Canada and the USA will play Pacific Nations Cup games in Fiji, World Rugby has confirmed. Taking place in late July and early to mid August the competition will see six Tier 2 countries having vital warm-up matches ahead of RWC 2019.
World Rugby have also confirmed that the pools for the competition are as follows:
Pool A | Pool B |
Fiji | Japan |
USA | Canada |
Tonga | Samoa |
The format will see fixtures played in a cross pool format with each team playing three matches. The winner of the tournament will be the country which finishes with the maximum number of competition points from their respective matches.
The match scheduled has been finalized. Canada and the USA will meet in the opening round. Their match will be played in the USA at a yet to be confirmed location. For the USA and Canada their round two and three matches will be in Fiji.
RWC 2019 hosts, Japan are to open the tournament against Fiji. The fixture will be in the brand new stadium in Kamishi. The same venue will be the location for Fiji vs Uruguay and Canada vs Namibia in RWC 2019.
Also hosting a PNC match will be Hanozono. The Osaka venue will play host to four pool matches in RWC 2019. For the PNC it is to be the setting for Japan vs Tonga in round two. Tonga will return to Hanozono to face both Argentina and the USA during the RWC 2019 pool stage.
DATE | FIXTURE | VENUE |
Sat, Jul 27 | Japan vs Fiji | Kamaishi, Japan |
Sat, Jul 27 | USA vs Canada | tba, USA |
Sat, Jul 27 | Samoa vs Tonga | Apia, Samoa |
Sat, Aug 3 | Japan vs Tonga | Hanozono, Japan |
Sat, Aug 3 | Samoa vs USA | Suva, Fiji |
Sat, Aug 3 | Fiji vs Canada | Suva, Fiji |
Fri, Aug 9 | Tonga vs Canada | Lautoka, Fiji |
Sat, Aug 10 | Japan vs USA | Suva, Fiji |
Sat, Aug 10 | Fiji vs Samoa | Suva, Fiji |