World Rugby reveals new format for Pacific Nations Cup

With an aim to increase competitiveness in the international game, World Rugby has unveiled a new brand and format for the Pacific Nations Cup.

Creating a tournament for ‘tier-two’ countries with the potential to rival the Six Nations and Rugby Championship, the revamped six-team tournament - which will feature Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA - will take place over five weekends in August and September.

Finals will alternate between Japan and USA, with Tokyo to host the finals for the first edition, with all six teams travelling to Tokyo to either play in the fifth-place play-off or the semi-finals between pool winners and pool runners-up on 14th and 15th September.

Each team will be guaranteed a minimum of three Test matches and one home fixture, which World Rugby hopes will boost development, exposure and competitiveness.

Two regional pools of three have been created to minimise player travel during the pool phase, with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga making up Pool A and Canada, Japan and USA to contest Pool B.

As a result, Tonga will host more home Pacific Nations Cup matches in the next four years than it has in all competitions over the past decade.

Announcing the revamp, Simon Raiwalui, World Rugby’s High-Performance Pathways and Player Development Manager, stated “we are incredibly proud and excited to launch the revamped Pacific Nations Cup this year with a vibrant brand and an optimised match schedule.

“The six teams taking part in the competition will benefit from long-term certainty around fixtures, allowing them to optimise their preparations and engage with fans and commercial partners. With so much talent in the Pacific Islands, Japan and the two North American teams, fans can expect a tough contest and a great spectacle epitomised with epic finals in Japan.”

World Rugby hopes that the new format for the Pacific Nations Cup will improve competitiveness ahead of the 2027 World Cup in Australia, which has been expanded to 24 teams from 20.

Australian Government and Rugby Australia announce $14.2 million Australian-Pacific rugby union partnership
In related news, the Australian Government and Rugby Australia will partner to deliver a four-year, $14.2 million investment to support high-performance rugby union across the Pacific through the Australian-Pacific Rugby Union Partnership (APRUP).

Funded through the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program, APRUP will create pathways to increase Pacific representation in elite rugby and strengthen Pacific national teams.

The funding is a timely boost ahead the 2027 men’s Rugby World Cup and 2029 women’s Rugby World Cup and the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

APRUP will elevate women’s rugby by establishing new competition pathways and providing ongoing opportunities for Pacific women and girls to take their place as champions on the rugby pitch and in their communities.

Key initiatives through APRUP include:

• Building on the remarkable success of the Fijian Drua and supporting their continued participation in Super Rugby Pacific and Australia’s Super Rugby Women’s competition.

• Establishing the PacificAus Sports Rugby Academy to provide Pacific rugby staff with access to elite Australian training and expertise - strengthening the foundation of Pacific Island national teams.

• Establishing the Penina Pasifika to compete in Super Rugby Women’s pre-season competition.

• Enhancing the national women’s sevens programs in Samoa and the Solomon Islands.

The partnership will also increase opportunities for Australian sporting engagement in the Pacific through ongoing Super Rugby Pacific and Super Rugby Women’s fixtures in Fiji. Pacific Unions will be supported to host other major fixtures between Pacific and Australian teams and to join regional tournaments.

Lower image: Yesterday's announcement of the $14.2 million Australian-Pacific rugby union partnership.