A new format introduced by World Rugby for this year’s Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) has generated significant interest. The tournament involves six participating nations: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, Canada, and the United States of America (USA).
World Rugby aims to boost global rugby competitiveness ahead of the expanded men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.
This year’s PNC is divided into two pools. Pool A includes Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, while Pool B consists of Japan, the USA, and Canada. During the three-week pool stage, from August 23 to September 7, each team will play two matches, including one home game. The top two teams from each pool will advance to the semifinals.
The elimination rounds will begin on September 14 with the 5th place playoff at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo, Japan. This will be followed by the first semi-final on the same day and at the same venue, with the second semi-final taking place there the next day. The tournament will conclude on September 21 with the third-place play-off and the grand final at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka, Japan.
The opening match on August 23 promises to be thrilling as the Flying Fijians face a strong Manu Samoa team at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva at 6 pm. This year’s competition will also feature trials of new rugby laws and several law changes, adding extra excitement.
Now in its 17th year, the PNC has been a significant event on the rugby calendar. The Flying Fijians are the defending champions, having won the Cup last year at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo, Japan, securing a record six title wins in the competition, including four consecutive victories from 2015 to 2018.