2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup Explained

2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
Countries:


Date:2–16 July 2022
Teams:4
Matches:4
Tries:28
Top Point Scorer: Ryan Lonergan (24 points)
Top Try Scorer: Ray Niuia (3 tries)
Count:4
Website:World Rugby
Previous Year:2019
Previous Tournament:2019 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
Next Year:2023
Next Tournament:2023 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup

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.[1]

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.[2]

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.[3] 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

RankTeamGamesPointsTriesTry BonusLosing BonusTable Points
PlayedWonDrawnLostForAgainstForAgainst
1 3 3 0 0 88 64 +24 12 8 2 0 14
2 3 2 0 1 97 71 +26 13 11 3 1 12
3 3 1 0 2 74 55 +19 10 6 1 1 6
4 3 0 0 3 40 109 –69 5 15 0 0 0
Points breakdown:
*4 points for a win
*2 points for a draw
*1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less
*1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match

Fixtures

Round 1

Notes:

----

Notes:

Round 2

Notes:

----

Round 3

----Notes:

Player statistics

Most points

PosNameTeamPts
1Ryan Lonergan33
2Rodney Iona19
3Filipo Daugunu15
Ray Niuia
Seilala Lam
6Teti Tela11
7Nigel Ah Wong10
Fraser McReight
Sam Moli
James Tuttle
Ben Volavola

Most tries

PosNameTeamTries
1Filipo Daugunu3
Ray Niuia
Seilala Lam
4Nigel Ah Wong2
Fraser McReight
Sam Moli
James 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.[4]

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.[5] [6]

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[7] [8] 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.[9]

On 3 June, Sione Havili was called up to the squad.[10] [11]

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

External links

Notes and References

  1. Web site: 19 May 2022 . Pacific Nations Cup returns in July for its 15th edition . World Rugby . 19 May 2022.
  2. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 19 May 2022 . Australia A to return as part of Pacific Nations Cup . www.rugby.com.au . 25 May 2022.
  3. Web site: 2022-07-11 . World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup 2022: All the updates from this year’s tournament . 2022-07-11 . www.world.rugby.
  4. Web site: Williamson . Nathan . 2022-06-14 . Australia A squad confirmed for Pacific Nations Cup . 2022-07-11 . www.rugby.com.au . en.
  5. Web site: 2022-06-07 . Fiji announces team for Pacific Nations Cup . 2022-07-11 . RNZ . en-nz.
  6. Web site: Prasad . Vashneel . 2022-06-06 . Flying Fijians name powerful squad for Pacific Nations Cup. . 2022-07-11 . Official Website of Fiji Rugby Union . en.
  7. Web site: Lima . BJ Telefoni . 2022-06-02 . Star-Studded Manu Samoa Squad for PNC 2022 Announced . 2022-07-11 . Samoa Global News . en-US.
  8. Web site: Sanerivi . Sialai Sarafina . 2022-06-03 . Manu Samoa squad named for Pacific Nations Cup . 2022-07-11 . Samoa Observer.
  9. Web site: McLeod . Alex . 2022-05-27 . Israel Folau, Charles Piutau and Malakai Fekitoa headline Tonga squad . 2022-07-11 . www.rugbypass.com . en.
  10. Web site: Lingam . Rajnesh . 2022-07-02 . Stage set for thrilling Pacific Nations Cup . 2022-07-11 . FijiTimes . en.
  11. Web site: McLeod . Alex . 2022-06-04 . Crusaders flanker added to Tonga squad for Pacific Nations Cup and World Cup qualifier . 2022-07-11 . www.rugbypass.com . en.