Fiji's former naval officer one of two standouts in Pacific Nations Cup

The semifinalists for the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup have been determined, with Japan defeating the USA 47-21 and Fiji edging out Samoa 29-15.

In the victory against the Eagles, Japan’s captain, Warner Dearns, scored two tries, breaking through seven defenders in those bursts. After the match, he reflected, “In the first 20 minutes, we defended really well and built a lot of momentum. We want to maintain that momentum in the upcoming games.”

Fiji secured their win over Samoa with 29-15. Following the match, Samoan captain and prop Michael Alaalato’a rued, “We made a few costly errors, many of which were self-inflicted, and our discipline let us down again.

When you play against Fiji, you can’t afford to give away easy opportunities because they are incredibly dangerous. We’re moving in the right direction, but as we head into next week, we need to focus on those critical moments and improve our discipline.”

The semi-finals are scheduled for next Saturday at DSG Park, a soccer-specific stadium in Commerce City, Colorado, home to the Colorado Rapids of Major League Soccer. In the semifinals, Japan will face Tonga, while Fiji will clash with Canada.

Who were the performers of the week for the winners Fiji and Japan?

Elia Canakaivata (Fiji) 

The former naval officer contemplated quitting rugby in 2020 after the tragic loss of his brother, Lodoviko Degei, and his namesake father in a fatal road accident in Matacula Village, Tailevu.

Fortunately, this strapping loose forward experienced a change of heart and made a breakthrough in Sevens rugby in 2021, winning a silver medal at the 2022 Commonwealth Games and a gold medal at the Rugby Sevens World Cup in Cape Town.

In 2023, he transitioned to Super Rugby Pacific with Fijian Drua, where he has played in 15 of their 18 all-time victories. He was a star in their 2025 campaign, being voted Fiji Sun Players’ Player of the Year. Throughout the season, he amassed impressive statistics: 150 carries, 35 defenders beaten, seven clean breaks, 78 tackles, and seven turnovers in 608 minutes of play.

He was immense in Fiji’s heartbreaking 21-18 loss to Australia in July. Since that match, Fiji has been on a roll, defeating Scotland (29-14), Tonga (32-10), and arch-rivals Samoa (29-15) in Rotorua, New Zealand.

Canakaivata has been outstanding in all those games. Against Samoa, he led the game with 17 carries and 15 tackles. It was a challenging spectacle, played in inclement weather, as Fiji had to withstand a fierce Samoan onslaught before emerging victorious.

Samoa initially led the match 8-0 and then 15-5 just before halftime. However, in the 37th minute, former All Black centre Seta Tamanivalu scored a try, bringing the score to 15-12 at the break.

Samoa kicked the ball dead in the 47th minute, allowing Kitione Salawa to claim a turnover, which shifted the momentum in Fiji’s favour. Following this, Samoa conceded three penalties in a row and lost flanker Taleni Seu to the sin bin. Fiji finally regained the lead on the hour mark when Simione Kuruvoli chased the ball to score, making it 19-15.

Canakaivata’s consistent industry was crucial in Fiji’s performance. He moved forward when others weren’t, while his defence helped stop Samoa from building even more momentum.

In the 57 meetings between Fiji and Samoa, Fiji leads the all-time record with 33 wins to Samoa’s 21, with 3 draws. Fiji is the most successful country in the Pacific Nations Cup, winning 35 of their 55 matches.

Amato Fakatava (Japan)

The Black Rams Tokyo back-rower from Tonga, who attended Timaru Boys’ High School in Canterbury, New Zealand, has established himself as a permanent fixture for Japan with 15 starts in his last 17 internationals.

Against the USA, he made a game-high 15 carries, scoring two tries. While both tries were relatively straightforward -one coming from picking the ball off the back of the scrum and the other finding space on the edge – his consistency and power with the ball in hand are really encouraging for Eddie Jones. Fakatava, a former centre, made 11 tackles.

Fakatava was equally dynamic in Japan’s record 57-15 crushing of Canada a week earlier, setting the tone with the first try.

Meanwhile, Japan’s captain Warner Dearns has signed for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby Pacific 2026. His mother, Tanya Dearns, was a Silver Ferns netballer.