The 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup was the fifteenth edition of the Pacific Nations Cup annual international rugby union competition and the first since 2019, with a 2-year lay-off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.

Four teams competed, with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga all returning to the competition with the addition of Australia A who re-joined the competition for the first time since 2008.

Fiji hosted the entire tournament for the first time since 2018, with Suva and Lautoka hosting matches over three Saturdays in the July test window. The competition 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 tournament, with a win worth four points, a draw two points and bonus points for scoring four or more tries or losing by seven points or less.

Samoa won the title after winning all three games, the fourth time that they have done this and the first since a joint title in 2014 and an individual title in 2012.

Standings

Fixtures Round 1

Team details FB 15Reece HodgeRW 14Mark Nawaqanitawase OC 13Lalakai Foketi IC 12Hamish StewartLW 11Jock CampbellFH 10Tane EdmedSH 9 Ryan Lonergan (c) N8 8 Will Harris OF 7 Fraser McReightBF 6 Tim AnsteeRL 5 Ryan Smith LL 4 Seru Uru TP 3 Tom Robertson HK 2 Billy Pollard LP 1 Matt Gibbon Replacements:HK 16Feleti Kaitu'u PR 17Harry Hoopert PR 18Archer Holz FL 19Hugh Sinclair FL 20Langi Gleeson SH 21James Tuttle CE 22Hudson Creighton WG 23Dylan Pietsch Coach: Jason Gilmore FB 15Danny ToalaRW 14Lolagi Visinia OC 13Neria FomaiIC 12D'Angelo LeuilaLW 11Nigel Ah WongFH 10Rodney IonaSH 9 Ere Enari N8 8 Fritz LeeOF 7 Alamanda Motuga BF 6 Olajuwon Noah RL 5 Chris Vui LL 4 Sam SladeTP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 Seilala Lam LP 1 Aki Seiuli Replacements:HK 16Ray Niuia PR 17Andrew Tuala PR 18Marco Fepulea'i LK 19Theo McFarland FL 20Henry Stowers FL 21Jack Lam SH 22Jonathan Taumateine CE 23Henry Taefu Coach: Seilala Mapusua Assistant referees: Graham Cooper (Australia) Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji) Notes: Nigel Ah Wong, Ere Enari, Marco Fepulea'i, Fritz Lee, Aki Seiuli, Danny Toala, Andrew Tuala and Lolagi Visinia (all Samoa) made their international debuts.

Team details FB 15Seta Tuicuvu RW 14Jiuta WainiqoloOC 13Waisea Nayacalevu (c) IC 12Kalaveti RavouvouLW 11Vinaya HabosiFH 10Teti Tela SH 9 Frank Lomani N8 8 Albert Tuisue OF 7 Rusiate NasoveBF 6 Mesu KunavulaRL 5 Tevita Ratuva LL 4 Isoa NasilasilaTP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Tevita Ikanivere LP 1 Haereiti Hetet Replacements:HK 16Sam Matavesi PR 17Eroni Mawi PR 18Luke Tagi LK 19Api Ratuniyarawa FL 20Kitione Kamikamica SH 21Ratu Peni Matawalu CE 22Seta Tamanivalu WG 23Manasa Mataele Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Charles PiutauRW 14Israel Folau OC 13Afusipa TaumoepeauIC 12Malakai Fekitoa LW 11Anzelo TuitavukiFH 10William HaviliSH 9 Sonatane Takulua (c) N8 8 Sione Tuipulotu OF 7 Solomone FunakiBF 6 Tanginoa HalaifonuaRL 5 Veikoso Poloniati LL 4 Leva FifitaTP 3 Siate Tokolahi HK 2 Sam Moli LP 1 Siegfried Fisiihoi Replacements:HK 16Siua Maile PR 17David Lolohea PR 18Joe Apikotoa FL 19Sione Havili Talitui FL 20Lotu Inisi SH 21Manu Paea FH 22James Faiva WG 23Tima Fainga'anuku Coach: Toutai Kefu Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Jono Bredin (New Zealand) Notes: Vinaya Habosi, Ratu Peni Matawalu, Isoa Nasilasila, Rusiate Nasove, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Seta Tamanivalu (all Fiji) and Joe Apikotoa, Tima Fainga'anuku, Malakai Fekitoa, Israel Folau, William Havili, Lotu Inisi, Manu Paea, Charles Piutau, Veikoso Poloniati, Sione Havili Talitui, Siate Tokolahi and Anzelo Tuitavuki (all Tonga) made their international debuts. This is the first time since 1932 that Tonga have failed to score points against Fiji.

Round 2

Team details FB 15Danny Toala RW 14Ed Fidow OC 13Neria FomaiIC 12Tumua ManuLW 11Nigel Ah WongFH 10AJ AlatimuSH 9 Jonathan TaumateineN8 8 Jordan TaufuaOF 7 Jack Lam BF 6 Theo McFarlandRL 5 Chris VuiLL 4 Sam SladeTP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 Ray NiuiaLP 1 Andrew Tuala Replacements:HK 16Seilala LamPR 17Aki Seiuli PR 18Kalolo Tuiloma LK 19Michael CurryN8 20Fritz Lee SH 21Auvasa Faleali'iFH 22D'Angelo Leuila FB 23Lolagi Visinia Coach: Seilala Mapusua FB 15William HaviliRW 14Tima Fainga'anukuOC 13Afusipa TaumoepeauIC 12Fetuli PaeaLW 11Anzelo Tuitavuki FH 10James FaivaSH 9 Sonatane Takulua (c) N8 8 Sione TuipulotuOF 7 Sione Havili BF 6 Tanginoa HalaifonuaRL 5 Sam Lousi LL 4 Veikoso Poloniati TP 3 Ben Tameifuna HK 2 Siua MaileLP 1 Siegfried Fisiihoi Replacements:HK 16Sam MoliPR 17Feao Fotuaika PR 18Siate Tokolahi LK 19Semisi Paea FL 20Solomone Funaki FL 21Lotu InisiSH 22Manu Paea WG 23Otumaka Mausia Coach: Toutai Kefu Assistant referees: Angus Mabey (New Zealand) Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji) Notes: Feao Fotuaika and Semisi Paea (all Tonga) made their international debuts.

Team details FB 15Manasa Mataele RW 14Josua TuisovaOC 13Seta TamanivaluIC 12Levani Botia (c)LW 11Vinaya HabosiFH 10Teti Tela SH 9 Frank Lomani N8 8 Albert Tuisue OF 7 Rusiate NasoveBF 6 Mesu KunavulaRL 5 Api RatuniyarawaLL 4 Isoa Nasilasila TP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Sam Matavesi LP 1 Haereiti Hetet Replacements:HK 16Mesu Dolokoto PR 17Eroni Mawi PR 18Mesake Doge LK 19Temo Mayanavanua FL 20Kitione Kamikamica SH 21Ratu Peni Matawalu CE 22Vilimoni Botitu FH 23Ben Volavola Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Jock CampbellRW 14Dylan PietschOC 13Hudson CreightonIC 12Lalakai Foketi LW 11Filipo Daugunu FH 10Ben DonaldsonSH 9 Ryan Lonergan (c)N8 8 Langi Gleeson OF 7 Fraser McReightBF 6 Seru UruRL 5 Ryan SmithLL 4 Hugh Sinclair TP 3 Tom Robertson HK 2 Matt Faessler LP 1 Matt Gibbon Replacements:HK 16Feleti Kaitu'u PR 17Harry Hoopert PR 18Archer Holz LK 19Jeremy Williams LK 20Jackson Pugh SH 21James TuttleCE 22Isaac Henry WG 23Mark Nawaqanitawase Coach: Jason Gilmore Assistant referees: Christophe Ridley (England) Reuben Keane (Australia)

Round 3

Team details FB 15Otumaka MausiaRW 14Tima Fainga'anukuOC 13Afusipa TaumoepeauIC 12Fetuli PaeaLW 11Anzelo Tuitavuki FH 10William HaviliSH 9 Manu Paea N8 8 Lotu Inisi OF 7 Solomone FunakiBF 6 Semisi Paea RL 5 Sam LousiLL 4 Leva Fifita (c)TP 3 Ben Tameifuna HK 2 Sam Moli LP 1 David Lolohea Replacements:HK 16Jay Fonokalafi PR 17Feao Fotuaika PR 18Joe Apikotoa FL 19Sione Talitui LK 20Veikoso Poloniati SH 21Aisea Halo FH 22James FaivaFB 23Telusa Veainu Coach: Toutai Kefu FB 15Jock CampbellRW 14Dylan PietschOC 13Hudson CreightonIC 12Lalakai Foketi LW 11Filipo Daugunu FH 10Ben DonaldsonSH 9 Ryan Lonergan (c) N8 8 Langi GleesonOF 7 Fraser McReightBF 6 Will Harris RL 5 Seru Uru LL 4 Hugh SinclairTP 3 Tom Robertson HK 2 Billy Pollard LP 1 Matt Gibbon Replacements:HK 16Matt Faessler PR 17Harry Hoopert PR 18Tom Ross LK 19Jeremy Williams LK 20Tim Anstee SH 21James Tuttle FH 22Tane Edmed CE 23Hamish Stewart Coach: Jason Gilmore Assistant referees: Mike Fraser (New Zealand) Tevita Rokovereni (Fiji)

Team details FB 15Seta TuicuvuRW 14Jiuta Wainiqolo OC 13Waisea Nayacalevu (c)IC 12Vilimoni Botitu LW 11Vinaya HabosiFH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Frank Lomani N8 8 Albert TuisueOF 7 Rusiate Nasove BF 6 Isoa NasilasilaRL 5 Temo MayanavanuaLL 4 Api Ratuniyarawa TP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Sam Matavesi LP 1 Eroni Mawi Replacements:HK 16Tevita Ikanivere PR 17Haereiti Hetet PR 18Luke Tagi HK 19Mesu Dolokoto FL 20Kitione Kamikamica SH 21Ratu Peni Matawalu CE 22Seta Tamanivalu WG 23Josua Tuisova Coach: Vern Cotter FB 15Danny ToalaRW 14Neria FomaiOC 13Tumua Manu IC 12D'Angelo LeuilaLW 11Nigel Ah Wong FH 10Rodney IonaSH 9 Ere Enari N8 8 Fritz Lee OF 7 Jordan TaufuaBF 6 Olajuwon Noah RL 5 Chris VuiLL 4 Theo McFarlandTP 3 Michael Alaalatoa (c) HK 2 Ray Niuia LP 1 Aki Seiuli Replacements:HK 16Seilala Lam PR 17Ezekiel Lindenmuth PR 18Kalolo Tuiloma LK 19Michael Curry FL 20Henry Stowers SH 21Jonathan Taumateine CE 22Henry Taefu FB 23Lolagi Visinia Coach: Seilala Mapusua Assistant referees: Dan Waenga (New Zealand) Reuben Keane (Australia) Notes: Michael Curry (Samoa) made his international debut. This is the first time that Samoa has beaten Fiji since 2014.

Player statistics

Most points PosNameTeamPts1Ryan Lonergan332Rodney Iona193Filipo Daugunu15Ray NiuiaSeilala Lam6Teti Tela117Nigel Ah Wong10Fraser McReightSam MoliJames TuttleBen Volavola

Most tries PosNameTeamTries1Filipo Daugunu3Ray NiuiaSeilala Lam4Nigel Ah Wong2Fraser McReightSam MoliJames Tuttle

Squads NationHead coach Captain Jason GilmoreRyan Lonergan Vern CotterWaisea Nayacalevu Seilala MapusuaMichael Alaalatoa Toutai KefuSonatane Takulua

Note: Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 2 July 2022 – the tournament's opening day, pre first tournament match.

Australia A On 15 June, Australia A named a 29-man squad for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.

On 17 June, Hugh Sinclair joined the squad to replace Ryan McCauley who withdrew from the squad, whilst James Tuttle also joined the squad.

On 20 June, Harry Johnson-Holmes joined up with the Wallabies squad for their test series against England.

On 24 June, Ned Hanigan joined up with the Wallabies squad as injury cover for Jed Holloway.

As a result of Johnson-Holmes Wallabies called up and subsequent injury, Archer Holz was called up to the squad. Hudson Creighton also joined up with the squad.

On 5 July, Reece Hodge joined up with the Wallabies, with Lawson Creighton replacing Hodge in the 'A' side.

Fiji On 6 June, a 34-man squad was named for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup.

On 29 June, Kitione Kamikamica joined up with the squad as cover for Te Ahiwaru Cirikidaveta.

Samoa On 2 June, the following 30 players were called up for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup with Olajuwon Noah later being added to the squad.

Tonga On 27 May, the following 31 players were called up for the 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup as well as the 2023 Rugby World Cup Asia/Pacific play-off qualifier.

On 3 June, Sione Havili was called up to the squad.

On the 16th of June, Lopeti Timani was called up to the squad.

Feao Fotuaika, Semisi Paea, Otumaka Mausia, Aisea Halo, and Telusa Veainu were called up to the squad.

See also 2022 July rugby union tests

References

External links Pacific Nations Cup web page at World Rugby