—
New Zealand Māori	—	—	1st	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—	—

2024–present

The teams in the Pacific Nations Cup from the 2024 season and their finishing positions are as follows:

Team	24	25
Canada	6th	TBD
Fiji	1st	TBD
Japan	2nd	TBD
Samoa	3rd	TBD
Tonga	5th	TBD
United States	4th	TBD

Notes:

^ * The 2014 tournament was split into conferences without crossover matches or finals. Samoa and Japan won their respective conference titles.^[11]^[12]

Commercial sponsorship

On 20 June 2008 the International Rugby Board announced that regional financial institution ANZ had agreed to become presenting sponsor of the competition, as well as the FORU Oceania Cup and the Pacific Rugby Cup.^[13]

On 16 August 2024, World Rugby and Asahi Breweries Limited announced that Asahi Super Dry would be the title sponsor and official beer of the competition.^[14]^[15]

Results

Year	Finals host	Gold medal match			Bronze medal match			Teams
Year	Finals host	Gold medal	Score	Silver medal	Bronze medal	Score	Fourth place	Teams
2006	—	Junior All Blacks	round-robin	Samoa	Fiji	round-robin	Tonga	5
2007	—	Junior All Blacks	round-robin	Australia A	Samoa	round-robin	Fiji	6
2008	—	New Zealand Māori	round-robin	Australia A	Samoa	round-robin	Fiji	6
2009	—	Junior All Blacks	round-robin	Fiji	Samoa	round-robin	Japan	5
2010	—	Samoa	round-robin	Fiji	Japan	round-robin	Tonga	4
2011	—	Japan	round-robin	Tonga	Fiji	round-robin	Samoa	4
2012	—	Samoa	round-robin	Fiji	Tonga	round-robin	Japan	4
2013	—	Fiji	round-robin	Canada	Tonga	round-robin	Japan	5
2014^[a]	—	Japan Samoa	round-robin; two conferences	United States Fiji	Canada Tonga	round-robin; two conferences	—	6
2015	Canada	Fiji	39–29 Swangard Stadium, Burnaby	Samoa	Tonga	31–20 Swangard Stadium, Burnaby	Japan	6
2016	—	Fiji	round-robin	Samoa	Tonga	round-robin	—	3
2017	—	Fiji	round-robin	Tonga	Samoa	round-robin	—	3
2018	—	Fiji	round-robin	Tonga	Georgia	round-robin	Samoa	4
2019	—	Japan	round-robin	Fiji	United States	round-robin	Samoa	6
2022	—	Samoa	round-robin	Australia A	Fiji	round-robin	Tonga	4
2023	—	Fiji	round-robin	Samoa	Japan	round-robin	Tonga	4
2024	Japan	Fiji	41–17 Hanazono Stadium, Higashiōsaka	Japan	Samoa	18–13 Hanazono Stadium, Higashiōsaka	United States	6

Champions record

Team	Champions	Runners-up	Third	Fourth
Fiji	7 (2013, 2015, 2016, 2017, 2018, 2023, 2024)	5 (2009, 2010, 2012, 2014, 2019)	3 (2006, 2011, 2022)	2 (2007, 2008)
Samoa	4 (2010, 2012, 2014, 2022)	4 (2006, 2015, 2016, 2023)	5 (2007, 2008, 2009, 2017, 2024)	3 (2011, 2018, 2019)
Japan	3 (2011, 2014, 2019)	1 (2024)	2 (2010, 2023)	4 (2009, 2012, 2013, 2015)
Junior All Blacks	3 (2006, 2007, 2009)	—	—	—
New Zealand Māori	1 (2008)	—	—	—
Tonga	—	3 (2011, 2017, 2018)	5 (2012, 2013, 2014, 2015, 2016)	4 (2006, 2010, 2022, 2023)
Australia A	—	3 (2007, 2008, 2022)	—	—
United States	—	1 (2014)	1 (2019)	1 (2024)
Canada	—	1 (2013)	1 (2014)	—
Georgia	—	—	1 (2018)	—

Summary

Pacific Nations Overall Table (2006–2024)
Team	P	W	D	L	W%	PF	PA	Diff.	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts
Fiji	56	36	2	18	64.29%	1,447	1,180	+267	185	140	25	8	181
Samoa	52	27	2	23	51.92%	1,200	1,130	+70	144	126	13	8	133
Japan	47	19	0	28	40.43%	1,069	1,369	−300	123	182	14	8	98
Tonga	55	16	1	38	29.09%	1,115	1,609	−494	130	196	8	12	86
Junior All Blacks	13	13	0	0	100%	556	160	+396	80	21	12	0	64
Australia A	13	9	1	3	69.23%	489	252	+237	66	31	8	2	48
United States	17	6	0	11	35.29%	336	423	−87	33	50	4	3	31
New Zealand Māori	5	5	0	0	100%	134	62	+72	18	10	1	0	21
Canada	16	3	0	13	18.75%	317	457	−140	37	53	3	4	19
Georgia	2	1	0	1	50%	31	52	−21	3	8	0	0	4

Updated: 22 September 2024
W is 4 points. D is 2 points. 1 bonus point given for TB or LB.
Points and bonus points tally includes playoff matches.

Top scorers

The following tables contain points and tries scored in the Pacific Nations Cup.

Top points scorers

Rank	Player	Team	Points
1	Kurt Morath	Tonga	188
2	Ayumu Goromaru	Japan	142
3	Seremaia Bai	Fiji	130
4	Taniela Rawaqa	Fiji	103
5	James Arlidge	Japan	102
6	Ben Volavola	Fiji	97
7	Sonatane Takulua	Tonga	81
8	Pierre Hola	Tonga	75
9	Gavin Williams	Samoa	73
10	AJ MacGinty	United States	72

Last updated: 14 August 2024
Source: statbunker.com

Top try scorers

Rank	Player	Team	Tries
1	David Lemi	Samoa	11
2	Hosea Gear	Junior All Blacks	10
3	Anthony Tuitavake	Junior All Blacks	8
4	Takashi Kikutani	Japan	7
	Leone Nakarawa	Fiji	7
	Sonatane Takulua	Tonga	7
	Hendrick Tui	Japan	7
	Lachlan Turner	Australia A	7
	Fetuʻu Vainikolo	Tonga	7
10	Koliniasi Holani	Japan	6
	Vunga Lilo	Tonga	6
	Timoci Nagusa	Fiji	6
	Blaine Scully	United States	6

Last updated: 14 August 2024
Source: statbunker.com

Venues

Below is a table listing all the venues that have been used in the tournaments, listed with the number of matches each venue has hosted annually and historically:

Table updated to 2024 tournament

Stadium	Location	Years (No. of Matches)	Total
Apia Park	Apia	2007 (3), 2008 (2), 2009 (1), 2010 (5), 2014 (1), 2016 (1), 2017 (1), 2019 (1), 2023 (2), 2024 (1)	18
Avaya Stadium	San Jose	2015 (2)	2
Ballymore Stadium	Brisbane	2008 (1)	1
BC Place	Vancouver	2024 (1)	1
BCU International Stadium	Coffs Harbour	2007 (2)	2
BMO Field	Toronto	2015 (3)	3
Bonney Field	California	2014 (1), 2015 (2)	3
Carisbrook	Dunedin	2006 (1), 2007 (1)	2
Central Coast Stadium	Gosford	2006 (2)	2
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium	Tokyo	2007 (1), 2011 (1), 2012 (3), 2013 (2), 2023 (1), 2024 (3)	11
Churchill Park	Lautoka	2007 (2), 2008 (2), 2009 (5), 2010 (1), 2011 (3), 2012 (1), 2013 (1), 2014 (1), 2019 (1), 2022 (4), 2023 (1)	21
Dairy Farmers Stadium	Townsville	2007 (1)	1
Ellerslie Rugby Park	Edmonton	2014 (1)	1
Hanazono Rugby Stadium	Higashiōsaka	2019 (1), 2023 (1), 2024 (2)	4
HFC Bank Stadium	Suva	2006 (2), 2007 (2), 2009 (2), 2011 (2), 2014 (1), 2015 (1), 2016 (2), 2018 (4), 2019 (4), 2022 (2), 2024 (1)	23
Honjō Athletic Stadium	Kitakyushu	2006 (1)	1
Infinity Park	Glendale	2019 (1)	1
Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium	Kamaishi	2019 (1)	1
Kumagaya Rugby Ground	Kamaishi	2024 (1)	1
Lawaqa Park	Sigatoka	2009 (1)	1
Level-5 Stadium	Fukuoka	2008 (1)	1
McLean Park	Napier	2008 (1)	1
Mizuho Rugby Stadium	Nagoya	2012 (2), 2013 (2)	4
Nagai Stadium	Osaka	2006 (1)	1
Nippatsu Mitsuzawa Stadium	Kanagawa	2013 (1)	1
North Harbour Stadium	Auckland	2006 (1), 2008 (1)	2
North Sydney Oval	Sydney	2008 (1)	1
Olympic Stadium	Tokyo	2008 (1)	1
Richardson Memorial Stadium	Kingston, Ontario	2013 (1)	1
Sapporo Dome	Sapporo	2023 (1)	1
Sendai Stadium	Sendai	2007 (1), 2008 (1)	2
Sydney Football Stadium	Sydney	2007 (1), 2008 (1)	2
StubHub Center	Los Angeles	2013 (1), 2014 (1), 2024 (1)	3
Swangard Stadium	British Columbia	2014 (1), 2015 (4)	5
Teufaiva Sport Stadium	Nukuʻalofa	2007 (1), 2008 (2), 2009 (1), 2017 (2), 2024 (1)	7
Twin Elm Rugby Park	Ottawa	2013 (1)	1
Waikato Stadium	Waikato	2008 (1)	1
Yarrow Stadium	New Plymouth	2006 (2)	2

Notes

^ In 2014, the Pacific Nations Cup was played between two conferences (Asia/Pacific, Pacific Islands).

References

^ "IRB Pacific 5 Nations takes shape". rugbyrugby.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2006.
^ "Australia A out of 2009 Pacific Nations Cup". The Roar. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
^ "New Zealand Maori to join IRB Pacific Nations Cup". allblacks.com. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.
^ "Rugby".
^ "World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2018: Fixtures". World Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2018.
^ "World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2019: Fixtures" (PDF). World Rugby. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.
^ Philipps, Mitch (24 October 2023). "World Cup expands to 24 teams amid radical new calendar". Reuters. Paris. Retrieved 24 October 2023.
^ ^a ^b ^c Tora, Iliesa (26 October 2023). "More game time for Pacific team as World Rugby approves expansions". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023.
^ ^a ^b "Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifying Pathway Shakeup". americasrugbynews.com. 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024.
^ "Qualification process confirmed for expanded Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia". world.rugby. World Rugby. 13 August 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024.
^ "Samoa break 16-year drought with win over Fiji in Pacific Nations Cup". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016.
^ Thomas, Greg (22 June 2014). "Fiji 13-18 Samoa". IRB. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.
^ "ANZ Bank sponsors Pacific rugby". Fiji Sun. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2021.
^ "Asahi Super Dry becomes title sponsor of Pacific Nations Cup". Pacific Nations Cup. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.
^ "Asahi Super Dry Signs On As Pacific Nations Cup 2024 Title Sponsor". RugbyAsia247. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.

External links

Pacific Nations Cup web page at World Rugby

[16] In 2014, the Pacific Nations Cup was played between two conferences (Asia/Pacific, Pacific Islands).

[irb-1] "IRB Pacific 5 Nations takes shape". rugbyrugby.com. Archived from the original on 31 December 2006. Retrieved 19 October 2006.

[2] "Australia A out of 2009 Pacific Nations Cup". The Roar. 17 December 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2021.

[maori-3] "New Zealand Maori to join IRB Pacific Nations Cup". allblacks.com. 26 September 2007. Archived from the original on 23 December 2007. Retrieved 17 January 2008.

[4] "Rugby".

[fixtures-2018-5] "World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2018: Fixtures". World Rugby. Retrieved 15 April 2018.

[fixtures-2019-6] "World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2019: Fixtures" (PDF). World Rugby. Archived (PDF) from the original on 18 December 2018. Retrieved 16 January 2019.

[7] Philipps, Mitch (24 October 2023). "World Cup expands to 24 teams amid radical new calendar". Reuters. Paris. Retrieved 24 October 2023.

[rnz-8] Tora, Iliesa (26 October 2023). "More game time for Pacific team as World Rugby approves expansions". Radio New Zealand. Archived from the original on 26 October 2023.

[arn-9] "Rugby World Cup 2027 Qualifying Pathway Shakeup". americasrugbynews.com. 4 June 2024. Archived from the original on 28 August 2024.

[10] "Qualification process confirmed for expanded Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia". world.rugby. World Rugby. 13 August 2024. Archived from the original on 21 August 2024.

[abc-2014-11] "Samoa break 16-year drought with win over Fiji in Pacific Nations Cup". Australian Broadcasting Corporation. 21 June 2014. Archived from the original on 1 November 2016.

[irb-22-6-14-12] Thomas, Greg (22 June 2014). "Fiji 13-18 Samoa". IRB. Archived from the original on 14 July 2014.

[13] "ANZ Bank sponsors Pacific rugby". Fiji Sun. 25 June 2008. Retrieved 26 September 2021.

[14] "Asahi Super Dry becomes title sponsor of Pacific Nations Cup". Pacific Nations Cup. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.

[15] "Asahi Super Dry Signs On As Pacific Nations Cup 2024 Title Sponsor". RugbyAsia247. 16 August 2024. Retrieved 23 August 2024.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

[a]

World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup

Format

History

Teams

2006–2023

2024–present

Commercial sponsorship

Results

Champions record

Summary

Top scorers

Top points scorers

Top try scorers

Venues

See also

Notes

References

External links

Read other articles:

Inerie, Mama yang Cantik

Kenya

Demonologi

Melville J. Herskovits

1662 en France

Ryan Sessegnon

Solano County, California

List of Soviet Union–United States summits

大字 (数字)

Resolusi 989 Dewan Keamanan Perserikatan Bangsa-Bangsa

Lauro Gazzolo

Новотитаровское сельское поселение

艾哈迈德·哈桑·贝克尔

كأس رابطة الأندية الإنجليزية المحترفة 1989–90

中華民國國軍中的中共間諜列表

Home Lines

نظام شبكة فوجي

Floating-gate MOSFET

Sultan Agung of Mataram

Cenerentola