Pacific Nations Cup General
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So the format has changed with more games. I am not sure how this works going forward with the new 'national league' thing and Japan and Fiji probably joining the top tier of that.
World Rugby confirms new international men’s competition to launch in 2024 | World Rugby
A new annual men’s 15s competition involving Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA will launch in 2024, reaffirming World Rugby’s commitment to increasing global competitiveness on the road to Rugby World Cups in Australia (2027) and USA (2031).
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A 'new international mens competition' is a stretch ... Or, more accurately, a PR speak. It's about the 4th iteration of this tournament.
I remember when this was first launched in about 2001. As the Pacific Rim Cup, which then became the Epson Cup after it got sponsorship naming rights. It is interesting to think back to that time, how fringe and radical is seemed that IRB were getting involved in directly funding a regional / Tier 2 competition. The pot of money the IRB had to spend from in 2001 was vastly different (smaller) than the pot now-a-days.
The IRB/WR rightly get plenty of stick, it is deserved at a political level. But the actual development side, the career guys at that institution generally have done a good job (except for bouncing Kinsgley Jones around T3 nations as head coach/destroyer. Jobs for the boys).
But the lack of consistency in the format of this competition is one of their failures. Could have 22 years of history and rivalry by now. Rather than "launching a new competition in 2024 ....". Although, moving USA & Canada to the ARC was actually a god move, shame the respective nations then stuffed up their relationships with the South Americans and destroyed that comp. Worst of both worlds, now.
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@Machpants said in Pacific Nations Cup General:
So the format has changed with more games. I am not sure how this works going forward with the new 'national league' thing and Japan and Fiji probably joining the top tier of that.
World Rugby confirms new international men’s competition to launch in 2024 | World Rugby
A new annual men’s 15s competition involving Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and USA will launch in 2024, reaffirming World Rugby’s commitment to increasing global competitiveness on the road to Rugby World Cups in Australia (2027) and USA (2031).
Completely separate to the new league. Games are during the same window was the Rugby Championship. Only July/November windows are used for Nations Championship.
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Pacific Nations Cup enters new era with expanded competition
The Pacific Nations Cup has had a revamp, with two new teams added and a new pool structure feeding a playoff that will crown a champion.
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@antipodean said in Pacific Nations Cup General:
@Bovidae WTF? I had to go pick up dinner with about 30mins left to play and it was a two point game!
Samoa turned down two shots at the post to kick to the corner. They came within inches of scoring from the second lineout attack, knocking the ball on over the line.
From Fiji's next possession they made a break down the field and Samoa's winger was yellow carded for pulling back a player. Fiji scored from the ensuing maul and that was basically the ball game.
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Not the highest quality match this morning in Apia Park but Samoa got the job down 43-17 over Tonga: https://rugbyisthegame.com/2024/08/30/samoa-celebrate-100-years-with-43-17-victory-over-tonga-in-pacific-nations-cup/
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