Teams named for round one of Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025

The teams are in ahead of the opening round of the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup, and the four countries have assembled top talent for the tournament opener.

Fiji took the crown in 2024 after a dynamic final win over Japan, and the two heavyweights will each enjoy a rest for round one of 2025, leaving Canada to host USA and Tonga to host Samoa.

While last year’s finalists have secured their place, 2027 Rugby World Cup qualification is on the line for the rest in this year’s edition of the tournament, and with only two pool games each before the finals, the teams must hit the ground running.

Canada, the lowest-ranked nation in the tournament, welcome back talismanic captain Tyler Ardron for their third Test of the year, having dropped games to Belgium and Spain last month.

Canada 

1 Calixto Martinez, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith; 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Evan Olmstead; 6 Matthew Oworu, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Tyler Ardron; 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Cooper Coats; 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Ben LeSage, 13 Noah Flesch, 14 Isaac Olson; 15 Peter Nelson

Replacements:  16 Jesse Mackail, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Kyle Steeves, 19 Mason Flesch, 20 Siôn Parry, 21 Stephen Webb, 22 Spencer Jones, 23 Nic Benn

USA

1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Tonga Kofe; 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Jason Damm; 6 Benjamin Bonasso, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Makeen Alikhan; 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ MacGinty; 11 Lauina Futi, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dominic Besag, 14 Rufus McLean; 15 Erich Storti

Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Tevita Naqali, 20 Viliami Helu, 21 Christian Poidevin, 22 Ethan McVeigh, 23 Tom Pitman

The second Test of the day will see Moana Pasifika teammates square off, with former All Black Salesi (Charles) Piutau also named to take the field.

Piutau’s Tonga, fresh off a 38-19 win over the Queensland Reds, have the services of rising Super Rugby star Patrick Pellegrini at No.10 and front-row behemoth Ben Tameifuna up front.

Manu Samoa, ranked six places above their Pacific neighbours, are looking to improve on their third-place finish in 2024. The team went down 41-12 to Scotland last month in a game that saw them claim as many 22 entries as the Scots, just without the finishing touch.

Tonga

1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 2 Siua Maile, 3 Ben Tameifuna; 4 Halaleva Fifita, 5 Harison Mataele; 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 7 Siosiua Moala, 8 Lotu Inisi; 9 Sonatane Takulua, 10 Patrick Pellegrini; 11 John Tapueluelu, 12 Fetuli Paea, 13 Solomone Kata, 14 Fine Inisi; 15 Salesi Piutau

Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Salesi Tuifua, 18 Solomone Tukuafu, 19 Tupou Afungia, 20 Fotu Lokotui, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Josiah Unga, 23 Nikolai Foliaki

Samoa

1 Aki Seiuli, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Michael Alaalatoa; 4 Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee, 5 Samuel Slade; 6 Taleni Seu, 7 Theo McFarland, 8 Iakopo Mapu; 9 Melani Matavao, 10 AJ Alatimu; 11 Tuna Tuitama, 12 Henry Taefu, 12 Melani Nanai 14 Tomasi Alosio; 15 Lolagi Visinia

Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Jarred Adams, 18 Bradley So’o Amituanai, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Olajuwon Noa, 21 Joel Lam, 22 Rodney Iona, 23 Elisapeta Alofipo

You can catch the Pacific Nations Cup action on RugbyPass TV in select territories.