Pacific Nations Cup General

[Mr Fish]

@Machpants said in Pacific Nations Cup General:

So the format has changed with more games. I am not sure how this works going forward with the new 'national league' thing and Japan and Fiji probably joining the top tier of that.

worldrugby.org

World Rugby confirms new international men’s competition to launch in 2024 | World Rugby

A new annual men’s 15s competition involving Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA will launch in 2024, reaffirming World Rugby’s commitment to increasing global competitiveness on the road to Rugby World Cups in Australia (2027) and USA (2031).

Completely separate to the new league. Games are during the same window was the Rugby Championship. Only July/November windows are used for Nations Championship.

[Duluth]

Pacific Nations Cup enters new era with expanded competition

The Pacific Nations Cup has had a revamp, with two new teams added and a new pool structure feeding a playoff that will crown a champion.

[Bovidae]

Played today.

[antipodean]

@Bovidae WTF? I had to go pick up dinner with about 30mins left to play and it was a two point game!

[Mr Fish]

@antipodean said in Pacific Nations Cup General:

@Bovidae WTF? I had to go pick up dinner with about 30mins left to play and it was a two point game!

Samoa turned down two shots at the post to kick to the corner. They came within inches of scoring from the second lineout attack, knocking the ball on over the line.

From Fiji's next possession they made a break down the field and Samoa's winger was yellow carded for pulling back a player. Fiji scored from the ensuing maul and that was basically the ball game.

[Bovidae]

@Nepia

Here is the Samoan squad.

[Nepia]

@Bovidae So he's in the squad, but not playing, which is odd as you'd think Samoa would have replaced him in the squad if he wasn't available?

[Bovidae]

The Tongan squad also includes some players who were involved in NPC last weekend. Who knows?

[Machpants]

All Blacks are also released some times

[Bovidae]

The Inisi brothers are currently playing for Tonga against Samoa so they must have turned up after the Sunday NH game.

[rugbyisthegame]

Not the highest quality match this morning in Apia Park but Samoa got the job down 43-17 over Tonga: https://rugbyisthegame.com/2024/08/30/samoa-celebrate-100-years-with-43-17-victory-over-tonga-in-pacific-nations-cup/

[Bovidae]

More games were played over the weekend in Tokyo.

5th/6th place
Tonga 30 - 17 Canada

Semis
Fiji 22 - 3 USA
Japan 49 - 27 Samoa

Both Samoa and Tonga looked to have players coming and going from their squads during the tournament.

[Bovidae]

3rd/4th game
Samoa 18 - 13 USA

Final
Japan 17 - 41 Fiji

Another loss for Jones.

[Machpants]

@Bovidae said in Pacific Nations Cup General:

3rd/4th game
Samoa 18 - 13 USA

Final
Japan 17 - 41 Fiji

Another loss for Jones.

He reckons he'll be back on the wagon when the ABs come to town

[Bovidae]

Samoa v Fiji in Rotorua.

worldrugby.org

Pacific Nations Cup 2025 set to deliver high-stakes action with direct qualification path to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 | World Rugby

World Rugby has officially announced the full schedule for the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (22 August - 20 September), the second edition of the revitalised and expanded competition that is fast becoming a pillar of the international rugby calendar.

[Bovidae]

Some interesting names as potential debutants. No Miracle Faiʻilagi.

[Mr Fish]

Awful squad. Even worse than last year's. What is that, 11 players who feature in premier club competitions?

I understand the sentimental reasons for wanting to boost the islands (thinking Samoa and Tonga here, to be specific) as much as possible, play games there, give them matches against top opposition, but I think we're now at a point where they basically have to be cut loose for the growth of the game. If they can't even get their best players together for RWC qualifying matches then what's the point? I would much rather see money invested into the developing South American, European and even Asian sides.

[African Monkey]

@Bovidae

1. A Seiuli

2. L Tolai

3. M Alaalatoa

4. S Slade

5. B Nee Nee

6. T McFarland

7. J Mau'u

8. I Mapu

9. M Matavao

10. J Umaga

11. M Nanai

12. D Paia'aua

13. H Taefu

14. T Alosio

15. D Leuila

16. L Schwenke

17. T Lamositele

18. M Fepuleai

19. T Seu

20. N Jones

21. J Lam

22. A Moleli

23. T Tuitama

Maybe swap Nee Nee out with Seu, Maybe Noa for Jones.

I'm sure more guys will be added when injuries hit.

[Bovidae]

More info:

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐏𝐂:

1. Miracle FAIILAGI
2. Jonathan TAUMATEINE
3. Danny TOALA
4. Lalomilo LALOMILO
5. Ereatara ENARI

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲:

1. Sama MALOLO
2. Alamanda MOTUGA
3. Tumua MANU
4. Ulupano Junior SEUTENI

[African Monkey]

@Bovidae said in Pacific Nations Cup General:

More info:

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐰𝐡𝐨 𝐰𝐞𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐡𝐚𝐯𝐞 𝐦𝐚𝐝𝐞 𝐚 𝐝𝐞𝐜𝐢𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐭𝐨 𝐩𝐥𝐚𝐲 𝐍𝐏𝐂:

1. Miracle FAIILAGI
2. Jonathan TAUMATEINE
3. Danny TOALA
4. Lalomilo LALOMILO
5. Ereatara ENARI

𝐏𝐥𝐚𝐲𝐞𝐫𝐬 𝐜𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐢𝐝𝐞𝐫𝐞𝐝 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐬𝐞𝐥𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐝𝐮𝐞 𝐭𝐨 𝐈𝐧𝐣𝐮𝐫𝐲:

1. Sama MALOLO
2. Alamanda MOTUGA
3. Tumua MANU
4. Ulupano Junior SEUTENI

That's fine, can build some depth inbetween now and the RWC.