Uruguay ‘A’ were tested by their Tongan rivals but ultimately took a decisive 34-25 win on the back of a dominant scrum at the Estadio Charrúa on Saturday. Keen to open the Americas Pacific Challenge in style, the home side struggled to find ways through a determined Tongan defense and …
Read More »APC Preview – Tonga vs Uruguay
Uruguay will use the 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge as part of their World Cup Qualifying preparations and will begin their tournament against Tonga in the first round on Saturday. Uruguay will field an ‘A’ side of test strength while Tonga name just one capped player in their largely domestic-based squad. …
Read More »Uruguay opt for experience at Americas Pacific Challenge
Uruguay will use the Americas Pacific Challenge to audition a number of senior players for the upcoming World Cup Qualifiers. Only two of the 28-man ‘A’ side are yet to win test caps and there are eight members of the 2015 Rugby World Cup team named in a squad brimming …
Read More »Tonga ready to tackle Americas Pacific Challenge
Tonga have sent 28 players as part of their national ‘A’ squad to take part in the Americas Pacific Challenge in Montevideo. Coaching the team is former Ikale Tahi lock Isi Fatani, a 1999 World Cup veteran. Hooker Sione Lolohea will continue his role as captain. This will be Tonga’s …
Read More »Inexperienced Samoa head to Americas Pacific Challenge
Samoa will send a young ‘A’ team with very little international experience to Montevideo to take part in the Americas Pacific Challenge. The squad is comprised entirely of domestic-based players coming from a new regional tournament dubbed the Super 9, which replaced the old national provincial competition. It’s an important …
Read More »Fixtures confirmed for 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge
The Americas Pacific Challenge will return for a second year in 2017. Once again the tournament will take place in Montevideo with all matches taking place at the Estadio Charrúa. Six teams of the second senior national (‘A’) level will take part with five returning from 2016. Argentina, Canada, Samoa, …
Read More »Kefu: “I think we can compete with France and Argentina”
Tonga Head Coach Toutai Kefu is feeling upbeat about playing in the Pool of Death. The Pacific Islanders recent qualification for Japan 2019 saw them grouped with Argentina, England, France and the USA. Tonga were the fifth and final team to qualify but the dating task is being greeted with …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol 3, Iss 5): Booking Rugby World Cup 2019
With Tonga qualifying for Japan 2019 this past weekend Pool C is complete. The Oceania side officially joined Argentina, England, France and the USA in the Pool of Death. This serves as a reminder of the need to book Rugby World Cup 2019 appropriately. Inappropriate Booking The existing model of …
Read More »Tonga Qualify for RWC 2019, Will Face Argentina and USA
Tonga has qualified for Rugby World Cup 2019 and will face Argentina and the USA. The Pacific Islanders secured the Oceania 2 spot thanks to Fiji’s 38-16 win over Samoa in Apia this evening. Played on Saturday afternoon, local time, the Samoans had a 16-14 half time lead. In failing to …
Read More »Eagles, Pumas Await Oceania 2 Winner
Apia Park in Samoa’s capital is to be the setting for the final of the 2017 Pacific Nations Cup. The Flying Fijians take-on Samoa in search of ending a perfect campaign. The Tri-Nations tournament has Fiji, Samoa and Tonga playing each other twice. The current state of Fiji being as …
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