Teams, form and storylines: Pacific Nations Cup semi-final guide

The Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 semi-finals are taking place this weekend as part of a double-header at Osaka’s Hanazono Rugby Stadium. Fiji are looking to defend their PNC title, while Japan, the USA and Canada look to dethrone the reigning champions.

It’s a bit of a preview for some key Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 pool-stage clashes too, with the semi-final matchups set to be repeated at that tournament. Japan and the USA Eagles will face off on Saturday evening, and meet again less than 400 days later.

Fiji claimed silverware the last time the PNC was held in Japan, before backing up those heroics with another title the following year in Utah. The Flying Fijians got the train from Tokyo to Osaka on Thursday, before taking the field for their captain’s run on Friday morning.

Mie Honda Heat hooker Tevita Ikanivere captains a Fiji side that includes former France Sevens star Virimi Vakatawa in the midfield, and Olympic silver medallist Joji Nasova on one wing. There are some potential debutants in the lineup too, including HSBC SVNS Series star Terio Tamani.

The Flying Fijians are the highest-ranked side in the PNC, currently in ninth-place on the World Rugby list. Canada, meanwhile, are the lowest-ranked of the four – sitting in 24^th spot, which is 10 behind the USA and 12 below Japan.

Fiji and Canada meet in the first PNC semi-final at 4:00 pm JPN time on Saturday, before home side Japan take the field. The Brave Blossoms are coming off a dominant 45-point win over the Canadians, and will play the United States of America next at 7:05 pm.

Team news

Fiji versus Canada at 4:00 pm

Fiji

Terio Tamani was named in the Men’s SVNS Dream Team of the Year in partnership with HSBC after a phenomenal campaign with the Fiji Sevens side. The playmaker was instrumental to the team’s strong run throughout the regular season, finishing second on those standings.

Tamani is now set to debut for the Flying Fijians after being named on the bench. Penaia Cakobau and Inoke Ravuiwasa are in line to make their first international appearances in the Test arena as well, having also been selected in the replacements.

Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula has won the race to start at fly-half, with Caleb Muntz instead named on the bench. Armstrong-Ravula will link up with Fijian Drua scrum-half Frank Lomani in the halves, while Isikeli Rabitu lines up at fullback.

Fiji: Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere (c), Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Kitione Salawa, Motikiai Murray, Isoa Tuwai, Frank Lomani, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Manasa Mataele, Kalaveti Ravouvou, Virimi Vakatawa, Joji Nasova, Isikeli Rabitu.

Replacements: Penaia Cakobau*, Meli Tuni, Inoke Ravuiwasa*, Isoa Nasilasila, Joseva Tamani, Terio Tamani*, Caleb Muntz, Tuidraki Samusamuvodre.*

Canada

Ethan Fryer hasn’t played for the Canada national team in more than 670 days but the loose forward has been named to return this weekend. Fryer suffered a fractured skull on November 9, 2024, but has worked hard to get back to Test level.

Coach Stephen Meehan has recalled Fryer and another couple of players from long absences away from the Test arena,  with Austin Creighton and Emerson Prio also set to wear Canadian red for the first time this year.

Dewald Kotze has been brought into the run-on side at hooker, with Creighton providing cover off the bench and Foster DeWitt now out of the matchday 23. In the backs, 31-Test No. 9 Jason Higgins will link up with New Zealand-raised Spencer Jones in the halves.

Jacob Ince has only started one other match for Canada, but the midfielder will get another chance after being selected at outside centre. The university national champion will be partnered in the midfield by Ben LeSage, who is the most experienced back in the squad.

Canada: Sam Miller, Dewald Kotze, Kyle Steeves, Daragh Doyle, Izzak Kelly, Mason Flesch, Siôn Parry, Lucas Rumball, Jason Higgins, Spencer Jones, Jamie Armstrong, Ben LeSage, Jacob Ince, Kyle Tremblay, Takoda McMullin.

Replacements: Austin Creighton, Emerson Prior, Bryce Worden, Barnaby Waddell, Ethan Fryer, Stephen Webb, TBD, Josh McIndoe.

Japan vs USA at 7:05 pm

Japan

Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones is looking to “build a team for the World Cup” in Australia, which is now less than 13 months away. Jones has picked a side that includes a dozen players with less than 10 caps of experience to their names.

Without regular skipper Warner Dearns, scrum-half Naoto Saito will lead the side. Saito is joined in the halves by in-form playmaker Ryunosuke Ito, who scored a superb try in the defeat to the Wallabies in the team’s last match at the venue.

Brisbane Grammar School product Sam Greene has been brought into the starting side, joined in the First XV by four others from the Australian pathways. Ben Gunter went to Brisbane Boys’ College, with Jack Cornelsen, Harry Hockings and Dylan Riley also spending time Down Under.

“It’s our best 23. That’s first thing,” Jones told reporters on Thursday.

“It’s important that players get as much experience as they can in Test match rugby and every match in Test match rugby is different.

“Particularly for a winger like Inoke [Brua], to experience a Test match like this is going to be important in preparation for what’s coming forward.

“It’s always about the best 23 first and then obviously we’re trying to build a team for the World Cup.”

USA

Former World Rugby Player of the Year nominee Joe Taufete’e is set to wear the red, white and blue of the USA Eagles for the first time in three years, with the front-rower named to come off the bench in the No. 16 jumper.

Taufete’e was shortlisted for the prestigious accolade after making four appearances for the USA at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, but that award was presented to then first-time World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit.

Fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck slotted the match-winner for the Eagles in a thriller against Portugal during the all-new World Rugby Nations Cup, and the No.10 steered the team towards another two wins during those July Tests.

Hilsenbeck wasn’t available for the USA XV match against the Argentina XV, with Luke Carty instead wearing the No. 10 jersey. Those two have both been named to play in the PNC semi-final, with Hilsenbeck starting and Carty on the bench.

Noah Brown comes into the side on the wing, and Marno Redelinghuys is set to play at Test level for the first time this year. Jason Damm captains an otherwise fairly settled Eagles outfit, that continues to build towards the World Cup.

“We’re a year away from being where we want to be. We’ve got some work to do but we’re three months ahead of where we were three months ago,” coach Scott Lawrence told reporters.

“There is a plan to go towards the World Cup. I think we’re ahead in some areas, I think we’re behind in some areas. Overall, relatively on track.”

Recent form

Fiji started the Nations Championship with a 0-3 record, falling to Wales, England and Scotland in their three Tests in the United Kingdom. If you include the USA XV match, Fiji is the only side in the PNC who hasn’t played since July.

Canada started the season with a stunning 42-all draw with Spain in Edmonton, before falling to Portugal and then beating Portugal. It was a 1-1-1 record for the Canadians after the July Tests, before then losing by 45-points to Japan in Niigata.

Japan are coming off a confidence-building win over Canada, which saw them return to winning ways after two defeats to Australia. The Brave Blossoms defeated Italy during the July Tests but also went down swinging to Ireland and France.

The USA have made winning a habit so far in 2026, overcoming three other sides bound for next year’s Rugby World Cup during the July Tests. It may have been a non-Test, but an Eagles-heavy USA XV also held on for a thrilling win against an Argentina XV in Miami.