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World Rugby claims its multi-million investment has transformed Pacific Islands rugby
World Rugby believes that Saturday’s Pasifika Challenge in Auckland featuring Fiji, Samoa and Tonga is a fitting culmination for a £20million investment plan aimed at ensuring these three Pacific Island nations arrive at the World Cup in the best possible shape.
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Fiji will play Tonga and Samoa face a New Zealand Heartland XV at Eden Park two years after the initial Pasifika Challenge saw Samoa take on New Zealand and Tonga play Wales at the same venue in 2017.
Ahead of this latest New Zealand celebration of Islands rugby, World Rugby has highlighted how it partnered with the three unions in a four-year high-performance support programme where direct and indirect support from the game’s governing global body is expected to reach £20 million from 2016-19.
That is apparently an increase of 30 per cent compared to the previous four-year cycle and the investment is in addition to insurance coverage and long-term high-performance initiatives such as the Pacific combine and the Fijian Drua which help to retain and develop some of the Pacific Islands’ best young talent.
“We have been working in partnership with the Pacific Islands over the last four years to tailor high performance programmes that meet their needs and are geared towards optimal preparation and performance in a Rugby World Cup context,” explained Peter Horne, World Rugby’s high performance general manager.
After a HUGE month in ?? our Fiji Airways Flying Fijians ?? out to Auckland for the Pasifika Challenge against @officialTongaRU this Saturday.
It's long now until the team departs for Japan and we are PUMPED to see them in action this weekend..#itsfijistime pic.twitter.com/AtMv8qRhBr— Fiji Rugby Union (@fijirugby) August 27, 2019
“With a comprehensive programme in place, we are confident that the Pacific Islands are in a great place heading into Japan 2019. The Pasifika Challenge II will be an excellent and highly competitive Test, giving the teams an important opportunity to fine-tune their preparations in one of the world’s most iconic rugby venues.
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“World Rugby’s wider £20m commitment to the Pacific Islands in this four-year cycle includes supporting the high-performance pathway with initiatives such as the Pacific Combine, player and staff academies and the Fijian Drua and it is pleasing to see players who have graduated from these initiatives now selected for World Cup 2019.”
The Pacific Combine is a week-long skills camp run by World Rugby, in association with the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga rugby unions, consisting of a programme of on-field and off-field activities for local players who are capped but unsigned.
Teu ke tau!!
The Ikale Tahi team to face @fijirugby has been named.
Some big ins for the Tongan team with the return of Sione Kalamafoni to national duties, Siegfried Fisi'ihoi coming back in after a long layoff due to injury and Vunipola Fifita to make his potential debut. pic.twitter.com/c34OfmrnIF
— Tonga Rugby Union (@officialTongaRU) August 28, 2019
The second edition took place in Suva in March 2019, with England attack coach Scott Wisemantel overseeing it for the second year in a row, assisted by former Waratahs head coach Chris Hickey.
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Top-performing players are selected into a high potential playing pool from which some players are given the opportunity to obtain a contract with a semi-professional club in Australia, New Zealand or the USA.
Flying Fijians’ scrum-half Frank Lomani was first scouted at the Pacific combine in 2018 and integrated into the Fijian Drua squad before graduating to play Test rugby.
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Clips from the #manuSamoa fundraiser in Auckland tonight. ? @radiosamoa @marylee_sau4 @teampoluleuligaga #ITSMANUTIME #PasifikaChallengeII #PasifikaChallenge #LeManu #Samoa?? #SamoaRugby #nzheartlandXV #GoManu #rwc2019 #rugbyworldcup2019 #roadtoJapan
The Drua is a three-way initiative from World Rugby, the Fiji Rugby Union and the Fiji Sports Council to fund and support a Fijian team to play in Australia’s National Rugby Championship (NRC).
Since its creation in 2017, a number of Drua players have graduated through the ranks of the Flying Fijians and seven of them will represent their country in Japan.
WATCH: The RugbyPass guide to the city of Oita which will play host to teams such as New Zealand, Wales, Australia, Fiji and two quarter-finals at the World Cup
Comments on RugbyPass
Why do people keep on picking Ardie at 7 when he's a ball in hand 8? A modern 7 is the lead tackler and ruck clearer which isn't his strength.
14 Go to commentsSly dig there at Ireland’s propensity to back a non-Irish coach. Must really want it. I’m not sure I like ROG very much. Comes off as unpleasant. But he’d gain my respect if he took a number 7 ranked team and turned them into WC winners. Not even back-to-back. Argentina? Scotland? Or how about Wales? France would be too easy, no?
1 Go to commentsA bit of sensationalism, but surprised by the comments about SBW. I’ve always thought of him as a pretty authentic person. There is nothing worse than working with a colleague you’ve seen straight through.
9 Go to comments100% agree with your comment about Touch. I’ve been playing it competitively since Covid. It’s on a Wednesday night after work. It means the weekend is free for time with my family.
1 Go to commentsRodda back is massively important for the Wallabies. Kaitu at hooker important too coz he was very good a few years ago.
1 Go to commentsThe pink cabous might be eligible this year and the Boks don’t need him
7 Go to commentsNasser and kaitu are options for hooker. Especially Nasser. You forgot Rodda who touch wood will be fit at test time and if fit he’s number one. Great partner for the great Skelton and Oz best lineout caller. Third best lock is LSL whom I’d be inclined to sub on for Skelton around 60 minutes. Probably start valetini at 8 because I like a big body back there. Cale should play 6 at the brumbies. For Wallabies definitely cale in the squad but as an apprentice. Dunno who starts at 6 seru wright Swinton hanigan with Will Harris and Harry Wilson not far away. Seru and Swinton my front runners but Swinton is going. Still if we don’t cap seru then Fiji must coz they need his lineout skills and easily compensate for his lack of weight
7 Go to commentsYeah but who was it?
9 Go to commentsThink you might have written this just before the Brumbies got thrashed last weekend
7 Go to commentsI really do believe that Billy Proctor should be selected at least in the larger squad but also it would be my choice at 13, much more a center than Ioane who can still play at wing. Roigard if fit should play, otherwise it should be Perenara or Christie. Also, Iose could deserve a spot at blindside. Of course, being a Canes supporter I’m biased but I really believe that at least Billy P is deserving a chance and being Holland one of the Selectors, I’m having a little hope he could grab it.
14 Go to commentsI would not play Swinton I’d pick Wright or Hanigan. The rest are decent starters, but can’t agree on any subs except Tupou. My take on the subs: Gibbon, Ueslese, Tupou, LSL, Wilson, White, Will Harrison, and Petaia.
7 Go to commentsSBW the biggest moron to pull on a black jersey a park footy player at best
9 Go to commentsSBW is fast becoming a laughing stock, his misplaced comments & lack of insight Is actually pretty sad.
9 Go to commentsJust well you guys are couch 🛋 potatoes selector's, picking a team of greenhorns to play England! “What are you people smoking?” The halfbacks will be Christie, Fakatava, Perenara Props; Newell, Bower, Lomax, Tunga'fasi, Hookers; Asosa Amua when fit, Taylor, Samisoni,
14 Go to commentsQuite frankly, all this is a bit pathetic. The first time Wales get the Wooden Spoon in 21 years and everyone is on the bandwagon for a ‘play-off’ game. Wales have no obligation to Georgia and no obligation to the rest of the Six Nations to play such a game. If they want Georgia in so badly then they need to include South Africa into a Northern Hemisphere competition with 2 leagues of 4 teams with the top 2 competing for the Championship. Sadly, this will end Triple Crowns and Grand Slams forever. Is this really what you want?
4 Go to commentsI think Finau to start Blackadder to come on. Poss Prokter instead of Ioane, haven't seen much from Reiko so far this year.
14 Go to commentsJoe will have had a good chat with Dave Rennie, a smart move to begin with while it’s doubtful Fast Eddie will be consulted? Plenty of Aus players hitting top form so they should go OK.
7 Go to commentsMmm. Not sure I like this article or see it as necessary.
9 Go to commentsBlackadder but no Finau! 😀 It’s Razor so you are probably right, plus Taylor at 2…
14 Go to commentsThe strongest possible AB side would actually include Aaron Smith, Bodie Retallick, Sam Whitelock, Leicester Fainga'anuku, Shannon Frizzel.. don’t get me started on the rest of the injury hit brigade that got flung on the heap so left. Many a whole not getting filled as of yet.
14 Go to comments