2009 IRB Pacific Nations Cup
Encyclopedia
The 2009 Pacific Nations Cup is a rugby union
tournament held between five national sides on the Pacific Rim
: Fiji
, Japan
, Samoa
, Tonga
and the Junior All Blacks
. The New Zealand Māori
team that won the tournament last year will no longer take part in this competition because of a decision taken by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Australia A has also decided to pull out due to a similar decision. The inaugural competition was held in 2006. This year the tournament will begin on on June 12 and ends on July 3, 2009 and most of the matches will be hosted by Fiji
. The awarding of the key international tournament to the Fiji Rugby Union
represents a further boost to the continued development of rugby in the region. The two opening round matches will be played outside of Fiji with Samoa hosting the Junior All Blacks in Apia and Tonga entertaining the Fijians in Nukuʻalofa
the following day before the tournament moves to Fiji for a 17-day festival of international rugby spread across three match venues: the Post Fiji Stadium (Suva), Churchill Park
(Lautoka) and Lawaqa Park
(Sigatoka).
The tournament is a round-robin where each team plays all of the other teams once. There are four points for a win, two for a draw and none for a defeat. There are also bonus points offered with one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing by 7 points or less.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
tournament held between five national sides on the Pacific Rim
Pacific Rim
The Pacific Rim refers to places around the edge of the Pacific Ocean. The term "Pacific Basin" includes the Pacific Rim and islands in the Pacific Ocean...
: Fiji
Fiji national rugby union team
The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26...
, Japan
Japan national rugby union team
The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years...
, Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
, Tonga
Tonga national rugby union team
The Tonga national rugby union team is nicknamed Ikale Tahi . Like their Polynesian neighbours, the Tongans start their matches with a war dance – the Kailao . They are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance along with Fiji and Samoa...
and the Junior All Blacks
Junior All Blacks
The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team....
. The New Zealand Māori
New Zealand Maori rugby union team
New Zealand Māori is a rugby union team that traditionally plays teams touring New Zealand. A prerequisite for playing in this team is that the player is to have Māori whakapapa or genealogy. In the past this rule was not strictly applied. In the past non-Māori players who looked Māori were often...
team that won the tournament last year will no longer take part in this competition because of a decision taken by the New Zealand Rugby Union. Australia A has also decided to pull out due to a similar decision. The inaugural competition was held in 2006. This year the tournament will begin on on June 12 and ends on July 3, 2009 and most of the matches will be hosted by Fiji
Fiji
Fiji , officially the Republic of Fiji , is an island nation in Melanesia in the South Pacific Ocean about northeast of New Zealand's North Island...
. The awarding of the key international tournament to the Fiji Rugby Union
Fiji Rugby Union
Fiji Rugby Union is the governing body for the sport of rugby union in Fiji. It is divided into over 30 provincial unions. The Fiji Rugby Union is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance , along with Samoa and Tonga. There are approximately 80,000 registered players from a total population...
represents a further boost to the continued development of rugby in the region. The two opening round matches will be played outside of Fiji with Samoa hosting the Junior All Blacks in Apia and Tonga entertaining the Fijians in Nukuʻalofa
Nukuʻalofa
Nukualofa is the capital of the Kingdom of Tonga. It is located on the north coast of the island of Tongatapu, in the southern most island group of Tonga.-Mythological origins:...
the following day before the tournament moves to Fiji for a 17-day festival of international rugby spread across three match venues: the Post Fiji Stadium (Suva), Churchill Park
Churchill Park (Lautoka)
Churchill Park is a multi-purpose stadium in Lautoka, Fiji. It is currently used mostly for football matches and hosts the home matches of Lautoka FC.The Stadium also hosts International Rugby matches such as the Pacific Nations Cup and the Pacific Rugby Cup as well as local rugby competitions...
(Lautoka) and Lawaqa Park
Lawaqa Park
Lawaqa Park is a rugby union stadium in Sigatoka, Fiji. The stadium has a nominal capacity of 12,000 people. It currently hosts rugby union matches as well as local football matches....
(Sigatoka).
The tournament is a round-robin where each team plays all of the other teams once. There are four points for a win, two for a draw and none for a defeat. There are also bonus points offered with one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing by 7 points or less.
Table
| Pos | Country | Pld | W | D | L | F | A | +/− | BP | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 161 | 79 | 3 | 19 | ||
| 2 | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 112 | 120 | −8 | 2 | 14 | |
| 3 | 4 | 2 | 0 | 2 | 91 | 74 | 4 | 12 | ||
| 4 | 4 | 1 | 0 | 3 | 96 | 145 | −49 | 2 | 6 | |
| 5 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 79 | 131 | −52 | 1 | 1 |
Round 1
----Round 2
----Round 3
----Round 4
----Round 5
----Leading try scorers
| Top 3 try scorers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Name | Tries | Pld | Team | ||||
| 1 | Hosea Gear Hosea Gear Hosea Gear is a New Zealand rugby union player. He plays for the Highlanders in the Super 15 competition as a wing. He has played six international matches for New Zealand and scored five tries... |
9 | 4 | Junior All Blacks Junior All Blacks The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team.... |
||||
| 2= | Jack Tarrant | 3 | 4 | Japan Japan national rugby union team The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years... |
||||
| 2= | Sione Lauaki Sione Lauaki Sione Tuitupu Lauaki is a New Zealand rugby union footballer. His brother, Epalahame Lauaki, is a 2nd rower for Hull in the Super League competition and also a New Zealand international.-Early career:... |
3 | 4 | Junior All Blacks Junior All Blacks The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team.... |
||||
Leading point scorers
| Top 3 overall point scorers | ||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos | Name | Points | Pld | Team | ||||
| 1 | Seremaia Bai Seremaia Bai -Career:He currently plays for Castres Olympique after signing from ASM Clermont Auvergne in 2010 who both compete in France's Top 14 competition. He also plays for the Fiji national team and the Pacific Islanders. He has played under-19s, under 21s and under 23s for the Fiji national side... |
34 (0T, 5C, 8P) | 2 | Fiji Fiji national rugby union team The Fiji national rugby union team is a member of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance formerly along with Samoa and Tonga. In 2009, Samoa announced their departure from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, leaving just Fiji and Tonga. Fiji are ranked sixteenth in the world by the IRB as of 26... |
||||
| 2 | Gavin Williams Gavin Williams Gavin John Williams is a Welsh international professional footballer who is currently plays for League One side Yeovil Town.Williams' younger brother Lewis is a winger with Pontypridd RFC.-Hereford United:... |
32 (2T, 2C, 6P) | 4 | Junior All Blacks Junior All Blacks The Junior All Blacks are a New Zealand rugby union team. The Junior All Blacks are not an age grade side, but the second national team behind the New Zealand national rugby union team.... |
||||
| 3 | Ryan Nicholas Ryan Nicholas Ryan Nicholas is a Japanese rugby union player who plays for Suntory Sungoliath of the Top League in Japan. In July 2011, he received Japanese citizenship... |
30 (0T, 9C, 4P) | 4 | Japan Japan national rugby union team The Japan national rugby union team represent Japan in international rugby union competitions. Japan is traditionally the strongest rugby union power in Asia but has both enjoyed and endured mixed results against non-Asian teams over the years... |
||||
External links
- IRB Pacific Nations Cup - from the IRB website (June 12, 2009)
- Schedule - IRB website (pdf)
- Fiji to host ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009 - IRB website, 22 May 2009