The 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup was the fifteenth edition of the

Pacific Nations Cup The Pacific Nations Cup is an international rugby union competition held between three Pacific states: Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. The 2019 edition of the tournament will also include the national teams of Canada, Japan and United States. First hel ...

annual international

rugby union Rugby union, commonly known simply as rugby, is a close-contact team sport that originated at Rugby School in the first half of the 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand. In it ...

competition and the first since

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, with a 2-year lay-off due to the

COVID-19 pandemic The COVID-19 pandemic, also known as the coronavirus pandemic, is an ongoing global pandemic of coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) caused by severe acute respiratory syndrome coronavirus 2 (SARS-CoV-2). The novel virus was first identi ...

. Four teams competed, with Fiji,

Samoa Samoa, officially the Independent State of Samoa; sm, Sāmoa, and until 1997 known as Western Samoa, is a Polynesian island country consisting of two main islands ( Savai'i and Upolu); two smaller, inhabited islands ( Manono and Apolima); ...

and

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 ...

all returning to the competition with the addition of Australia A who re-joined the competition for the first time since

2008 File:2008 Events Collage.png, From left, clockwise: Lehman Brothers went bankrupt following the Subprime mortgage crisis; Cyclone Nargis killed more than 138,000 in Myanmar; A scene from the opening ceremony of the 2008 Summer Olympics in Beijing; ...

. Fiji hosted the entire tournament for the first time since 2018, with Suva and Lautoka hosting matches over three Saturdays in the July test window. The competition will be played in a round-robin format with the Pacific Nations Cup winner determined by the highest number of competition points at the end of the tournament, with a win worth four points, a draw two points and bonus points for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or less. Samoa won the title after winning all three games, the fourth time that have done this and the first since a joint title in 2014, or an individual title in 2012.

Standings

Fixtures

Round 1

Notes: *

Nigel Ah Wong Nigel Ah Wong (born 30 May 1990) is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a centre for in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He previously played for and in the Mitre 10 Cup and for the Brumbies i ...

, Ere Enari, Marco Fepulea'i,

Fritz Lee Fritz Lee (born ) is a Samoan rugby union player. He currently plays for Clermont Auvergne in the Top 14. His regular playing position is eighthman. He previously played for the Chiefs in Super Rugby and Counties Manukau Steelers in the ITM ...

, Aki Seiuli, Danny Toala, Andrew Tuala and Lolagi Visinia (all Samoa) made their international debuts. ---- Notes: * Vinaya Habosi, Ratu Peni Matawalu, Isoa Nasilasila, Rusiate Nasove, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Seta Tamanivalu (all Fiji) and

Joe Apikotoa Joe 'Apikotoa (born 18 July 1996) is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a prop for in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has repres ...

, Tima Fainga'anuku, Malakai Fekitoa,

Israel Folau Israel Folau ( to, ‘Isileli Folau; born 3 April 1989) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer who plays for the Shining Arcs in the Japan Rugby League One and the Tonga national rugby union team. He has previously played Aust ...

, William Havili, Lotu Inisi, Manu Paea, Charles Piutau,

Veikoso Poloniati Veikoso Poloniati (born 27 August 1995) is a New Zealand rugby union player who plays for in Super Rugby. His playing position is lock. He was named in the Moana Pasifika squad for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season. He also represented in ...

, Sione Havili Talitui, Siate Tokolahi and Anzelo Tuitavuki (all Tonga) made their international debuts. * This is the first time since 1932 that Tonga have failed to score points against Fiji.

Round 2

Notes: * Feao Fotuaika and Semisi Paea (all Tonga) made their international debuts. ----

Round 3

---- Notes: * Michael Curry (Samoa) made his international debut. * This is the first time that Samoa has beaten Fiji since 2014.

Player statistics

Most points

Most tries

Squads

Note: Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 2 July 2022 – the tournament's opening day, pre first tournament match.

Australia A

On 15 June, Australia A named a 29-man squad for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup. On 17 June, Hugh Sinclair joined the squad to replace Ryan McCauley who withdrew from the squad, whilst James Tuttle also joined the squad. On 20 June, Harry Johnson-Holmes joined up with the Wallabies squad for their test series against England. On 24 June,

Ned Hanigan Ned Hanigan (born 11 April 1995) is an Australian professional rugby union player who currently plays for the in the Super Rugby competition and the Australian Wallabies. His preferred positions are blindside flanker or lock. Early life and ...

joined up with the Wallabies squad as injury cover for

Jed Holloway Jed Holloway (born 2 November 1992) is an Australian professional rugby union footballer. He currently plays for NSW Country Eagles, and the Wallabies (the Australian national team). His usual playing positions are number 8, flanker or lock ...

. As a result of Johnson-Holmes Wallabies called up and subsequent injury, Archer Holz was called up to the squad. Hudson Creighton also joined up with the squad. On 5 July, Reece Hodge joined up with the Wallabies, with Lawson Creighton replacing Hodge in the 'A' side.

Fiji

On 6 June, a 34-man squad was named for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup. On 29 June, Kitione Kamikamica joined up with the squad as cover for Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.

Samoa

On 2 June, the following 30 players were called up for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup with Olajuwon Noah later being added to the squad.

Tonga

On 27 May, the following 31 players were called up for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup as well as the

2023 Rugby World Cup The 2023 Rugby World Cup is scheduled to be the tenth men's Rugby World Cup, the quadrennial world championship for men's rugby union teams. It is scheduled to take place in France from 8 September to 28 October 2023 in nine venues across the cou ...

Asia/Pacific play-off qualifier. On 3 June, Sione Havili was called up to the squad. On the 16th of June,

Lopeti Timani Lopeti Timani (born 28 September 1990) is a Tongan professional rugby union player. His usual position is second row or number 8. After two seasons with the NSW Waratahs in Super Rugby, he signed on to play for the Melbourne Rebels in 2014. H ...

was called up to the squad. Feao Fotuaika, Semisi Paea, Otumaka Mausia, Aisea Halo, and

Telusa Veainu Koloti Telusa Pelaki Veainu (born 26 December 1990) is a rugby union player. He plays at fullback or on the wing for Stade Français. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but he represents internationally. He is known for his speed, elusive ...

were called up to the squad.

References

External links

Pacific Nations Cup
web page at World Rugby {{Pacific Nations Cup World Rugby Nations Cup

World Rugby World Rugby is the world governing body for the sport of rugby union. World Rugby organises the Rugby World Cup every four years, the sport's most recognised and most profitable competition. It also organises a number of other international rug ...