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The Simon Raiwalui verdict on the reimagined Pacific Nations Cup
Ex-Fiji boss Simon Raiwalui has hailed the unveiling of the reimagined six-team Pacific Nations Cup which will start on August 24 and build towards the final in Japan on September 21. Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the USA will be guaranteed a minimum of three Tests and one home fixture, boosting development, exposure, and competitiveness.
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Two regional pools of three have been created to minimise player travel during the pool phase and the tournament will feed into the new two-division global calendar competitions to be launched in 2026.
Japan and the USA will host the PNC finals in alternate years. Osaka will host the first final, with Tokyo staging the semi-finals on September 14/15. Fresh from having guided Fiji to their first Rugby World Cup quarter-final appearance in 16 years, Raiwalui can’t wait to see what unfolds over the five weekends.
Now working for World Rugby as a high-performance pathways and player development manager, he said: “The regions that are involved, the Americas, Japan, Pacific Islands, they have been really looking for consistent matches and what the new PNC gives us is that consistency of matches long term to plan ahead.
“It gives them a real opportunity to plan ahead not only just for newer players coming through developing, it just gives that long-term security that the regions have been looking for.”
World Rugby has today unveiled the vibrant new brand, format and fixtures for the reimagined Pacific Nations Cup, a six-team annual competition featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and USA.#PacificNationsCuphttps://t.co/JzlK42cW2f pic.twitter.com/WA2w95Jisr
— World Rugby Media (@worldrugbymedia) February 27, 2024
The 49-year-old retired second row played in 49 Test games during his playing career, 46 for Fiji and three more for the combined Pacific Islanders team that toured in 2006. Having since gone on to coach the Fijians, he recognised the potential of the new PNC.
“I played in the previous iteration. This one is really geared towards having that success and getting those players back playing within their unions. There is definitely a gap between the top 10 where they are getting the extra matches in the Six Nations/The Rugby Championship.
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“Now within these regions, we are getting consistent matches through that period and it’s going to be geared towards that success. I’m really looking forward to seeing what it brings in terms of competition and how it turns out in the first year.”
Raiwalui also approved the idea of playing the semi-finals and final in Japan and the USA in alternate years to build the long-term profile of the PNC. “It’s good, two big markets that are being explored. Japan with their World Cup (in 2019) was a great experience, great for the nation, they were great hosts.
“And the USA is obviously a huge market going into 2031 trying to grow the game, the new Anthem franchise coming there (in this year’s MLR). It’s a great opportunity to play those matches, the final rounds, in those two nations on alternate years.
“Long term for everyone, the content is the key, getting those matches. Those markets we are playing the finals in are big markets and we are trying to drive opportunities there.
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“The more content you get in each country the better, it’s just going to help with growing the game, more participation, more matches at home where they are getting their home content and that has always been a difficulty in the past.
“You had July where you had your matches, maybe one was away, but this just gives you certainty to pan for the future.”
- Coming soon to RugbyPass: Exclusive Simon Raiwalui interview reflecting on Fiji’s Rugby World Cup 2023 campaign and his new role with World Rugby growing the game globally
Comments on RugbyPass
Dickson went to his pocket for a card, saw who it was, changed his mind and spoke at length to TMO. One angle clearly shows Care diving over a Saints player to kill the ball. 1st yellow, reason given for not Red was player was falling backwards. He was only falling backwards after contact with Lawes. Graham try should have stood. Mitchell did not have both hands on the ball, ball went forward from a Saints boot dragging over it. 2 intentional knock-on's. One of which had an overlap on the outside. If Quins are happy to win by intentional foul play, then it does not say much for them. Would appear to be a bad day for Karl Dickson, also for the RFU in appointing a Ref who spent 8 years as a player at one of the clubs.
1 Go to commentsLet’s not forget about Ardie Savea just yet.
4 Go to commentsThe URC and the Euro Championscup can’t run at the same time, basically dilutes both competitions.
1 Go to comments“While Sotutu should start at No.8 for the All Blacks against England, but it’s only in that arena that he can prove just how good he really is.” And that my friends is where simply hasnt shone despite multiple opportunities. Even in this performance you can see what did him in in the test arena..he almost always still runs at the opposition almost ramrod upright making him easier to stop than it should be.
4 Go to commentsShould have been 0-0 and a message from SR CEO to both teams - “don’t worry about turning up next year”.
4 Go to commentsGreat work Owen Franks. A great of this team, scoring his first try for the Crusaders since 2010.He was beaming, justifiably. A fine win, he and the rest did the job up front.
1 Go to commentsDanny Care. Lang in die tand.
1 Go to commentsBig empty stadium does nothing for atmosphere but munster are playing well with solid performance
1 Go to commentsYes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
4 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
4 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
4 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
4 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to comments