IRB Pacific 5 Nations
Encyclopedia
The Pacific Nations Cup is an international rugby union
competition originally known as the IRB Pacific 5 Nations and held between five Pacific Rim
sides; Fiji
, Japan
, Samoa
, Tonga
and Junior All Blacks
, (New Zealand's second XV). Previously, New Zealand was once represented by the New Zealand Māori
(in 2008). Australia was invited to take part but decided against sending a team stating that they wanted to focus on their domestic club competition. However, Australia hosted two games in the inaugural tournament, and on 18 October 2006 announced that Australia would send Australia A, Australia's second XV. For this reason, the inaugural tournament was the only one that carried the title of IRB Pacific 5 Nations, from 2007 the competition has been known as the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. The inaugural tournament was won by the Junior All Blacks.
The tournament is intended to strengthen the Pacific islander sides and Japan, while providing valuable experience for aspiring Australian and New Zealand internationals. Several players have graduated to the full international sides of the latter two nations from the Cup.
The 2010 and 2011 tournaments saw only the three Pacific Island nations and Japan compete, with Samoa winning in 2010 and Japan in 2011.
The Pacific Nations Cup was funded as an International Rugby Board
(IRB) tournament which was part of the $US50 million, three-year, global strategic investment programme launched in August 2005. In the first year only it was called the IRB Pacific Five Nations
and did not include Australia.
The competition was aimed at developing the Pacific rim
sides in the second tier of the rugby nations; Fiji
, Japan
, Samoa
and Tonga
. The Junior All Blacks
were also invited to compete, who are New Zealand's second XV. "The IRB Pacific 5 Nations is a tournament that will provide more certainty for Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga in terms of regular high level Test match rugby, while also providing a high level of competition for the Junior All Blacks," said Mark Egan
, the IRB's Head of Rugby Services.
The final table for the IRB Pacific Five Nations
, played just once in 2006 and superseded by the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, was as follows:
Australia were also invited to take part but decided against sending a team stating that they wanted to focus on their domestic competition. The inaugural tournament kicked-off June 3, 2006 and were played in a round-robin format, with some games being held in Australia. with the Junior All Blacks proclaimed the winner after their 38-8 defeat of Japan June 24, 2006. The inaugural tournament was a great success in providing a platform for Pacific nations and Japan in gaining valuable exposure. In October 2006 it was announced that Australia A had been officially confirmed as joining an expanded competition for the 2007 season. The inclusion of Australia A means that the tier 2 nations will have an even greater number of matches in the build up to France 2007
. For Australia, it provides an important stepping stone for Wallaby
selection.
In 2008, the New Zealand Māori
team replaced the Junior All Blacks in the competition, following a decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union that the New Zealand Māori need to play more matches at home and that, for reasons of "player welfare", the Junior All Blacks will not be assembled in 2008.
At the end of 2008 the ARU announced Australia A would not play in 2009 due to the current economic environment.
announced that regional financial institution ANZ had agreed to become presenting sponsor of the competition, as well as the FORU Oceania Cup
and the Pacific Rugby Cup
.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
competition originally known as the IRB Pacific 5 Nations and held between five Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
sides; Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
, Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
, Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
, Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
and Junior All Blacks
Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
, (New Zealand's second XV). Previously, New Zealand was once represented by the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
(in 2008). Australia was invited to take part but decided against sending a team stating that they wanted to focus on their domestic club competition. However, Australia hosted two games in the inaugural tournament, and on 18 October 2006 announced that Australia would send Australia A, Australia's second XV. For this reason, the inaugural tournament was the only one that carried the title of IRB Pacific 5 Nations, from 2007 the competition has been known as the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. The inaugural tournament was won by the Junior All Blacks.
The tournament is intended to strengthen the Pacific islander sides and Japan, while providing valuable experience for aspiring Australian and New Zealand internationals. Several players have graduated to the full international sides of the latter two nations from the Cup.
Format
The tournament is a round-robin, where each team plays one match against each of the other teams. There are four points for a win, two points for a draw and none for a defeat. There are also bonus points offered with one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing by 7 points or fewer. Under the 5 Nations system, there were five rounds of competition, with two matches played each round. In total each team played four games, with one bye occurring as well. The tournament was played mainly throughout June, with the last round in early July. With the expansion to include Australia A, the Pacific Nations Cup retained the five round format, though each round, three matches are played, with no byes. The revised tournament begins in May due to pre-existing Test commitments and concludes in late June.The 2010 and 2011 tournaments saw only the three Pacific Island nations and Japan compete, with Samoa winning in 2010 and Japan in 2011.
History
International Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
(IRB) tournament which was part of the $US50 million, three-year, global strategic investment programme launched in August 2005. In the first year only it was called the IRB Pacific Five Nations
2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations
The 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations was the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations rugby union competition held between five Pacific Rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks...
and did not include Australia.
The competition was aimed at developing the Pacific rim
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
sides in the second tier of the rugby nations; Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
, Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
, Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
and Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
. The Junior All Blacks
Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
were also invited to compete, who are New Zealand's second XV. "The IRB Pacific 5 Nations is a tournament that will provide more certainty for Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga in terms of regular high level Test match rugby, while also providing a high level of competition for the Junior All Blacks," said Mark Egan
Mark Egan (rugby player)
For the jazz player see Mark Egan.Mark Egan is an Irish rugby player who has played for Terenure College and Terenure College RFC. He graduated from Oxford University and went from there to play rugby for Kobe Steel's team in Japan, now called Kobelco Steelers, where he was also a highly-respected...
, the IRB's Head of Rugby Services.
The final table for the IRB Pacific Five Nations
2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations
The 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations was the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations rugby union competition held between five Pacific Rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks...
, played just once in 2006 and superseded by the IRB Pacific Nations Cup, was as follows:
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/- | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 167 | 47 | 4 | 20 | ||
| 2 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 121 | 88 | 3 | 11 | ||
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 92 | 94 | ||||
| 2 | 10 | |||||||||
| 4 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 91 | 113 | ||||
| 1 | 9 | |||||||||
| 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 48 | 177 | ||||
| 0 | 0 |
Australia were also invited to take part but decided against sending a team stating that they wanted to focus on their domestic competition. The inaugural tournament kicked-off June 3, 2006 and were played in a round-robin format, with some games being held in Australia. with the Junior All Blacks proclaimed the winner after their 38-8 defeat of Japan June 24, 2006. The inaugural tournament was a great success in providing a platform for Pacific nations and Japan in gaining valuable exposure. In October 2006 it was announced that Australia A had been officially confirmed as joining an expanded competition for the 2007 season. The inclusion of Australia A means that the tier 2 nations will have an even greater number of matches in the build up to France 2007
2007 Rugby World Cup
The 2007 Rugby World Cup was the sixth Rugby World Cup, a quadrennial international rugby union competition inaugurated in 1987. Twenty nations competed for the Webb Ellis Cup in the tournament, which was hosted by France from 7 September to 20 October. France won the hosting rights in 2003,...
. For Australia, it provides an important stepping stone for Wallaby
Australia national rugby union team
The Australian national rugby union team is the representative side of Australia in rugby union. The national team is nicknamed the Wallabies and competes annually with New Zealand and South Africa in the Tri-Nations Series, in which they also contest the Bledisloe Cup with New Zealand and the...
selection.
In 2008, the New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
team replaced the Junior All Blacks in the competition, following a decision by the New Zealand Rugby Union that the New Zealand Māori need to play more matches at home and that, for reasons of "player welfare", the Junior All Blacks will not be assembled in 2008.
At the end of 2008 the ARU announced Australia A would not play in 2009 due to the current economic environment.
Commercial Sponsorship
On 20 June 2008 the International Rugby BoardInternational Rugby Board
The International Rugby Board is the governing body for the sport of rugby union. It was founded in 1886 as the International Rugby Football Board by the unions of Scotland, Wales and Ireland. England refused to join until 1890. The International Rugby Football Board changed its name to the...
announced that regional financial institution ANZ had agreed to become presenting sponsor of the competition, as well as the FORU Oceania Cup
FORU Oceania Cup
The FORU Oceania Cup, where "FORU" stands for "Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions", is an international rugby union competition between nine countries and territories of Oceania: American Samoa, the Cook Islands, Niue, Tahiti, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Vanuatu and Wallis and...
and the Pacific Rugby Cup
Pacific Rugby Cup
The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup is an annual rugby union development competition. First held in 2006, it features representative teams from the three Pacific rugby union unions - Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.The participating teams are:*Samoa A from Samoa...
.
Champions
| Year | Winner |
|---|---|
| 2006 Details 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations The 2006 IRB Pacific 5 Nations was the inaugural IRB Pacific 5 Nations rugby union competition held between five Pacific Rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks... |
|
| 2007 Details 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup The 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union competition held between six Pacific Rim sides; Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks... |
|
| 2008 Details 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup The 2008 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between six national sides on the Pacific Rim: Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand Māori . The inaugural competition was held in 2006. This year the tournament started on 7 June and ended on 6 July 2008.The tournament... |
|
| 2009 Details 2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup The 2009 Pacific Nations Cup is a rugby union tournament held between five national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks. The New Zealand Māori team that won the tournament last year will no longer take part in this competition because of a decision taken by... |
|
| 2010 Details 2010 IRB Pacific Nations Cup The 2010 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between four national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga. The competition was won by Samoa.... |
|
| 2011 Details 2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup The 2011 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between the four national sides on the Pacific Rim: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga.... |
Top Point scorers
| Points | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 98 | Taniela Rawaqa Taniela Rawaqa Taniela Rawaqa is a Fijan rugby union player. He plays fullback, presently with the Western Crusaders in the Colonial Cup and with the Fiji Warriors in the Pacific Rugby Cup and internationally with Fiji. He is the younger brother of Fijian International Ifereimi RawaqaHe made his international... |
|
| 88 | James Arlidge James Arlidge is a Japanese international rugby union player. He plays primarily at fly-half.-Club career:Unusually he made his Super rugby debut for the Auckland Blues, prior to making his first start in provincial rugby, making the step from junior rugby with Pakuranga and Auckland Colts, due to the then Blues... |
|
| 75 | Pierre Hola Pierre Hola Pierre Hola is a Tongan rugby union footballer. He has represented Tonga and currently plays his club rugby in the Australian Shute Shield for Eastwood.-Career:Hola made his debut for Tonga in September 1998 in a match against Samoa... |
|
| 74 | Seremaia Bai Seremaia Bai -Career:He currently plays for Castres Olympique after signing from ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2010 who both compete in France's Top 14 competition. He also plays for the Fiji national team and the Pacific Islanders. He has played under-19s, under 21s and under 23s for the Fiji national side... |
|
| 73 | Gavin Williams |
Top Try scorers
| Tries | Player | Nation |
|---|---|---|
| 8 | Hosea Gear Hosea Gear Hosea Gear is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays for the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition as a wing. He has played six international matches for New Zealand and scored five tries... |
|
| 7 | Vungakoto Lilo | |
| 7 | Anthony Tuitavake Anthony Tuitavake Anthony Tuitavake is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. He plays his rugby as a centre or on the wing. Tuitavake, of Tongan descent, is a fast attacking centre, who not only finishes backline moves himself, but also has the vision to create space and scoring opportunities for his outsides... |
|
| 7 | Lachlan Turner Lachlan Turner Lachlan 'Lachie' David Turner is an Australian rugby union player contracted to the NSW Waratahs. He is seen as one of the fastest wingers in Australia and his ability to run from deep has seen him score some incredible solo tries... |
|
| 5 | Stephen Hoiles Stephen Hoiles Stephen Hoiles is an Australian rugby union footballer. He currently plays for the Brumbies in the international Super 14 competition. Hoiles previously played for the New South Wales Waratahs. He has also played for the national team, the Wallabies.-Career:... |
Venues
| Stadium | Location | Matches played | Year |
|---|---|---|---|
| Apia Park Apia Park Apia Park is a multi-function sports complex located in Apia, the capital of Samoa. Primarily used for rugby union events, Apia Park is the home stadium of the Samoa national rugby union team, Manu Samoa.... |
 Apia |
5 | 2010 |
| Post Fiji Stadium |  SuvaSuva Suva features a tropical rainforest climate under the Koppen climate classification. The city sees a copious amount of precipitation during the course of the year. Suva averages 3,000 mm of precipitation annually with its driest month, July averaging 125 mm of rain per year. In fact,... |
2 | |
| Honjo Stadium Honjo Stadium is a small athletic and multi-purpose stadium , opened in 1990 at Honjō Park in Ohiraki, Yahata Nishi-ku, Kitakyushu, Fukuoka prefecture, Japan.-Association football:... |
 Kitakyushu |
1 | '06 |
| North Harbour Stadium North Harbour Stadium North Harbour Stadium is a stadium, situated in Albany, in North Shore City, in New Zealand. It was opened in 1997, after nearly a decade of discussion, planning and construction. Rugby union, football and rugby League are the only sports played on the main ground, as it is rectangular in shape.... |
 AucklandAuckland The Auckland metropolitan area , in the North Island of New Zealand, is the largest and most populous urban area in the country with residents, percent of the country's population. Auckland also has the largest Polynesian population of any city in the world... |
1 | |
| Bluetongue Central Coast Stadium |  Gosford |
2 | |
| Yarrow Stadium Yarrow Stadium Yarrow Stadium is situated in the central suburb of Westown in New Plymouth, Taranaki, New Zealand, with main vehicle access off Maratahu St... |
New Plymouth New Plymouth New Plymouth is the major city of the Taranaki Region on the west coast of the North Island of New Zealand. It is named after Plymouth, Devon, England, from where the first English settlers migrated.... |
2 | |
| Carisbrook Carisbrook Carisbrook was a major sporting venue in Dunedin, New Zealand. The city's main domestic and international rugby union venue, it has also been used for other sports such as cricket, football, rugby league and motocross. Carisbrook has also hosted a Joe Cocker concert and frequently hosted pre-game... |
Dunedin Dunedin Dunedin is the second-largest city in the South Island of New Zealand, and the principal city of the Otago Region. It is considered to be one of the four main urban centres of New Zealand for historic, cultural, and geographic reasons. Dunedin was the largest city by territorial land area until... |
1 | |
| Nagai Stadium Nagai Stadium is an athletic stadium in Osaka, Japan. It is the home ground of J. League club Cerezo Osaka. The stadium has a seating capacity of 50,000.-History:... |
Osaka Osaka is a city in the Kansai region of Japan's main island of Honshu, a designated city under the Local Autonomy Law, the capital city of Osaka Prefecture and also the biggest part of Keihanshin area, which is represented by three major cities of Japan, Kyoto, Osaka and Kobe... |
1 | '06 |
| Dairy Farmers Stadium | Townsville |
1 | '07 |
| Level-5 Stadium Level-5 Stadium Level-5 Stadium , located in the Hakata ward of Fukuoka city is the home ground of Avispa Fukuoka football club.... |
Fukuoka Fukuoka, Fukuoka is the capital city of Fukuoka Prefecture and is situated on the northern shore of the island of Kyushu in Japan.Voted number 14 in a 2010 poll of the World's Most Livable Cities, Fukuoka is praised for its green spaces in a metropolitan setting. It is the most populous city in Kyushu, followed by... |
1 | '08 |
| Sendai Stadium Sendai Stadium Yurtec Stadium Sendai is a football stadium in the Nanakita Park, Izumi-ku, Sendai City, Miyagi Prefecture, Japan. It was built in 1997 and is home to the J. League club Vegalta Sendai and the Japan Football League club Sony Sendai F.C.. The stadium was specifically designed for football, and the... |
Sendai |
2 | '07, '08 |
| Olympic Stadium Olympic Stadium (Tokyo) or National Stadium is a stadium in Kasumigaoka, Shinjuku, Tokyo, Japan that served as the main stadium for the 1964 Summer Olympics. It currently serves as the stadium where the Japan national football teams home matches and major football club cup finals are held.-History:The stadium was... |
Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... |
1 | '08 |
| Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium Chichibunomiya rugby stadium in the Aoyama district of central Tokyo is the spiritual home of Japanese rugby union and the headquarters of the Japan Rugby Football Union.-Facilities:... |
Tokyo Tokyo , ; officially , is one of the 47 prefectures of Japan. Tokyo is the capital of Japan, the center of the Greater Tokyo Area, and the largest metropolitan area of Japan. It is the seat of the Japanese government and the Imperial Palace, and the home of the Japanese Imperial Family... |
1 | '07 |
| Churchill Park Churchill Park (Lautoka) Churchill Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Lautoka, Fiji. It is currently used mostly for football matches and hosts the home matches of Lautoka FC.The Stadium also hosts International Rugby matches such as the Pacific Nations Cup and the Pacific Rugby Cup as well as local rugby competitions... |
Lautoka Lautoka Lautoka is the second largest city of Fiji and the second largest in the South Pacific. It is in the west of the island of Viti Levu, 24 kilometres north of Nadi, and is the second port of entry in Fiji, after Suva. Lying in the heart of Fiji's sugar cane growing region, it is known as the Sugar... |
1 | 2010 |
See also
- 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup2008 IRB Pacific Nations CupThe 2008 Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union tournament held between six national sides on the Pacific Rim: Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand Māori . The inaugural competition was held in 2006. This year the tournament started on 7 June and ended on 6 July 2008.The tournament...
- 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup2007 IRB Pacific Nations CupThe 2007 IRB Pacific Nations Cup was a rugby union competition held between six Pacific Rim sides; Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks...
- Pacific Tri-NationsPacific Tri-NationsThe Pacific Tri-Nations is the traditional rugby union series between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. It was established in 1982 with the Samoan team, then known as Western Samoa, winning the tournament...
External links
- Junior All Blacks and Tonga continue winning ways, IRB official website, 10 June 2006
- Manu Samoa Supporters Website
- Pacific Islanders Rugby Teams supporters website
- Pacific Nations Rugby website