IRB changes Pacific Rugby Cup

The IRB's Pacific Rugby Cup kicks off in Australia this weekend with a new format. The teams taking part will be the A Teams of Fiji, called the Fiji Warriors, Tonga and Samoa plus three teams from Australia and three teams from New Zealand.

Fiji Warriors are the reigning champions and the only team to have successfully defended the title, having won in 2009 and 2010.

The Australian teams are the Reds Academy, the Junior Waratahs and the Brumby Runners. The New Zealand teams are Crusader Knights, Chiefs Development XV and Hurricanes Development XV.

The matches will be played in three tranches - three rounds in Australia, then three rounds in New Zealand and finally a series of matches amongst the Island teams. The teams have been having warm-up matches.

Bernard Lapasset, the IRB's chairman, said: "The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup was developed to bridge the gap between domestic and international rugby for the best locally-based players in Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and has been hugely successful in exposing a new generation of Pacific Rugby players to the rigours of international Rugby.

"This new format takes the Pacific Rugby Cup to a whole new level and will expose the best Pacific Island-based players to some of the most advanced professional rugby structures in the world. In a Rugby World Cup year, this level of exposure is invaluable and will test aspiring national representatives from Fiji, Samoa and Tonga against full-time professional rugby players."

Tonga head coach, Isitolo Maka said he is very enthusiastic about the new Pacific Rugby Cup format. “It’s fantastic. It gives us a competition comprising eight first class games where we can assess our “A” players against the Super 15 development teams. These additional games at this level are important in a Rugby World Cup year as we have a greater opportunity to work with the players and observe first hand their performances over a longer time frame”.

The IRB Regional General Manager for Oceania, William Glenwright said: . "The new tournament format has been developed in close consultation with the Australia, New Zealand and Pacific Island Rugby Unions and in line with the IRB strategic investment programme in the Pacific Islands.

"It will expose players and management staff of the Island Unions to the High Performance systems of Super Rugby teams, while also providing high quality games for those Super Rugby players not yet in the top squad. This level of exposure in a Rugby World Cup year is invaluable to current and aspiring national team players."

Fixtures

Australia Series

Round 1

Saturday, 19 February

Junior Waratahs vs Tonga A at Foreshaw Rugby Park
Brumby Runners vs Samoa A at Canberra Stadium
Reds Academy vs Fiji Warriors at Ballymore

Round 2

Wednesday, 23 February

Junior Waratahs vs Fiji Warriors at St Mary's League Club
Brumby Runners vs Tonga A at Vikings Park
Reds Academy vs Samoa A at Ballymore

Round 3

Monday, 28 February

Junior Waratahs vs Samoa A at St Mary's League Club
Reds Academy vs Tonga A at Ballymore
Brumby Runners vs Fiji Warriors at Vikings Park

New Zealand Series

Round 4

Friday, 4 March

Crusader Knights vs Fiji Warriors at AMI Stadium
Chiefs Development XV vs Tonga A at Growers Stadium, Pukekohe

Saturday, 5 March

Hurricanes Development XV vs Samoa A at Porirua Park

Round 5

Wednesday, 9 March

Chiefs Development XV vs Fiji Warriors at Tauranga Domain
Crusader Knights vs Samoa A at Lincoln University
Hurricanes Development XV vs Tonga A at Hutt Recreation Ground

Round 6

Monday, 14 March

Hurricanes Development XV vs Fiji Warriors at Porirua Park
Crusader Knights vs Tonga A at Lincoln University
Chiefs Development XV vs Samoa A at Growers Stadium, Pukekohe

Pacific Islands Series

Round 7

Saturday, 19 March

Fiji Warriors vs Tonga A at Churchill Park

Round 8

Tuesday, 22 March

Samoa A vs Fiji Warriors at Churchill Park

Round 9

Saturday, 26 March

Tonga A vs Samoa A at Lawaqa Park

Fiji Warriors squad: Waisea Daveta, Viliame Veikoso, Setefano Somoca, Sekonaia Kalou, Tevita Cavubati, Aca Ratuva, Jimilai Naikadawa, Anare Koliavu, Nemia Kenatale, Taniela Rawaqa, Isoa Neivua, Ravai Fatiaki, Jo Naisilisili, Campese Ma’afu, Navi Bolatagici, Penijamini Makutu, Apisalome Ratuniyarawa, Rupeni Nasiga, Timoci Vakadranu, Samu Bola, Waisale Vatuvoka, Jonetani Ralulu, Jona Tuitoga, Paula Tiko, Adriu Delai, Paula Karatu.

*Sekonaia Kalou and Api Ratuniyarawa are brothers.