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.
Current season, competition or edition: 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup | |
 | |
| Sport | Rugby union |
|---|---|
| Founded | 2006 |
| First season | 2006 |
| No. of teams | |
| Most recent champion(s) |  Fiji (2024) |
| Most titles | Fiji (7 titles) |
| Official website | world.rugby/pacific-nations-cup |
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
editThe 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
editThe 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
edit2006–2023
editThe 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
editThe 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
editOn 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
edit| Year | Finals host | Gold medal match | Bronze medal match | Teams | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gold medal | Score | Silver medal | Bronze medal | Score | Fourth place | ||||||
| 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
edit| 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
edit| 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 |
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
editThis section needs expansion with: scorers for 2018. Citation for the tables below only covers 2006 to 2017, plus 2019. You can help by adding to it. (August 2019) |
The following tables contain points and tries scored in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Top points scorersedit
Last updated: 14 August 2024
|
Top try scorersedit
Last updated: 14 August 2024 |
Venues
editBelow 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 |
See also
editNotes
edit- ^ In 2014, the Pacific Nations Cup was played between two conferences (Asia/Pacific, Pacific Islands).
References
edit- ^ "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
edit- Pacific Nations Cup web page at World Rugby