Pacifica Rugby
Fan favourites Fijian Drua securing their first-ever Super Rugby Pacific playoff berth is an important step for the game. In so much that reality has matched the expectation – and not without a prolonged wait. Only in their second foundation season as a franchise, the long wait by Fijian rugby fans and supporters of Pacifica […]
The draw can now be realized for sides that make up the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season. A 14-round draw was announced by SANZAAR on Monday, November 15 that will be a full calendar for each team, as well as for fans eager for a steady diet of rugby in the New Year. Beginning Friday, […]
Beginning their representative season, the large ‘Cricket scoreline’ in the All Blacks v Tonga International Test match has created more dialogue on the disparity which Pacific Islands nations still endure. With every effort made by the Tongan side to their credit, they could not withstand the barrage handed down by the New Zealand All Blacks […]
The news that so many have been dreaming of, is that much closer. Disclosed to media on Wednesday, April 14, Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua have been granted conditional Super Rugby licences by New Zealand Rugby which could set the stage for those sides to compete in 2022. In a significant step forward for Pacific […]
If the future of any Pacific Islands Super Rugby side(s) was in need of a secure platform. Then World Rugby has come to the rescue. In a three-point plan that is being received positively in the Southern hemisphere. The governing body has advanced a package of financial and administrative support to help facilitate two teams […]
Pacifica rugby has played and continues to play a big part in the makeup of the game. And a wonderful new documentary Oceans Apart has highlighted their valuable place in the game, while discussing whether Pacifica rugby can ever ‘turn the tide’. Look across the world and players from the Pacific Islands are prominent and […]
When these two sides clash, the Māori All Blacks v Moana Pasifika fixture on December 5 is going to be both a nod to cultural heritage of indigenous rugby culture in New Zealand, as well as one more reward for rugby fans who have had a ‘less than satisfactory year’ [thanks to Covid]. The colours […]
Our series celebrating the best foreign talent to have played in the English Premiership continues. So far, teams have been selected from New Zealand, Australia and South Africa, plus the Pacific Islands of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa. But now our attention turns to nations not so regularly represented in the English game. We start with the backs […]
Southern Hemisphere rugby has had to endure a period of change in the last month. Not battered to the same degree as Europe has, yet wage cuts, fans and players’ seasons disrupted, and unease for what the future may hold is certainly is disarming. While still well mannered and constructive, everything has been spoken of, […]
In the approach to the 2019 Rugby World Cup (RWC), it is with the utmost respect that for the Manu Samoa RWC preparation, they will face a New Zealand Heartland XV team. Samoa is one of 20 sides qualified for the World Rugby tournament in Japan. A proud rugby nation, a leader of the Pacifica […]
Achieving a clean-slate of victories in the Pacific Nations Cup, the Japan Brave Blossoms men’s rugby team head into the Rugby World Cup on a real ‘Hi’. Yes, it is a complimentary nod to the hosts of the 2019 tournament, but with recent success under their belt, they have surely earned a huge amount of […]
It will be a battle of the No 8 on Saturday, when the Maori All Blacks take on the Flying Fijians at ANZ Stadium in Suva. With a Viliame Mata and Akira Ioane showdown looming, big clashes are on the horizon for Pacifica rugby fans. Former Olympic Gold rugby sevens medalist Viliame Mata had an outstanding […]
The 2019 Pacific Nations Cup teams have named their wider training squads, as a final chance to look at players performance before finalizing their squads for the coveted Rugby World Cup in September. Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga will be joined this year by Japan, Canada, and the USA to compete for the World Rugby 2019 […]
News out from World Rugby headquarters in Ireland, is that the much-hyped Nations Championship has failed to gain the support from leading nations. Without that, it has prompted the governing body to discontinue the proposed annual competition. After the required unanimous agreement by unions to enter into exclusive negotiations was not achieved, World Rugby can confirm […]
They came, they saw and they found the hosts Samoa ‘wanting’. That was the strategy of Tonga, when overcoming hosts Samoa 20-27 to win the 2018 Oceania Rugby Under 20s Championship. They went into the game with a win behind them 12-16 after the opening round of the Oceania Rugby Championship, on Tuesday. Samoa fought very […]
Fiji’s shock win over France was a triumph not only for Fiji but, for rugby as a whole. The Flying Fijians earned a first-ever victory over France at the Stade de France on Saturday night. Tries from Semi Radradra and Josua Tuisova secured Fiji Rugby a historic 14-21 victory. Won, despite French captain Guilhem Guirado going over for […]
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England’s 71-0 rout of Chile on Saturday was predictable but nonetheless a big confidence booster to the squad. Henry Arundell and Marcus Smith in particular made the most of their opportunities. With respect to Chile; who never stopped trying, they were never going to match England’s power. Sterner tests await for England but it would […]
The [Rugby World Cup] RWC 2023 race for the quarterfinal is on in the fourth round after matches in game week three saw teams that topped their various pools solidify their positions winning all their three matches while the rest fought for the remaining spots. Race for the quarterfinals of the RWC 2023 4 poules […]
Saturday’s fixture Ireland v South Africa is a moc-Cup Final. It sees Johnny Sexton drive Irish hopes of a pinnacle World Title while defending title-holders the Springboks utilize their advanced 7-1 bench strategy. Ideally, fans could view this match-up later in the draw – your number one versus numbered teams two, three, or four should […]
The 2023 MLR draft Toronto Arrows game happened a week ago. Canada’s only professional rugby union team as usual selected players from Canadian universities. However, this time, they drafted players from Quebec universities. These players will likely play in the new Arrows gear including the refreshed logo that was revealed on Tuesday, September 12, 2023. […]
It’s been 20 years since England were crowned 2003 Rugby World Cup champions, and Last Word on Rugby caught up with one of the successful squad members Simon Shaw. 2003 Rugby World Cup Anniversary: Simon Shaw Simon Shaw shared with Larissa Falls his favourite moments and memories from the 2003 triumph, and looked ahead to […]
The Paris Olympics 2024 qualification for Africa concluded in Harare, Zimbabwe with Kenya 7s beating South Africa 17-12 in the Africa men’s 7s to earn a direct ticket to next year’s showpiece. The Africa 7s tournament couples up with the Paris Olympics 2024 qualification. The two African rugby powerhouses found themselves in this tournament after […]
The Rugby World Cup 2023 round two matches saw most teams solidify their position in their respective pools. The pools have teams that have the upper hand of featuring in the quarterfinals. Teams leading the pools have so far had two out of two wins in their respective pools. RWC 2023 round two matches overview […]
England eventually found a way through a determined but under-par Japanese outfit on Sunday evening. England won ugly yet momentum is growing, with two wins over the pool’s two toughest opponents, Argentina and Japan. It was not pretty but, successful World Cup campaigns rarely are, and England ultimately might have one foot in the quarter-finals. […]