USA: Joining the PNC
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The International Rugby Board has announced an exciting shake-up of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup with an expanded schedule and inclusion of new teams confirmed for 2013.
Underscoring its long-term commitment to boosting the Tier Two competition schedule and competitiveness of the international game, the IRB has confirmed that Canada and USA will join the IRB-funded tournament on a permanent basis, joining Fiji, Japan and Tonga in the 2013 competition in a move that should increase the excitement levels to something akin to a big bet on super bowl Sunday.
Reigning champions Samoa take a sabbatical from the tournament in 2013 to play in a quadrangular competition in South Africa in June against the Springboks, Scotland and Italy, having earned their spot as the highest-ranked Tier Two Union in 2012.
The new-look competition, will be played between May 25 and June 23 and will see matches hosted in Canada, Fiji, Japan and USA.
Japan will host the finale with double-headers on the final two match days as excitement continues to build ahead of the nation's hosting of Rugby World Cup 2019.
The announcement follows an unprecedented November 2012 competition schedule for Tier Two Unions, which saw 15 nations in action, the introduction of the IRB International Rugby Series and notable performances from Samoa, Tonga and Japan in Europe.
This exciting enhancement to the IRB Pacific Nations Cup is good news for Japan, Canada, USA and the Pacific Islands. We now have in place an annual high-calibre competition that will deliver compelling matches, while also fulfilling the high performance needs of our Unions. I am sure it will capture hearts and minds in the Pacific Islands and North America." said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.
IRB Head of Development and Performance Mark Egan said the the global body was investing more than £10 million per annum in tournaments and high performance programmes for our targeted group of Strategic Initiative Unions.
"The inclusion of Canada and USA in a new-look IRB Pacific Nations Cup is a key outcome of continued consultation with our Unions to deliver a schedule that suits their high performance programmes. It also provides an opportunity to benchmark performances two years out from Rugby World Cup 2015 in England," added Egan.
USA Rugby Chief Executive Nigel Melville said: "USA Rugby is delighted to be given the opportunity to compete in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. It has been a pleasure working with all the participating Unions and we are now looking forward to playing against them on the field. The new look PNC will provide the Eagles with consistent fixtures against some very competitive teams, this can only be good news for the Eagles as we plan our path to Rugby World Cup 2015 in England."
Canada Rugby Chief Executive Graham Brown added: "This is a fantastic opportunity for Canada to play quality matches to help us build our high performance programme. We are grateful to the IRB for their support of this initiative and excited about hosting a number of games in Canada in 2013."
For Japan, hosting the climax to the 2013 competition alongside two inbound Tests against Wales represents a further boost for the profile of Rugby as the nation prepares to host Asia's first Rugby World Cup.
Japan head coach Eddie Jones said: "The IRB Pacific Nations Cup is a wonderful opportunity for Japan and all participating Unions to elevate their performances to a higher level in order that we can be more competitive at future Rugby World Cups.
"Combined with playing two Tests against Wales in June, the PNC provides us with a strong competition calendar. The physical nature of Canada and USA plus the Pacific flair of Fiji and Tonga will make for a compelling tournament and we are very excited to be participating."
IRB Pacific Nations Cup 2013 fixtures:
Saturday, May 25
Japan v Tonga
Canada v USA
Saturday, June 1
Fiji v Japan
Wednesday, June 5
Fiji v Canada (in Canada)
Saturday, June 8
Canada v Tonga
Saturday, June 15
USA v Tonga
Wednesday, June 19
Japan v Canada (in Japan)
Fiji v USA (in Japan)
Sunday, June 23
Japan v USA (in Japan)
Tonga v Fiji (in Japan)
Comments
APV1 says...
Good news all round.
Posted 14:54 25th January 2013
THESKUTCH says...
Great news and I agree with Lucas about Japan!
Posted 22:36 23rd January 2013
GCP_jones says...
@ruck_man7
You've raised some good points, but why stop there, there should be an annual competition between the above named teams and ones from Europe, the likes of Russia, Georgia, Romania and Spain.
Still you have give credit where its due, onward-and-upward
Posted 15:19 23rd January 2013
7nezking says...
This is great...It looks like the old Pacific Rim or Epson Cup that was played in the lates 1990's and early 2000's, except that Samoa's not joining.
Posted 10:11 23rd January 2013
tokyojb says...
@ruck_man7
A few years ago there was a competition between Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa plus the Emerging Wallabies and the Baby Blacks or Maori, can't remember which.
I think it was the precursor to the Pacific Nations Cup but the problem was that: firstly, the EW's and BB's walloped the other teams by cricket scores so it wasn't really developmental for either side and; secondly, again if memory serves, the EWs and BBs dropped out due to the cost of sending non-test teams overseas each year.
It might be different now that the PNC teams have had a regular, hard-fought tournament for a few years so are getting better at playing against tier-1 opponents, but for the time being I reckon Canada and the US are the right teams to bring in.
Posted 07:06 23rd January 2013
tokyojb says...
Excellent news - already lloking forwrad to the double-headers in June :)
Posted 01:33 23rd January 2013
JoseArtigas1 says...
Great idea! Seems a little crammed into a short period of time.
Posted 23:14 22nd January 2013
GCP_JONES says...
Great to see this happening there is so much potential around the globe for rugby union to become a world sport in a true sense.
Posted 22:36 22nd January 2013
melkdave says...
Have to say im glad the IRB havent forgoten the USAand Canada,and they now have a revalent yearly competion to play in
Posted 21:33 22nd January 2013
JayStarr says...
Good stuff.
Posted 21:14 22nd January 2013
myopicflanker says...
Probably the best scenario for bettering the world scene by raising North American rugby. Very interesting.
Posted 20:53 22nd January 2013
5Lock4ward says...
As an Eagles supporter who bleeds red, white and blue I am thrilled. This is great news for the USA as well as Canada and the rest of the included teams. I am glad to see the IRB has taken this step to include North America in this tournament as they continue to back their promise to grow the game globally. Now give us Manoa!
Posted 20:50 22nd January 2013
hhlamazing says...
Great news for USA, Canada and the competition
Posted 18:45 22nd January 2013
ruck_man7 says...
This is great news.
It's a pity Samoa won't be joining this years comp but they definitely deserve to be involved in the quadrangular comp with those tier 1 teams.
This tier two teams definitely need a lot of game time.
I only hope NZ would consider fielding a Maori team and Australia with an Aussie 'A' team.
Posted 18:36 22nd January 2013
Lucasrg says...
Very good news. Great boost for all this countries. I feel that Japan in 10 yrs time will be a threat to recognize.
Posted 18:30 22nd January 2013
NHsaints says...
One word: Fantastic.
Posted 18:01 22nd January 2013