The 1996 Pacific Challenge was a

rugby league Rugby league football, commonly known as just rugby league and sometimes football, footy, rugby or league, is a full-contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular field measuring 68 metres (75 yards) wide and 112 ...

tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was played over eight days and in six countries. It featured an uneven draw with every team playing twice, except for

Tonga Tonga (, ; ), officially the Kingdom of Tonga ( to, Puleʻanga Fakatuʻi ʻo Tonga), is a Polynesian country and archipelago. The country has 171 islands – of which 45 are inhabited. Its total surface area is about , scattered over in ...

and the

New Zealand XIII The New Zealand Residents (also previously known as New Zealand 'A', New Zealand XIII, the Lion Red Cup XIII and currently known as the Bartercard Premiership Selection) are a New Zealand rugby league football representative side that is selected f ...

side who both played three times, and no final.

Background

The tournament was a hastily arranged replacement for the cancelled 1996 Pacific Cup which eventually took place as the

1997 Oceania Cup The 1997 Oceania Cup was an international Rugby league, rugby league football tournament played in the Pacific region. The tournament was operated and contested by Super League-aligned countries during the Super League war as an alternative to the ...

. The tournament was held during the

Superleague war The Super League war was a commercial competition between the Australian Rugby League (ARL) and the Australian Super League to establish pre-eminence in professional rugby league competition in Australia and New Zealand in the mid-1990s. Super ...

that was severely affecting international rugby league at this time.

Squads

*The Cook Islands included

Sonny Shepherd Sonny Shepherd is a Cook Island former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played at representative level for the Cook Islands, and at club level for Ngatangiia/Matavera Sea Eagles. Playing career Shepherd ...

and

Richard Piakura Richard Piakura (born 1 July 1976) is a Cook Island former high jumper, professional rugby league and rugby union footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. He played representative level rugby league (RL) for the Cook Islands, and at club l ...

.Pacific Challenge
''The Vault'' *Coached by

Cameron Bell Cameron Bell (born 18 September 1986) is a Scottish football coach and former player. Bell played as a goalkeeper for several Scottish clubs and once for the Scotland national team. Bell began his senior career with Kilmarnock and, after loa ...

, the New Zealand Māori squad included

Sonny Whakarau Sonny Whakarau (born 13 January 1966) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played professionally in England and represented the New Zealand Māori. Playing career A Manawatu representative, Whakarau moved south in 1 ...

Frank Watene Frank Watene (born 15 February 1977) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a or forward in the 1990s, 2000s and 2010s. He played at representative level for Tonga (1995 Rugby League World Cup squad), New Zealand Junio ...

Paul Rauhihi Paul Rauhihi (born 3 July 1973) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand. Rauhihi played in both the National Rugby League and Super League as a . Background Rauhihi was born in Porirua, New Zeal ...

and

Matthew Sturm Matthew Sturm (born 13 December 1972) is a former professional rugby league footballer who played in New Zealand and in the Super League. Since 2007 he has been part of the Mount Albert Lions, as a player till 2012 and now part of the coaching st ...

. *The

were coached by

Gerard Stokes Gerard James Stokes (1955 – 8 December 2020) was a New Zealand rugby league footballer who played in the 1970s and 1980s, and Coach (sport), coached in the 1980s through to the 2010s, who represented New Zealand national rugby league team, New ...

, captained by

Whetu Taewa Whetu Taewa (born 19 October 1970) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand six times between 1989 and 1996. Playing career New Zealand Whetu was born on the West Coast, New Zealand and started p ...

and included Willie McLean, Earl Va'a,

Brian Jellick Brian Andrew Jellick is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s. A New Zealand international representative er, he played his club football in New Zealand, England and Australia. Playing care ...

Denvour Johnston Denvour Francis Johnston is a New Zealand rugby league footballer who represented New Zealand in 1993. Playing career Johnston played for the Randwick Kingfishers club in the Wellington Rugby League competition. He represented the Cook Islands a ...

Jerry Seuseu Jerry Seuseu (born 19 April 1974) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1990s and 2000s, as a . He represented New Zealand and Samoa at international level. After retirement he became Wellbeing and Educa ...

Stuart Lester Stuart Lester (born 8 February 1975) is a New Zealand former professional rugby league footballer who played professionally for Wigan. His brother, Aaron, played professionally for the Auckland Warriors and Whitehaven. Playing career Lester ma ...

Boycie Nelson Boycie Nelson is a New Zealand coach who is the assistant coach of the New Zealand Warriors Holden Cup team and former rugby league former footballer who played as a goal-kicking . Playing career New Zealand Nelson grew up playing rugby league ...

Doc Murray David "Doc" Murray (born 10 August 1972) is a New Zealand rugby league coach and former player. His position of preference was as a . New Zealand career Murray started his rugby league career playing for the Ellerslie Eagles club in the Aucklan ...

David Bailey David Royston Bailey (born 2 January 1938) is an English photographer and director, most widely known for his fashion photography and portraiture, and role in shaping the image of the Swinging Sixties. Early life David Bailey was born at Wh ...

and

Ben Lythe Ben Lythe (born 14 October 1975 in New Zealand) is a former professional rugby league footballer. His position of preference was at Halfback. He was also a noted goalkicker. Early years Hailing from West Auckland, Lythe played for the Mt Albe ...

. *Tonga included

Paul Koloi Paul Koloi (born 25 December 1972) is a Tongan rugby league footballer who represented Tonga in the 2000 World Cup. Playing career A Riccarton-Lincoln junior in the Canterbury Rugby League, Koloi played for the Canterbury Cardinals in the 19 ...

and

Esau Mann Esau Mann (born 11 May 1971) is a Tongan former professional rugby league footballer who represented Tonga at the 2000 World Cup. He is a cousin and brother of fellow internationals Duane and George Mann. Playing career With the launch of the ...

. *Western Samoa included

Paki Tuimavave Paki Tuimavave is a Samoan former professional rugby league footballer who played in the 1980s and 1990s. He played at representative level for Western Samoa, and at club level for Waitakere City and North Harbour, as a . Background Also see '' ...

and Mike Setefano.

Results

References

{{1996 in rugby league Pacific Cup Pacific Cup

Pac Pac or PAC may refer to: Military * Rapid Deployment Force (Malaysia), an armed forces unit * Patriot Advanced Capability, of the MIM-104 Patriot missile * Civil Defense Patrols (''Patrullas de Autodefensa Civil''), Guatemalan militia and paramili ...

International rugby league competitions hosted by New Zealand