The Fiji Water Flying Fijians will be taking on Tonga at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on the 30th of August in their first match of the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup.
In an official launch of the tournament in Utah, USA yesterday, World Rugby announced the full schedule for the tournament, the second edition of the revitalised and expanded competition that is fast becoming a pillar of the international rugby calendar.
This year will once again bring together six of the most dynamic and passionate rugby nations in Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and the USA, who will be battling it out for glory and direct qualification for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
World Rugby has also announced that this year, for the first time, the Pacific Nations Cup Final Series will be hosted in the United States, underscoring USA Rugby’s growing role in the global game and its lead-up to hosting Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and 2033, respectively.
The teams are split into two regional pools of three, minimising long-haul travel during the pool stage, reducing the tournament’s carbon footprint, and maximising player recovery time.
The Flying Fijians are in Pool A alongside Samoa and Tonga, while Canada, Japan, and the USA are in Pool B.
The tournament carries more than just the honour of regional supremacy, it also serves as a crucial qualification pathway to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
The best three teams of the Pacific Nations Cup 2025, other than already-qualified Fiji and Japan, will get a spot for the RWC.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson says the reimagined Pacific Nations Cup is more than just a tournament, it’s a manifestation of World Rugby’s broader commitment to building a global game that is inclusive, competitive, and sustainable.
Robinson says by balancing high-performance standards with financial, environmental, and logistical considerations, the PNC offers a model that supports the long-term health of our sport.
The Pacific Nations Cup 2025 will be contested across five weekends during the southern hemisphere international window, from the 22nd of August to the 20th of September.
