2019 Pacific Nations Cup set to start

The 2019 Pacific Nations Cup rugby tournament, which includes the men’s national 15s teams from Japan, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, USA and Canada, kicks off this weekend.

Japan Rugby XVS

The Japanese squad for the RWC 2019 have been in training camps, playing with the Sunwolves or friendly games during the Super Rugby season so far this year.

Luke Thompson is in line for a fourth Rugby World Cup, while other RWC 2015 veterans include captain and flanker Michael Leitch, hooker Shota Horie and scrum-half Fumiaki Tanaka.

There are 3 uncapped players in the Japanese rugby squad including tight-head prop Yusuke Kizu, James Moore and Pieter Labuschagne. All three were confirmed to play in the opener against Fiji while Labuschagne is in line to be only the 3rd international player playing as captain on debut. The others were Corne Krige (South Africa) and Yutaka Nagare (Japan). “It’s a massive honour and privilege to play in the Brave Blossoms jersey representing a great country like Japan,” Labuschagne told the Japan Rugby website.

You can read more about the Japanese full squad and the others announced for the tournament here.

Where can I watch the 2019 Pacific Nations Cup?

World Rugby has confirmed that Pacific Nations Cup rugby games will be streamed live in most regions. “For fans who live in other countries or territories where broadcast coverage isn’t available, the fixtures are also be streamed live here on the World Rugby website.”

Streaming Availability: Live on worldrugby.org/pnc for all other countries.

Broadcast Partners:

• TSN (Canada)
• NBC (USA)
• J Sports and NTV (Japan)
• Fiji TV (Fiji)
• Sky New Zealand (New Zealand)
• Samoa TV (Samoa)

Pacific Cup Fixtures

For a full overview of fixtures head to the World Rugby website. Japans games are listed below and all 3 are believed to be already be sold out as the country prepares to host the Rugby World Cup in September,

Game #1

• Japan v Fiji
• Date: 27 July 2019
• Venue: Kamaishi Recovery Memorial Stadium, Japan

Game #2

• Japan v Tonga
• Date: 3 August 2019
• Venue: Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Japan

Game #3

• United States v Japan
• Date: 10 August 2019
• Venue: ANZ National Stadium, Suva, Fiji

World Rugby Rankings

• Fiji – 9th
• Japan – 11th
• Tonga – 13th
• USA – 15th
• Samoa – 16th
• Canada – 21st

Rankings are sourced from World Rugby. Accurate at time of publishing.