Fiji to Host Pacific Nations Cup 2022 in July

(20 May 2022, 12:20 +07)  Fiji will host the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2022 from 2 to 16 July.

The tournament, which also features Australia A, Samoa and Tonga, will be played in a round-robin format with the Pacific Nations Cup winner determined by the highest number of competition points at the end of the three match-days.

A win will be worth four points, a draw two points and bonus points for scoring more than four tries or losing by seven points or less.

The matches will take place in Suva and Lautoka.

Fiji Sevens team praying after record 5th consecutive victory at HK7s in 2019. Picture by Steven Howard of TravelNewsAsia.com

Fiji will be aiming to clinch their sixth Pacific Nations Cup title in front of their home crowd after finishing as runners-up to Japan when the tournament was last organised before the COVID19 pandemic in 2019.

They kick-off their campaign against Tonga on Saturday, 2 July, and will close the tournament against Samoa on 16 July.

An impressive line-up of experienced match officials, including Wayne Barnes (England), Jaco Peyper (South Africa) and Nic Berry (Australia) will take charge of the six fixtures.

“We are delighted to bring back the Pacific Nations Cup on the international stage, where it belongs, three years after the last edition,” said Sir Bill Beaumont, World Rugby Chairman. “The tournament isn’t only a great platform for increasing competitiveness in the region, it’s also a fabulous opportunity for these teams to play in front of their fans and families. Being able to organise a tournament of this scale in Fiji is a very positive sign after the pandemic’s challenging years and we look forward to a fantastic couple of weeks in July.”

Tonga have to play a Rugby World Cup 2023 qualification match a week after the Pacific Nations Cup, facing the Asia Rugby Championship winner on 23 July in an one-match play-off to decide who qualifies as Asia/Pacific 1 and joins South Africa, Ireland, Scotland and Europe 2 in Pool B.

Tonga’s matches will also be the first since a volcanic eruption and subsequent tsunami hit the country in January 2022.

World Rugby recently established the Tonga Rugby Infrastructure and Rebuilding Fund and pledged £100,000 to kick-start the restoration of Tonga's rugby infrastructure.

Pacific Nations Cup 2022 - Schedule

Australia A v Samoa
ANZ Stadium, Suva
Saturday, 2 July 2022 @ 13:00 (GMT +12)

Fiji v Tonga
ANZ Stadium, Suva,
Saturday, 2 July 2022 @ 15 :30 (GMT +12)

Samoa v Tonga
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Saturday, 9 July 2022

Fiji v Australia A
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Saturday, 9 July 2022

Tonga v Australia A
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Saturday, 16 July 2022

Fiji v Samoa
Churchill Park, Lautoka
Saturday, 16 July 2022

Rugby pictures: Pictures from 2019 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2018 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2017 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures from 2016 Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens, Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2015, Pictures of the Asia Rugby Sevens Olympic Games Qualifier in Hong Kong, Pictures of Singha Thailand Sevens 2015, Pictures from the 2013 British & Irish Lions Tour in Hong Kong, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2014, Pictures of Hong Kong Sevens 2013, Pictures of Chartis Cup 2012 and Pictures of Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens 2012.