2008 Pacific Nations Cup News

Rankings fate lies in the hands of Pacific Trio

(IRB.com) The Pacific Island powers of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji hold the key to rises and falls in the IRB World Rankings this weekend.   more ...

Japanese Legend Demi Sakata inducted into IRB Hall of Fame

(IRB.com) The International Rugby Board has inducted Demi Sakata, one of the world’s best players of the 1960s and perhaps Japan’s finest to date, into the IRB Hall of Fame.  more ...

PNC 2012: Toss the form book out

(IRB.com) The IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2012 gets underway on Tuesday, June 5 at Nagoya’s Mizuho Park Rugby Ground, one of three venues for this year’s tournament.  more ...

PNC2012: Teams named for Round 1

The teams for the opening round of the 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup have been announced.  more ...

PNC: Fiji name 2012 PNC Squad

(fijirugby.com) National head coach Inoke Male has today named the 24 member Flying Fijians squad to contest the Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) in Japan next month.  more ...

Oceania Qualification Process set for Rugby World Cup 2015

The Oceania region qualification process for Rugby World Cup 2015 will kick off with the Oceania Cup in 2013, the International Rugby Board and Federation of Oceania Rugby Unions (FORU) announced today at the FORU AGM in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.  more ...

Japan to host 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup

Preparations for Japan's staging of Rugby World Cup 2019 have been further boosted after the International Rugby Board announced that the 2012 IRB Pacific Nations Cup will be hosted by the Japan Rugby Football Union.  more ...

Next taxi off the rank for the All Blacks.

They have just won the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup with a game in hand; they have also let Mr Henry know they have a few boys ready for his phone call.  more ...

Jnr AB's named to face Japan.

Junior All Blacks coaches Ian Foster and Colin Cooper have named their side to play Japan in their third ANZ Pacific Nations Cup match.  more ...

The challenge

In the rugby world there is a colourful act that some teams do, it is a challenge and a link to their heritage and it puts a super zing in rugby.  more ...

Samoa outlast Japan in Sigatoka

Samoa survived a second-half rally by an immensely improved Japanese team to win 34-15.  more ...

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup- Fiji hammered at home.

The Junior All Blacks have charged to the lead and have one hand firmly on the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup after crushing Fiji.  more ...

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup- all eyes on Fiji.

Better known as a relaxation capital of the universe and people that smile from the heart, Fiji is about to get a space rocket worth of publicity across the world through Rugby.  more ...

So close as the Junior All Blacks sneak past Samoa.

On home soil the Samoan side has given the Junior All Blacks the scare of their lives in the clash today, in the end it was an 17-16 win to the visitors.  more ...

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup- a perfect start for Fiji.

Fiji has sprinkled talent all over the rugby field and ran out winners 36-22 over Tonga, this has kick started their hopes of a ANZ Pacific Nations Cup title on home soil.  more ...

ANZ Pacific Nations Cup- start your engines!

The eagerly awaited ANZ Pacific Nations Cup gets underway tomorrow; Tonga will hope to start off where they left off last year- beating Fiji.  more ...

On the rise through the Pacific Nations Cup

Drew Mitchell, Lachie Turner & Richard Brown all made huge impacts in the 2008 Pacific Nations Cup, now they are Wallabies for the opening test in 09.  more ...

PNC - Fiji to host 2009 ANZ Pacific Nations Cup

The International Rugby Board has confirmed that Fiji will host the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009.  more ...

PRC-Golds storm into finals contention

They came here with the intention of winning well & that is exactly what the Tautahi Gold’s did by 47-10.   more ...

The year in Oceania Rugby

As a mighty year of rugby in Oceania comes to a close we have a look back on the highs and have a look at goodies from the rugby Santa.   more ...

PNC the breeding ground of talent

Showing their talents in the Pacific Nations Cup over the past 2 seasons has seen 16 players board the plane to Hong Kong and the UK as All blacks in 2008.  more ...

PNC- over 800 minutes of rugby played

The stats reveal some interesting results. For starters Japan are on the attack a lot more this year, they scored more points than any of the Island nations did  more ...

PNC - NZ Maori Crowned 2008 Champions

The New Zealand Maori are the 2008 Champions of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup presented by ANZ after a Thomas Waldron try two minutes from time gave them victory over Australia A in Sydney this afternoon.  more ...

PNC- Samoa hold on to pip Japan

Things could have been a different ending if Japan’s wing Christian Loamanu’s try three minutes into injury time not been ruled out by the touch judge for a boot on the touchline, denying the visitors a comeback victory in the Samoa.  more ...

PNC- Tonga down Fiji

Tonga has ended on a massive high by well and truly bringing the Flying Fijians to ground with thrilling 27-16 win.  more ...

PNC- Tonga & Fiji to battle it out

Tonga and Fiji has a long history, from the brutal battlegrounds when a Tongan by the name of Ma’afu went on the rampage in the 1850’s.  more ...

PNC- grand final time for Aussie A

The players are also looking forward to playing the Maori, a side which has an extremely proud history and which really is one of the unique teams in world rugby.  more ...

PNC - Australia A thump Fiji

Lachie Turner scored a double as Australia A signalled their PNC intentions loud and clear by following up last week's demolition of Tonga with an impressive 50-13 thrashing of Fiji in Ballymore this afternoon.  more ...

PNC- Samoa down Tonga

Both sides were not shy, bodies were on the line at any excuse and there was an abundance of big hits and tremendous cover tackles.  more ...

PNC - Maori swamp Japan in Second Half

(sportal.co.nz) A withering third quarter which produced three tries, two of them to wing Hosea Gear finally quelled some sterling Japan resistance to set up a 65-22 win for the New Zealand Maori in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup game played at Napier's McLean Park on Saturday.   more ...

PNC- Australia A ready to tackle Fiji

Knowing that Fiji are capable of beating any team in world rugby on its day, Australia A are firmly focusing at the job at hand and not letting thoughts stray to the potential title decider next week against NZ Maori in Sydney.   more ...

PNC- Tonga re-build mission this weekend

They will have the injection into the team of Paino Hehea & Milton Ngauamo, this will add 2 coconut trees in the middle of their lineout and give the shot in the arm for their team to get go forward  more ...

ANZ Announce Sponsorship of Pacific Rim Tournaments

The IRB and ANZ have today announced a 3 year sponsorship of major tournaments in the Asia Pacific Region.  more ...

PNC - Fiji survive Japanese scare

(rugbyjapan.com) Japan’s hopes of taking two Pacific island scalps in successive weeks were dashed by Fiji on Sunday.  more ...

PNC- Australia A post a cricket score

Everyone in the Aussie side was in tune and the passing and linking with support runners was a dream today, popping up at very regular intervals was Stephen Hoiles and his tremendous day netted 4 tries.   more ...

PNC - NZ Maori defeat Samoa

(allblacks.com) The New Zealand Maori continue their unbeaten run in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup Presented by ANZ with a 17-6 victory over Samoa in Hamilton tonight  more ...

PNC- Maori on alert for Samoa

The Maori have just cruised along so far not firing too much at all, they have still won but will have to up the tempo if they want to see off a wounded Samoa.  more ...

PNC- 7 Wallabies in the A team

An Australia A rugby team including seven of the current Wallabies squad has been named to play Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup match at North Sydney Oval on Sunday.  more ...

PNC- Japan on the rise

Japan's outstanding 35-13 win against Tonga on home soil in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup moves them above Canada into their highest ever rankings position of 15th.  more ...

PNC - Japan Stun Tonga

For the second year in a row, Japan have defeated Tonga in the Pacific Nations Cup with a stunning 35-13 victory today in Sendai.  more ...

PNC- Thunder, lighting, monsoon rains and rugby colide in Fiji.

With a delay of 10 minutes the bumper crowd braving the chilly rain cheered their hearts out as the all clear was given for the test match.  more ...

My mate Jake- World Cup winning coach in Fiji

"I have climbed the highest mountain in rugby and put my flag there, now I want to help motivate others to make that climb and I will enjoy watching them do it."   more ...

PNC - Australia A too classy for Japan

Australia A lock Peter Kimlin scored a double in his Australia A debut as Australia A defeated Japan 42-21 in Hakaka this afternoon. Story to follow.  more ...

PNC - Maori outmuscle Tonga

The New Zealand Maori defeated Tonga 20-9 in their PNC debut in Albany on Saturday night  more ...

PNC- Fiji topple Samoa in style

The skies were blue, but that is where the blue dominance stopped as the Flying Fijians in their new white tops ruled supreme today.  more ...

PNC- Maori name their boys

The majority of our squad played in the Rebel Sport Super 14 competition this year and that is a reflection of the quality of players we have in this country.  more ...

PNC- Australia A name big guns

In his side will be four Wallabies from the 2007 RWC in France, add in league covert Timana Tahu and loads of super 14 talent including super 14 rookie of the year Tyrone Smith this team is set to hum.  more ...

PNC- Fiji & Samoa name powerful sides

Driving past Nadi airport you see a series of private jets parked up, this feeling of super star status is also written all over this game as a lot of these boys have flown on from Europe & Japan to grace this field.  more ...

PNC- let the battle begin

World Cup, Heiniken Cup and Super 14 titles have all been decided in the past 6 months, now centre stage comes to Oceania as 6 teams battle out the Pacific Nations Cup.  more ...

PNC- Samoa to play new rugby as we know it.

The game plan we’ll showcase in Lautoka will be different. That’s all I can say except that the public will see some things for the first time in rugby. It’ll be an exciting brand of rugby.  more ...

Winger to Wing Man.

Times have changed and now he is the Wing Man with a powerful sponsorship announced in Fiji today, Air Pacific have jumped on board with the IRB to form a combination to literally help rugby fly in the Pacific.  more ...

Samoan trials held

Tuala is quietly confident that his squad has the talent and experience to play his game plan. “Yes, the game plan is there it’s a matter of getting our coaching staff and players to make it happen on the field.  more ...

Simply Red in Lautoka.

Wet rugby is made for big strong men and the Reds simply played to their strength, powerhouse number 8 Lotu Filipine carved valuable metres and right on his shoulder were a pack of hungry men.  more ...

A new accord will look after our Island players

The Woking Accord that was agreed by Rugby’s stakeholders will look after our rugby boys, their season will be limited and 10 weeks break will be guaranteed.  more ...

Australian rugby legend Glen Ella joins Fiji.

Glen Ella said he would rather be coaching Fiji than any other team in the world.  more ...

IRB Announces Global Trial of Experimental Law Variations

Good news for Island rugby as the IRB Announces Global Trial of Experimental ELV Law Variations.  more ...

The smiling Ref

Reflecting on his work his eyes light up and stories of joy, mind experiences, pressures and personal growth come out of his mouth.  more ...

2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup schedule announced

The IRB Pacific Nations Cup returns in June with the inclusion of a new team and heightened interest generated by the impressive performance of the Pacific Island Unions and Japan at Rugby World Cup 2007. The New Zealand Maori will join Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga in the Tournament which features fifteen matches played in six countries over five weeks.  more ...

NZ Maori coaches eager for PNC challenges

(IRB.com) New Zealand Maori have announced the reappointments of Donny Stevenson and Shane Howarth as their coaching team for 2008, a year which will see them replace the Junior All Blacks in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.   more ...