Pacific Islanders rugby union team
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Rugby union is as big a sport in Fiji, Tonga, and Samoa as it is in New Zealand but with the advent of professionalism they have been unable to compete with richer nations. They play fewer Tests and lose by greater margins as more of their top players play in New Zealand, Australia, Japan or Europe and don't return to play for their countries.
The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) was formed in 2003. The coach is appointed by the Islanders board and in turn supported by the national coaches of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Its team the Pacific Islanders, drawn from the best Fijian, Tongan and Samoan players, created far more interest on their 2004 tour than any of the three nations could ever hope to. Despite losing every game, 14-29 vs Australia, 26-41 vs New Zealand and 24-38 vs South Africa, they were impressive in all three tests and played full strength teams, something that rarely happens when major nations play Tonga, Fiji or Samoa. The Islanders did, however, beat a Queensland XV 48-29 at Ballymore and NSW Waratahs 68-21 at Aussie Stadium.
There is much speculation about what role the Islanders will play in international rugby. Many hoped that they would be admitted into an expanded Super 12 competition or perhaps the Tri Nations. Those hopes were dashed for the time being when the organisers of the Super 12 and the Tri Nations, SANZAR, opted to expand the Super 14 by adding one team each in Australia and South Africa and add an extra round of fixtures to the Tri Nations without adding any new teams. As of 2005, it appears they will be like the British and Irish Lions and tour only every four years.
Touring once every four years would probably not generate enough revenue to transform the finances of Pacific rugby. (The 2004 tour did make a modest profit, despite initial reports that the PIRA lost money). As the individual nations are currently concerned with qualifying for the next World Cup the Islanders will not tour again until 2006. They are due to play Italy and New Zealand in June 2006 and then Scotland, Wales and Ireland in November, although there are doubts that Fijian players will take part.
A Super 14 spot would provide a career path for island players so they wouldn't have to take their skills abroad. However there would need to be a clear differential between that team and one that plays international tests. It would also have to be clear that their status is lower than that of the three national sides.
If they joined the Tri Nations this might prevent the occasional player playing for New Zealand or Australia, but it might also prevent players playing tests for the three nations and their profiles and fixtures would decrease even further. If they played in the World Cup, the coaches of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga would become little more than provincial coaches.
See also
External links
- [Pacific Islanders Rugby Team Supporters site]
- [Manu Samoa home page]
- [Fiji rugby official site]
- [Tongan official site]
- [Pacific Islander news from Teivovo.com]
| Pacific rugby union links | [http://encycl.opentopia.com/ edit ] | |
| Rugby union in Fiji | Rugby union in Samoa | Rugby union in Tonga | ||
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Federation Links Fiji Rugby Union | Samoa Rugby Football Union | Tonga Rugby Football Union | Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance | ||
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Regional Competitions Pacific Tri-Nations | Pacific Rugby Cup | IRB Pacific 5 Nations | ||
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National Competitions Colonial Cup | National Provincial Championship | Datec Cup Provincial Championship | ||
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National teams Fiji | Samoa | Tonga | Pacific Islanders | ||
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Local franchises Fiji Warriors | Fiji Barbarians | Upolu Samoa | Savaii Samoa | Tau'uta Reds | Tautahi Gold | ||
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