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World Rugby have confirmed the dates of the revised Pacific Nations Cup tournament that sees the return of two former participants. Canada and the USA will compete against PNC regulars Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and Japan for the first time since 2019. The same teams also took part in the 2014 and 2015 editions.
This year’s format will see two pools of three, with Japan grouped in with the North Americans. Four teams will advance to the Semi Finals with the lowest-ranked of each pool playing a one-off ranking match. The final round will include contests for third and first place.
Japan will serve as the backdrop for this year’s entire knock-out series. Those hosting rights will then alternate with the USA in years moving forward. World Rugby says that decision was made because the two nations are “strategically important markets for the future advancement of the sport.”
All told the tournament will run for five weeks, beginning on August 23 and ending September 21. Those dates align with The Rugby Championship and will see the PNC falling under the World Rugby test release window, which means clubs are obliged to release top players for international duty.
At the same time venues for the two PNC tests that will take place in North America have been confirmed. Canada will host Japan at BC Place in Vancouver on Sunday, August 25. The Maple Leafs will then head south to Los Angeles to take on the Eagles at Dignity Health Sports Park on Saturday, August 31.
Japan’s home game against the USA will be in Saitama on Friday, September 6. The Semi Finals and 5th-place play-off take place the following week in Tokyo, with the final round hosted in Osaka.
World Rugby had sought to include additional countries in the tournament. South America declined due to three reasons. First, it falls outside of the player release window. Second, doubts over the longevity of the tournament. Third, it is unclear whether the Pacific Nations Cup will retain test match status moving forward.
PNC 2024 FIXTURES
08/23 – POOL A – Fiji vs Samoa (Suva)
08/25 – POOL B – Canada vs Japan (Vancouver)
08/30 – POOL A – Samoa vs Tonga (Apia)
08/31 – POOL B – USA vs Canada (Los Angeles)
09/06 – POOL A – Tonga vs Fiji (Nuku’alofa)
09/07 – POOL B – Japan vs USA (Saitama)
09/14 – 5th-place Play-off (Tokyo)
09/14 – Semi-Final 1 (Tokyo)
09/15 – Semi Final 2 (Tokyo)
09/21 – 3rd-place Final (Osaka)
09/21 – 1st-place Final (Osaka)
