IRB Announces Format of New Pacific Five Nations Tournament
The International Rugby Board today announced the format of the Pacific Five Nations tournament that will involve the national teams from Tier 2 Unions Fiji, Japan, Samoa, and Tonga plus a NZ representative side. The tournament will kick-off in June 2006 and the initiative is part of the US$ 50 million strategic investment programme for the Game that was launched in August 2005.
“The IRB strategic investment programme involves high performance, tournament and infrastructure initiatives across the 17 Tier 1 and 2 Unions that are designed to increase the competitiveness of international rugby. The establishment of an expanded Pacific Nations tournament represents one element of the provision of enhanced competition platforms for Tier 2 Nations,” said IRB Pacific Island Advisory Committee Chairman Bob Tuckey.
“The tournament will kick off in 2006 and will involve five teams - Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks. Each Union will play four matches, two home and two away, during the traditional June/July Test window. “
“An initial three-year programme of fixtures has been confirmed among the five Unions and the IRB believes it can develop a viable commercial programme for the competition. The Tournament schedule will be announced in mid February.”
“Australia was asked to be a part of the new competition but it is currently reviewing its domestic playing programme and the possible establishment of an inter-provincial competition. This would obviously have a bearing on the availability of players for the Pacific Nations tournament in the June/July period and therefore Australia will not participate at this juncture. While this is disappointing the competition promises to be a high quality one giving the Tier 2 Unions much needed additional matches leading into the 2007 Rugby World Cup.”
“That said the format of the tournament is not set in concrete and the format could be changed in the future to accommodate teams from other member Unions. This would create additional matches for the Tier 2 Unions to provide them with even more competition.”
In addition to the new Pacific Five Nations tournament the IRB is working with the Pacific Island Unions to establish a Pacific Triangular Championship that will provide regular competition for emerging players in the Islands. The tournament will involve two representative regional teams from each of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and it will kick-off on April 15 this year.
The tournament will be played on a home or away basis over five rounds with one final. The coaches and team management are presently being appointed by the Unions and the draw and team names will be formally announced in the near future. This Tournament will follow on from the conclusion of Fiji's Colonial Cup, Samoa's National Provincial Championship and Tonga's Datec Cup Provincial Championship. It will be from those competitions that the six representative teams to compete in the Triangular series will be selected.
"This new competition presents a marvellous opportunity for the 60 best locally-based players in each Union to gain experience in a higher level competition and press their claims for National selection", Mr Tuckey added.
Further Information:
Greg Thomas, IRB Head of Communications, +353 1240 9214 or +353 86 819 6149 greg.thomas@irb.com
“The IRB strategic investment programme involves high performance, tournament and infrastructure initiatives across the 17 Tier 1 and 2 Unions that are designed to increase the competitiveness of international rugby. The establishment of an expanded Pacific Nations tournament represents one element of the provision of enhanced competition platforms for Tier 2 Nations,” said IRB Pacific Island Advisory Committee Chairman Bob Tuckey.
“The tournament will kick off in 2006 and will involve five teams - Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks. Each Union will play four matches, two home and two away, during the traditional June/July Test window. “
“An initial three-year programme of fixtures has been confirmed among the five Unions and the IRB believes it can develop a viable commercial programme for the competition. The Tournament schedule will be announced in mid February.”
“Australia was asked to be a part of the new competition but it is currently reviewing its domestic playing programme and the possible establishment of an inter-provincial competition. This would obviously have a bearing on the availability of players for the Pacific Nations tournament in the June/July period and therefore Australia will not participate at this juncture. While this is disappointing the competition promises to be a high quality one giving the Tier 2 Unions much needed additional matches leading into the 2007 Rugby World Cup.”
“That said the format of the tournament is not set in concrete and the format could be changed in the future to accommodate teams from other member Unions. This would create additional matches for the Tier 2 Unions to provide them with even more competition.”
In addition to the new Pacific Five Nations tournament the IRB is working with the Pacific Island Unions to establish a Pacific Triangular Championship that will provide regular competition for emerging players in the Islands. The tournament will involve two representative regional teams from each of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and it will kick-off on April 15 this year.
The tournament will be played on a home or away basis over five rounds with one final. The coaches and team management are presently being appointed by the Unions and the draw and team names will be formally announced in the near future. This Tournament will follow on from the conclusion of Fiji's Colonial Cup, Samoa's National Provincial Championship and Tonga's Datec Cup Provincial Championship. It will be from those competitions that the six representative teams to compete in the Triangular series will be selected.
"This new competition presents a marvellous opportunity for the 60 best locally-based players in each Union to gain experience in a higher level competition and press their claims for National selection", Mr Tuckey added.
Further Information:
Greg Thomas, IRB Head of Communications, +353 1240 9214 or +353 86 819 6149 greg.thomas@irb.com
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