2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
Rugby union competition
Rugby union tournament
2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup Host Japan (Finals )Dates 23 August – 21 September 2024 (29 days) Teams Champions Fiji (7th title) Runner-up Japan Third place Samoa Fourth place United States Matches played 11 Tries scored 80 (7.27 per match) Top scorer(s) Lee Seung-sin (60)Most tries
The 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup [ a] was the seventeenth Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) tournament, and the first with a new format design.[ 2] [ 3] Similar to the 2019 tournament , the same teams played each other,[ 2] [ 3] with the same round-robin structure. However, unlike 2019, the 2024 edition had a finals series following the pool stage (hosted in Japan), to decide the champion.[ 2] [ 4] [ 5]
While Samoa, Fiji, Tonga and Japan did play each other in the lead-up to the 2023 Rugby World Cup , no official PNC tournament took place in 2023. As such, Samoa are the defending champions, having gone undefeated at the 2022 iteration of the tournament.
Fiji won the 2024 title, beating Japan in the Grand Final , 41–17.[ 6]
Pool stage
Pool A
Updated to match(es) played on 6 September 2024. Source:
World Rugby
Notes:
Notes:
Notes:
Siaosi Nai and Salesi Tuifua (both Tonga) made their international debut.
Fiji scored the most points in a match against Tonga, surpassing the 47 points scored in 2003.
Pool B
Updated to match(es) played on 7 September 2024. Source:
World Rugby
Notes:
Notes:
Finals series
Bracket
Fifth-place play-off
Notes:
Semi-finals
Notes:
Notes:
Bronze Final
Grand Final
Notes:
Statistics
As of 21 September 2024.[ 9]
Point scorers
Try scorers
Participants and squads
Caps and clubs as per the first match of the tournament (23 August 2024).
Team
Stadium
Coach
Captain
World Rugby Ranking
Home stadium
Capacity
Location
Start[ b]
End[ c]
Canada
BC Place
54,500
Vancouver , British Columbia
Kingsley Jones
Lucas Rumball [ 10]
21st
22nd
Fiji
HFC Bank Stadium
15,000
Suva , Rewa
Mick Byrne
Tevita Ikanivere [ 11]
10th
9th
Japan
Kumagaya Rugby Ground
30,000
Kumagaya , Saitama
Eddie Jones
Harumichi Tatekawa [ 12]
14th
14th
Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium
27,188
Aoyama , Tokyo (Semi-finals )
Hanazono Rugby Stadium
30,000
Higashiōsaka , Osaka (Grand Final )
Samoa
Apia Park
12,000
Apia , Tuamasaga
Mahonri Schwalger
Theo McFarland [ 13]
13th
13th
Tonga
Teufaiva Sport Stadium
10,000
Nukuʻalofa , Tongatapu
Tevita Tuʻifua
Ben Tameifuna [ 14]
16th
16th
United States
Dignity Health Sports Park
27,000
Carson , California
Scott Lawrence
Greg Peterson [ 15]
19th
19th
Nate Augspurger [ 16]
Canada
On 12 August, Canada name an initial 35-player squad ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup.[ 17] [ 18]
Tyler Matchem was called up on 12 September for Canada's Fifth-place play-off against Tonga .[ 16]
Fiji
On 13 August 2024 the Fiji named a 30-player squad for their opening Pacific Nations Cup test against Samoa .[ 19]
Ponepati Loganimasi and Meli Tuni were called up to the Fiji team and named in their twenty-three man squad on 19 September for their final match against Japan.[ 20] [ 21] [ 22]
Japan
On 7 August 2024, Japan named a 35-player squad for the Pacific Nations Cup.[ 23] [ 24]
Amato Fakatava , not named in the teams initial squad, was named in the starting twenty-three for Japan's second pool fixture against the United States .[ 25]
Taichi Takahashi and Yusuke Kajimura were called up to Japan's squad ahead of their Semi-final match against Samoa on 15 September.[ 16]
Junta Hamano was named as a replacement in Japan's squad for their final match against Fiji on 21 September.[ 20] [ 26]
Samoa
On 14 August, Samoa named a 31-player squad for the opening test of the Pacific Nations Cup against Fiji .[ 27]
After initially not being named in the squad, players Lalomilo Lalomilo (centre), Brook Toomalatai (prop), Jonah Mau'u (flanker) and Danny Tusitala (scrum-half) were all named in the opening round of the tournament.[ 28]
Samoa called-up Elisapeta Alofipo and Melani Nanai ahead of their Semi-final match against Japan on 15 September.[ 16]
Tonga
On 17 August 2024, Tonga named a 30-player squad for the Pacific Nations Cup.
Players Penisoni Fineanganofo , Tupou Ma'afu Afungia , and Sosefo Sakalia were named in the squad for Tonga's second round fixture against Samoa .[ 29]
Salesi Tuifua was selected for Tonga's second fixture in Pool A against Fiji .[ 25]
Kafaikamoana Vaea , Vutulongo Puloka and Josiah Unga were all called up for Tonga ahead of their Fifth-place play-off match against Canada on 14 September.[ 16]
United States
On 15 August 2024, the United States announced a 31-player squad for the Pacific Nations Cup.[ 15] [ 30]
Payton Telea-Ilalio was named in the United States' replacements for their squad in their final match against Samoa.[ 31]
Notes
References
^ "Asahi Super Dry becomes title sponsor of Pacific Nations Cup" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 16 August 2024.
^ a b c "World Rugby confirms new international men's competition to launch in 2024" . world.rugby . World Rugby . 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 25 October 2023.
^ a b "World Rugby launches Pacific Nations Cup, annual competition with the USA Men's Eagles included as one of six competing nations" . usa.rugby . USA Rugby . 24 October 2023. Archived from the original on 6 November 2023.
^ "世界のラグビーがさらに活発化。2027年W杯から24か国出場、2026年からトップ12か国新大会、2024年からPNC" [More active rugby around the world: 24 countries from the 2027 World Cup, new top 12 countries from 2026, PNC from 2024.]. Rugby Republic jp (in Japanese). Baseball Magazine, Inc. jp . 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 14 December 2023.
^ "ラグビー 世界トップ12チーム参加 新たな国際大会創設を発表" [Rugby Announces the creation of a new international competition involving the world's top 12 rugby teams.]. NHK (in Japanese). 25 October 2023. Archived from the original on 27 October 2023.
^ "Fiji beat Japan to lift Pacific Nations Cup" . France 24. 21 September 2024. Retrieved 21 September 2024 .
^ "Canada Men's Rugby Team to play three Summer fixtures on home soil" . 27 February 2024. Retrieved 27 February 2024 .
^ "USA Men's Eagles to host Romania and Scotland in July as part of the 2024 American Series" . 15 March 2024. Retrieved 18 March 2024 .
^ "Pacific Nations Cup 2024 – All Rugby" . all.rugby . Archived from the original on 16 September 2024.
^ "Pacific Nations Cup team guide: Canada" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 13 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024.
^ "Pacific Nations Cup team guide: Fiji" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 14 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024.
^ "Pacific Nations Cup team guide: Japan" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 15 August 2024. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024.
^ "Pacific Nations Cup team guide: Samoa" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 16 August 2024. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024.
^ "Pacific Nations Cup team guide: Tonga" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 17 August 2024. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024.
^ a b "Pacific Nations Cup team guide: USA" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 18 August 2024. Archived from the original on 20 August 2024.
^ a b c d e "Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024: Semi-Finals preview" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 12 September 2024. Archived from the original on 11 September 2024.
^ "Training squad named as Canada's Men's Rugby Team prepares for Pacific Nations Cup" . rugby.ca . Rugby Canada . 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 14 August 2024.
^ "Four new names in Canada squad for Pacific Nations Cup" . americasrugbynews.com . 12 August 2024. Archived from the original on 17 August 2024.
^ Raqio, Mosese (13 August 2024). "23 Drua players in Flying Fijians 30-member squad for PNC" . Fiji Village . Archived from the original on 20 August 2024.
^ a b "Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024: Final preview" . world.rugby . World Rugby. 19 September 2024.
^ Stark, Mataiasi (20 September 2024). "Loganimasi named on the bench" . FBC News .
^ Asioli, Ioane (20 September 2024). "Byrne Makes Changes" . Fiji Sun .
^ "Japan Men's National Rugby Team (Brave Blossoms)" . en.rugby-japan.jp . Japan Rugby Football Union . 7 August 2024. Archived from the original on 11 August 2024.
^ Saito, Kenjin (7 August 2024). "ラグビー日本代表、宮崎合宿及び、パシフィック・ネーションズカップのカナダ遠征メンバーを発表" [Japan Rugby Team Announces Members for Miyazaki Training Camp and Pacific Nations Cup Tour to Canada]. J Sports (in Japanese). Archived from the original on 11 August 2024.
^ a b "Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024: Round three preview" . world.rugby . 4 September 2024. Archived from the original on 5 September 2024.
^ "Brave Blossoms Side to Face Fiji in PNC Final" . en.rugby-japan.jp . 19 September 2024.
^ Rotich, Judy (14 August 2024). "Samoa Strengthens Squad With Moana Pasifika Talent For Pacific Nations Cup" . Sports Illustrated . Minute Media . Archived from the original on 15 August 2024.
^ "Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024: Round one preview" . world.rugby . 22 August 2024.
^ "Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2024: Round two preview" . world.rugby . 29 August 2024.
^ "Six uncapped players in Eagles squad for Pacific Nations Cup" . americasrugbynews.com . 15 August 2024.
^ Bendon, Philip (19 September 2024). "USA make sweeping changes for Pacific Nations Cup third place play-off" . Rugbypass .
External links