Fijian rugby union hooker Cyrille Cama, 23, is on the brink of his international debut with the USA Eagles in this year’s revamped Pacific Nations Cup. Among the six uncapped players in the squad, Cama aims for a strong showing as the tournament kicks off on Friday at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, where Fiji will face Manu Samoa.
The USA Eagles will play against Japan on Saturday, August 31, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles. Cama, originally from Natokalau, Bua, with familial ties to Bureta in Ovalau, began his rugby journey at St Agnes Primary School in Nabua, where he captained the team for two years as a line-backer before relocating to Los Angeles with his family in 2013.
Cama signed a two-year contract with the Major League Rugby champions, LA Giltinis, and was selected for the USA Eagles Under-20s. He later participated in the High-Performance Programme and played for the Rhinos Tens team during the World Tens Series in Bermuda in 2020, alongside renowned African sevens players. He is the first product of the Rhinos Academy and High-Performance Unit to earn a spot on the USA Eagles team.
In terms of qualification, World Rugby has announced that the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup will be a key event for qualifying teams for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. This inaugural tournament is expected to provide a significant boost to the USA’s pool of players ahead of next year’s qualification process. Both Fiji and Japan have already secured their spots for the RWC 2027.
USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence highlighted the importance of the upcoming five-week Pacific Nations Cup, stating that it will expose the squad to the necessary level of preparation and intensity for test match rugby. He emphasized the fresh energy that new players bring and expressed optimism for winning valuable test match minutes.
Cama’s mother, Marjorie, expressed her pride in her son’s journey, attributing it to a combination of human kindness and divine intervention. She remarked on his lifelong dream to play rugby and the opportunities provided in America.
This year’s Pacific Nations Cup features a new round-robin format with two pools, followed by a Grand Final to determine the overall champion. Pool A includes Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, while Pool B comprises Canada, Japan, and the USA. Each team will play one home and one away match in the pool stage. The top two teams in each pool will advance to the semi-finals, with the winners competing in the final.
The finals are set to be held in Tokyo and Osaka, with Japan and the USA alternating hosting duties annually.