Super Rugby centurion not sold on NZ-backed Pacific Nations Cup
While USA Rugby chief executive Ross Young has mooted the idea of relaunching the Pacific Nations Cup with the assistance of New Zealand Rugby [NZR], some of NZ’s top players aren’t sold on the idea.
Earlier this month, Young told Stuff that while the Eagles’ upcoming game with the All Blacks will be a huge boost for rugby in the United States, the greatest benefit would come from more regular competition against top sides – not just one-off fixtures.
He suggested that NZR could use their influence to help reinstate the Pacific Nations Cup – a competition that has run under many formats over the last two decades but fallen to the wayside in recent times and never held a steady place on the rugby calendar.
“We as a union struggle getting connectivity with the American psyche, because we are not playing in a meaningful league competition,” he said. “What can we win as the US Eagles?
“There was the Pacific Rim Trophy [about] 10 years ago, which involved Japan, the Pacific Islands, US and Canada. To me, that’s what makes sense.
“The lack of regular games for the likes of Fiji and Japan, Samoa, Canada etc, that sort of Pacific Rim type championship is the thing to me that makes the most logical sense for our involvement.”
While a reinvigorated PNC with the full commitment of World Rugby would make for a great spectacle, two Super Rugby centurions are unsure whether it’s New Zealand’s responsibility to assist the likes of the USA with lobbying the game’s governing body when NZR are already helping to develop rugby in the Pacific.
“I think it’s one step at a time,” said former Blues hooker James Parsons on the latest episode of the Aotearoa Rugby Pod. “I think it was a great tournament and it warrants looking at bringing it back and getting more tests for everyone is what we want to see; we want to grow the game so that it is worldwide and there’s that drive and connection to the game of rugby in each part of the world.
“For NZR, being put on them, I think there’s already a real big focus on Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua. The reason I think those teams are so crucial is that [they] can, in time, provide a pathway for talent out of Tonga, Samoa and Fiji, to these [national] teams.
“I’m not saying not to have these tests or this tournament, but it’s one step at a time and really focussing in on what’s key for [the Pacific Island sides], and they’ve made a real commitment – a financial commitment but also a backing, as NZR have, to get these teams up and running. But also, in time, those teams themselves are going to want to create that pathway for talent coming out of those regions.”
Queensland will host Rugby Championship games in a series of double-headers played in Brisbane, Townsville and the Gold Coast. #RugbyChampionship https://t.co/PnONfDYXWk
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) August 24, 2021
Parsons also suggested that NZR only have so many resources at their disposal and that the development of the new Super Rugby franchises will ultimately pave the way for greater success at the highest level.
“I just think there’s only so much you can do,” he said. “If you spread yourself too thin, you’re not going to be able to nail it … I think NZR have been awesome in the support they’ve shown for Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drui.
“This [tournament] is a [short-term] focus thing. If we can get this tournament up and running to make the game worldwide, I’m all for it. But putting it all on NZR, I just think’s a little bit unfair because they’re really rolling their sleeves up on their own game at the moment and trying to create these pathways and opportunities for others.”
Current Crusaders halfback Bryn Hall added that if the PNC were to return in any guise, it would have to fit into the calendar at such a time that the top players from all the participating nations would be available for selection and not pre-occupied with the club game.
“We’ve talked around [the need for Super Rugby] Trans-Tasman being competitive and having a great product. I think if they do want that [PNC] completion, you’ve got to be able to have it as a competitive product,” Hall said.
“The last thing you want is not having the best players [playing ] for their country.”
Parsons added that the growth of the game worldwide would be a huge boost, especially in the USA, but that the return of the Pacific Nations Cup might not be the best way to go about doing that.
“I think we all know that if we can get the Eagles humming and a successful team, that’s great for the game of rugby,” he said. “I think everyone in the world wants that, to see the USA Eagles going well. Look at the growth in Japan and how much love for the game of rugby that’s brought. Some of their big victories at test match level [and] filtering down into their club comp.
“We all know we want the Pacific Island teams to have more opportunities to play so in theory this competition is great but it’s not necessarily a blueprint [we should follow]. There might be something better we can do that can include them, rather than putting them off to the side in their own competition, if that makes sense.”
Comments on RugbyPass
late hit what late hit it wasn’t at all late and can clearly see he was committed before the tackle
1 Go to commentsChristian Lio -Willies 2 try perfomance was a standout. As was captain Scott Barrett. Up front was where the boys won it.They are a great team and players. Fantastic Crusades , you can keep going.
1 Go to commentsI don't know how the locals feel about that? I guess if you call yourselves the Worcester Wasps that might be appease. But really we need more teams in the Premiership in my view so they are not padding it out as they are at the moment. It might curtail so many players going abroad as well
4 Go to commentsNZ 😭😭😭is certainly rivaling England for best whingers cup!😭😭😭 !!!
24 Go to commentsYup. New Zealand won 3 out of 10 world cups played. SA 4 out of 8 attempts 30 Vs 50 per cent.🤔🤔
24 Go to commentsShould've done this years ago. Change Saturday kick off times to around 11am. Up and off and back home before 3pm, limit travel time too. Allows players to actually do something else with their Saturday that's family oriented or being rugby fans they could ‘watch’ pro rugby. Increases crowds etc. How can anyone that enjoys grassroots and pro rugby have to choose between the two on Saturdays?
9 Go to commentsI bet he inspired those supporters just as much.
1 Go to commentsBen Smith Springboks living rent free in his head 😊😂
67 Go to commentsGood to hear he would like to play the game at the highest level, I hadn’t been to sure how much of a motivator that was before now. Sadly he’s probably chosen the rugby club to go to. Try not to worry about all the input about how you should play rugby Joey and just try to emulate what you do on the league field and have fun. You’ll limit your game too much (well not really because he’s a standard athlete like SBW and he’ll still have enough) if you’re trying to make sure you can recycle the ball back etc. On the other hard, you can totally just try and recycle by looking to offload any and everywhere if you’re going to ground 😋
1 Go to commentsThis just proves that theres always a stat and a metric to use to justify your abilities and your success. Ben did it last week by creating an imaginary competition and now you did the same to counter his argument and espouse a new yardstick for success. Why not just use the current one and lets say the Boks have won 4 world cups making them the most successful world cup team. Outside of the world cup the All Blacks are the most successful team winning countless rugby championships and dominating the rankings with high win percentages. Over the last 4 years statistically the Irish are the best having the highest win rate and also having positive records against every tier 1 side. The most successful Northern team in the game has been England with a world cup title and the most six nations titles in history. The AB’s are the most dominant team in history with the highest win rate and 3 world cups. Lets not try to reinvent the wheel. Just be honest about the actual stats and what each team has been good at doing and that will be enough to define their level of success.
24 Go to commentsHow is 7’s played there? I’m surprised 10 or 11 man rugby hasn’t taken off. 7 just doesn’t fit the 15s dynamics (rules n field etc) but these other versions do.
9 Go to commentsPick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
24 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
9 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
9 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
28 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
24 Go to comments