Fijian-born rugby union hooker Cyrille Cama, 23, is poised to potentially make his international debut with the United States Eagles in this year’s revamped Pacific Nations Cup competition. He is among six uncapped players in the Eagles as they strive for a top placement in the tournament, which kicks off on Friday at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva, where the Flying Fijians will compete against Manu Samoa.
The USA Eagles will host Japan on Saturday, August 31, at Dignity Health Sports Park in Los Angeles. Cama, originally from Natokalau in Bua and with maternal ties to Bureta in Ovalau, had an early start in rugby while playing for St Agnes Primary School in Nabua, where he served as captain for two years before relocating with his family to Los Angeles in 2013.
Two years ago, he signed a two-year contract with the Major League Rugby champions, the LA Giltinis, and was selected for the USA Eagles Under-20s team. Cama advanced to the High-Performance Program and was part of the Rhinos Tens professional team during the World Tens Series in Bermuda in 2020. He competed for the Rhinos Rugby Academy in Sacramento, joining forces with notable sevens players from Africa. Cama is recognized as the first product from the Rhinos Academy and High-Performance Unit to earn a spot in the USA Eagles.
World Rugby recently revealed that the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup will serve as the qualifying event for the Rugby World Cup 2027, positioning this year’s tournament as a key opportunity for broadening the USA’s player pool ahead of the forthcoming qualifiers. Fiji and Japan have already secured their places for RWC 2027.
USA Eagles head coach Scott Lawrence highlighted the importance of the five-week Pacific Nations Cup as a crucial period for the squad to adapt to the higher level of preparation and intensity that comes with test match rugby. He emphasized the fresh energy that new players bring, anticipating a competitive atmosphere aimed at gaining valuable experience.
Cama’s mother, Marjorie, expressed her gratitude for the support and resources that have contributed to Cyrille’s journey, stating that achieving his dream of playing rugby is a blessing. She remarked on the opportunities available in America, referring to it as a place where possibilities are limitless.
This year’s Pacific Nations Cup will feature a round-robin format with two pools and a Grand Final to determine the champions. Pool A will consist of Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, while Pool B includes Canada, Japan, and the USA. Each team will engage in one home and one away match during the pool stage. A finals series will determine title contenders, with the top teams from each pool advancing to the semi-finals, culminating in a final match, while the losing teams will compete for third place. The last-placed teams in each pool will vie for fifth place on the same day as the first semi-final on September 14, with the second semi-final scheduled for the following day. The finals will take place in Tokyo and Osaka, and hosting responsibilities will rotate annually between Japan and the USA.