A new format introduced by World Rugby for this year’s Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) has generated considerable excitement. This initiative involves six participating nations: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, Canada, and the United States. World Rugby aims to enhance global rugby competitiveness in preparation for the expanded men’s Rugby World Cup in 2027.
The PNC is organized into two pools. Pool A includes Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga, while Pool B is made up of Japan, the USA, and Canada. Each team will compete in two matches, one being a home game, during a three-week pool stage from August 23 to September 7. The top two teams from each pool will proceed to the semifinals.
Elimination rounds are set to begin on September 14, starting with the fifth-place playoff at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo. This will be followed by the first semifinal on the same day, with the second semifinal occurring the next day at the same venue. The tournament will conclude on September 21 with the third-place play-off and the grand final at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka.
The opening match on August 23 is expected to be an exciting clash as the Flying Fijians face off against a formidable Manu Samoa team at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva at 6 pm. This year’s competition will also introduce trials of new rugby laws and some changes to existing rules, adding further intrigue. Now in its 17th year, the PNC has become a key event on the rugby calendar. The Flying Fijians are the reigning champions, having secured their sixth title last year at the Prince Chichibu Memorial Rugby Ground in Tokyo, which included a remarkable four consecutive victories between 2015 and 2018.