International rugby results from this past weekend have seen Uruguay rising in the World Rankings and Canada falling. Los Teros have moved up to 19th spot as a result of both Russia and Spain losing against lower ranked African opposition – Namibia and Kenya. Canada’s loss against Japan on Saturday sees …
Read More »Fiji beat Tonga to open PNC
Fiji defeated Tonga by a score of 30-22 as the Pacific Nations Cup kicked off at ANZ National Stadium in Suva early Saturday morning. The scrappy match saw both sides concede numerous penalties, and it was the boot of Ben Volavola that made the difference in the end. The new …
Read More »Teams set for Fiji v Tonga
The teams are set for the opening match of the 2015 Pacific Nations Cup, which kicks off in Suva on Saturday as Fiji face off against Pacific cousins Tonga. The home side will have a leg up on the visitors, as the Flying Fijians played against the Maori a week …
Read More »2015 Pacific Nations Cup Preview
The Pacific Nations Cup returns for its 10th season, featuring six Tier 2 sides in four rounds of action over the space of just 16 days. Included are two triple-headers, one at BMO Field in Toronto on July 29, and the finals at Swangard Stadium in Burnaby on August 3. …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol. 1, Iss. 4): Rethinking June Tours
Played every November, excluding Rugby World Cup years, the November or autumn internationals see European nations hosting incoming test teams from across the globe. It is a time when not only southern nations such as Argentina, Australia, Fiji, Namibia, New Zealand, Samoa, South Africa and Tonga tour the north but …
Read More »Forward Thinking (Vol. 1, Iss. 3): Time to re-think World Cup Repechage?
Uruguay’s return to the Rugby World Cup in 2015 ends a twelve year absence. Getting to the World Cup required intercontinental matches firstly against the USA and secondly against Hong Kong before reaching the final against Russia. The home and away series between Uruguay and Russia was, at the time, between …
Read More »Mafi in Tongan squad for PNC
Steve Mafi will play again for Tonga after all. The big Western Force lock has been included in head coach Mana Otai’s 31-man squad for the Pacific Nations Cup after skipping out on November’s European tour. Mafi had considered switching his allegiance to Australia using the Olympic loophole, but with …
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