The 2016 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup was the eleventh edition of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup (formerly known as the IRB Pacific Nations Cup), an annual international rugby union tournament. The 2016 title was contested by the Pacific nations of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Fiji won title and was undefeated in the two matches the team played.
Teams competing in previous years, Canada, Japan and the United States were not scheduled to participate in the tournament for 2016 and 2017 due to the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifying format. The top two teams on aggregate across the 2016 and 2017 Pacific Nations Cups qualified for Japan 2019, with the team finishing third scheduled to enter the repechage for qualification.
Table
Fixtures The full match schedule was announced on 19 February 2015.
Round 1
FB 15Samisoni ViriviriRW 14Patrick Osborne OC 13Vereniki GonevaIC 12Seremaia BaiLW 11Adriu Delai FH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Nemia Kenatale N8 8 Nemia Soqeta OF 7 Malakai Ravulo BF 6 Naulia DawaiRL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Tevita CavubatiTP 3 Lee Roy Atalifo HK 2 Sunia Koto (c)LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Viliame VeikosoPR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Taniela Koroi LK 19Savenaca Tabakanalagi N8 20Eremasi Radrodro SH 21Henry Seniloli SH 22Serupepeli Vularika WG 23Benito Masilevu Coach: John McKee FB 15David Halaifonua RW 14Viliame IongiOC 13Nafi Tuitavake IC 12Viliami Hakalo LW 11Daniel KilioniFH 10Latiume FositaSH 9 Sonatane TakuluaN8 8 Sione Kalamafoni OF 7 Jack RamBF 6 Nili Latu (c)RL 5 Uili KoloʻofaiLL 4 Daniel Faleafa TP 3 Sione Faletau HK 2 Elvis Taione LP 1 Eddie Aholelei Replacements:HK 16Sione Anga’aelangi PR 17Kama Sakalia PR 18Fusi Malimali FL 19Opeti Fonua FL 20Sione Tau SH 21Wayne NgaluafeCE 22Apakuki Ma'afu FB 23Kali Hala Coach: Toutai Kefu Touch judges: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Brendan Pickerill (New Zealand) Notes: Naulia Dawai, Patrick Osborne, Eremasi Radrodro, Savenaca Tabakanalagi, Samisoni Viriviri and Serupepeli Vularika (all Fiji) and Sione Anga’aelangi, Sione Faletau, Kali Hala, Daniel Kilioni, Apakuki Ma'afu, Fusi Malimali, Sione Tau and Nafi Tuitavake (all Tonga) made their international debuts. Referee Nigel Owens refereed his 71st game, surpassing Jonathan Kaplan's 70-games refereed record set in 2013.
Round 2
FB 15Samisoni ViriviriRW 14Waisea Nayacalevu OC 13Vereniki GonevaIC 12Eroni Vasiteri LW 11Patrick Osborne FH 10Seremaia BaiSH 9 Henry Seniloli N8 8 Eremasi Radrodro OF 7 Naulia Dawai BF 6 Leone Nakarawa RL 5 Tevita CavubatiLL 4 Api Ratuniyarawa TP 3 Lee Roy Atalifo HK 2 Sunia Koto (c)LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Viliame VeikosoPR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Taniela Koroi FL 19Nemia Soqeta N8 20Mosese Voka SH 21Serupepeli Vularika FH 22Ben Volavola WG 23Benito Masilevu Coach: John McKee FB 15Albert Nikoro RW 14Fa'atoina AutagavaiaOC 13Rey Lee-LoIC 12Faialaga Afamasaga LW 11David Lemi (c)FH 10Tusi Pisi SH 9 Dwayne Polataivao N8 8 Alafoti Fa'osiliva OF 7 Greg FoeBF 6 Faifili Levave RL 5 Filo PauloLL 4 Fa'atiga Lemalu TP 3 James Johnston HK 2 Motu Matu'u LP 1 Sakaria Taulafo Replacements:HK 16Manu Leiataua PR 17Sam Aiono PR 18Census Johnston FL 19Jeff Lepa N8 20TJ Ioane SH 21Pele Cowley FH 22Patrick Fa'apale WG 23Malu FalanikoCoach: Alama Ieremia Touch judges: JP Doyle (Ireland) James Leckie (Australia) Notes: Eroni Vasiteri (Fiji) and Greg Foe (Samoa) made their international debuts.
Round 3
FB 15Malu FalanikoRW 14Fa'atoina AutagavaiaOC 13Paul PerezIC 12Rey Lee-LoLW 11David Lemi (c)FH 10Patrick Fa'apale SH 9 Pele Cowley N8 8 Alafoti Fa'osiliva OF 7 Greg FoeBF 6 Faifili Levave RL 5 Fa'atiga LemaluLL 4 Jeff Lepa TP 3 Census Johnston HK 2 Manu Leiataua LP 1 Sakaria TaulafoReplacements:HK 16Seilala Lam PR 17Sam Aiono PR 18Viliamu Afatia LK 19Filo Paulo N8 20TJ Ioane WG 21Danny Tusitala FB 22D'Angelo Leuila FB 23Albert NikoroCoach: Alama Ieremia FB 15David Halaifonua RW 14Otulea Katoa OC 13Apakuki Ma'afuIC 12Latiume FositaLW 11Viliame IongiFH 10Martin Naufahu SH 9 Sonatane TakuluaN8 8 Sione KalamafoniOF 7 Jack Ram BF 6 Nili Latu (c)RL 5 Uili Koloʻofai LL 4 Daniel FaleafaTP 3 Sila Puafisi HK 2 Elvis Taione LP 1 Kama Sakalia Replacements:HK 16Sione Anga’aelangi PR 17Eddie Aholelei PR 18Sione Faletau FL 19Opeti Fonua FL 20Sione Tau SH 21Wayne NgaluafeFB 22Viliami Hakalo WG 23Daniel KilioniCoach: Toutai Kefu Touch judges: JP Doyle (Ireland) James Leckie (Australia) Notes: Martin Naufahu (Tonga) made his international debut.
Squads NationHead coach Captain John McKeeSunia Koto Alama IeremiaDavid Lemi Toutai KefuNili Latu
Note: Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 11 June 2016 – the tournament's opening day, pre first tournament match.
Fiji On 20 May, Head Coach John McKee announced a 28-man squad for the Pacific Nations Cup and their June test against Georgia.
On 7 June, Samisoni Viriviri joined the squad.
Winger Adriu Delai and lock Savenaca Tabakanalagi were late additions to the squad ahead of the Tongan fixture on 11 June.
Samoa On 10 May, Head Coach Alama Ieremia announced a 40-man extended squad for the Pacific Nations Cup and their June test against Georgia.
Tonga On 3 June, head coach Toutai Kefu announced a 28-man squad ahead of Tonga's June test against Georgia and the Pacific Nations Cup.
References
External links