Pacific Nations Cup

 

The IRB Pacific Nations Cup is an International round-robin competition comprising the test teams of Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and Japan.  The Junior All Blacks - who in 2008 were replaced by the New Zealand Maori - and Australia A who participated in 2007 and 2008 have withdrawn from the competition.  

Like the Pacific Rugby Cup, the IRB Pacific Nations Cup is a key component of the IRB’s £48m million Strategic Investment initiative and is designed to provide the Pacific Island Nations and Japan with regular high level competition.

The tournament structure for the 2011 IRB Pacific Nations Cup has been condensed with the three rounds being played over two weeks with the opening match, Japan v Samoa, being played in Tokyo on 2 July and the remainder of the Tournament being played in Fiji between 2 and 13 July 2011.  The entire Tournament will be played within the IRB's Southern Hemisphere Window enabling Unions to secure the services of their overseas-based players in preparation for RWC 2011.

2006 Champions: Junior All Blacks
2007 Champions: Junior All Blacks
2008 Champions: New Zealand Maori
2009 Champions: Junior All Blacks
2010 Champions: Samoa

 

New Zealand Win JWC 2010

3rd time in a row. photo IRB.com

3rd time in a row. photo IRB.com

The victory Haka. photo IRB.com

The victory Haka. photo IRB.com

Tawera Kerr-Barlow runs. photo IRB.com

Tawera Kerr-Barlow runs. photo IRB.com

June 22, 2010 - 4:16pm

New Zealand retained the IRB Junior World Championship trophy for the third year in succession after producing a dominant display to beat Australia 62-17 at the Estadio El Coloso del Parque in Rosario on Monday and complete a thrilling IRB Junior World Championship.

New Zealand have now won all 15 matches since the Junior World Championship was introduced in 2008, and got off to a flying start as hooker Liam Coltman touched down after just 33 seconds of the final.

Captain Tyler Bleyendaal was the architect of the try, gliding through the Australian defence and led by example with an impressive display, helping to set up two tries for teammates and scoring one of his own in a 28 point haul before limping off just past the hour mark.

“It was important to put Australia on the back foot because they're a great attacking team and you know momentum wins games and we've been guilty of letting teams off. Today we definitely focused on keeping our foot on the throat and we did that and we just kept scoring points, it was just a great performance,” said Bleyendaal.

South Africa matched their achievements in the two previous IRB Junior World Championships by finishing in third place with a 27-22 defeat of England also in Rosario.

A five-try haul helped France overcome a spirited Argentina 37-23 on the final day at the Estadio CA Colon in Santa Fe to finish fifth.

Morgan Allen's brace in the second half ensured that Wales finished on a positive note with a 39-15 victory over Fiji in their seventh place play-off at the same venue.

A hat trick by Andrew Conway ensured Ireland finished ninth by overwhelming Scotland 53-23 at the Club Atletico Estudiantes in Paraná.

Tonga safeguarded their place in next year's IRB Junior World Championship by overcoming an enthusiastic Samoan side 23-3 in the 11th place play-off.

With both sides desperate to secure their first win of the tournament, all the signs were there for an entertaining match that would see players pushed to their physical brink in the effort to avoid relegation to the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy in 2011.

www.irb.com/jwc has the final and semi final available to view on demand.