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Oceania Cup



The Oceania Cup is FORU's showpiece rugby event for our Development and Targeted Unions and is held biennially. FORU Member Unions eligible to participate in the Tournament are American Samoa, Cook Islands, Niue, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands, Tahiti, Tuvalu, Vanuatu and Wallis and Futuna. 

The 2013 Oceania Cup will hosted by the Papua New Guinea Rugby Football Union in July 2013.  Four teams will be competing in the 2013 Oceania Cup - Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Solomon Islands and Tahiti.  The Tournament will be a qualifier for 2015 Rugby World Cup, with the winner of the 2013 Oceania Cup playing Fiji in 2014 for the Oceania 1 spot at Rugby World Cup.

Papua New Guinea are defending champions after winning the 2011 Oceania Cup by defeating Niue 36-7 in their Round 3 match at Lloyd Robson Oval in Port Moresby on 3 December 2011.

2008 Champions: Niue
2009 Champions: Papua New Guinea
2011 Champions: Papua New Guinea

 

PRC- last round to grab a final spot

Try time for the Fiji Warriors

Try time for the Fiji Warriors

May 22, 2009 - 6:14am

Upolu Samoa is already there, but now the other spot in the final next weekend will be decided in action this week.

One side of the titanic final has already been written in pen, the calculators and hopes of teams are all out now trying to see who will be on the other side of the field. In the hunt are the Fiji Warriors, Savaii Samoa & defending champions Tautahi Gold. To get there will be some tense matches and whoever does make it has an even bigger hill to conquer next weekend in Apia. But as with any good sportsman, they will be focused on this week’s assignment, win & hopefully win well and seize a bonus point.

The Fiji Warriors are currently 2nd on the point’s table; they have to beat Tau’uta Reds in Nuku’alofa to secure a place in the final. This is no easy feat as many teams have found out, however they will be boosted by the thought of their Babaas team that did manage this last week. It gets even more interesting when you think of a wounded Red’s team that has been waiting a week to get revenge for their loss last weekend, they can’t make the finals, but they can help dictate who does.

In Samoa the local derby is on, the unbeaten Upolu men match up against their brothers Savaii Samoa. Upolu has nothing to gain except Pacific pride ending the round robin un-dented. Savaii has everything to play for; if they win it will be great honours for their Island over the big Island Upolu. This thought will be at the forefront of their challenge, if they attack the rivalry full on they have a chance to play with vigor and secure points they need to possibly sneak into the final.

The other match is in Sigatoka- Fiji, the young gun Barbarian team will play the
Tautahi Gold team. The Fiji team has made a series of changes to let even younger players get equipped for the Junior World Cup next month. This on paper gives the Golds a truly golden opportunity to rack up points and steamroll into another final. But with a taste of victory last weekend, these young Babaas will like what they tasted & will be hungry for another feast of winning.

Fiji coach Illy Tabua said this is what a team has to do to win this weekend “With the right mindset they can play the game smart, more technical, believe in what they have set up and play as a team.” but they need to put that into points at the right time,”.

Sounds pretty easy really, as every sport is from the couch or sideline. The real tests will unfold this weekend as the PRC heads to the real deal end of the season with everyting on the line.

The match details are below: