Fijian rugby union hooker Cyrille Cama, 23, is close to making his international debut for the USA Eagles in the newly structured Pacific Nations Cup competition. He is among six uncapped players on the USA Eagles roster, aiming for a strong finish in the tournament which begins this Friday at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, where Fiji will face Manu Samoa.
The USA Eagles are set to host Japan on Saturday, August 31 at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles. Cama hails from Natokalau in Bua and has family ties to Bureta in Ovalau. Before moving to Los Angeles in 2013, he captained the rugby team at St Agnes Primary School in Nabua for two years.
Cama signed a two-year contract with Major League champions LA Giltinis and has previously been selected for the USA Eagles Under-20s. He also advanced through the High-Performance Programme and joined the Rhinos Tens professional team for the World Tens Series in Bermuda in 2020. He has played alongside renowned African sevens stars at the Rhinos Rugby Academy in Sacramento, becoming the first player from the Rhinos Academy and HPU to earn a spot on the USA Eagles team.
World Rugby has announced that the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup will act as a qualification event for the Rugby World Cup 2027, making this inaugural tournament significant for the USA’s player pool ahead of next year’s qualifier. Fiji and Japan have already secured spots for RWC 2027.
USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence remarked that the five-week Pacific Nations Cup campaign is a crucial opportunity for the squad to adapt to the increased preparation and intensity required for test matches. He emphasized the fresh energy that new players bring and expressed confidence in their competitive spirit.
Cama’s mother, Marjorie, expressed her pride in her son’s journey, highlighting the roles of generosity and divine support in his success. She noted that it has always been Cyrille’s dream to play rugby, celebrating the opportunities that America presents.
This year’s Pacific Nations Cup will feature a new round-robin format with two pools, culminating in a Grand Final to determine the champions. Pool A consists of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, while Pool B includes Canada, Japan, and the USA. Each team will play one home and one away match in the initial stages, leading to semi-finals and finals held in Tokyo and Osaka, with the hosting duties alternating annually between Japan and the USA.