2026 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup
 | |
| Tournament details | |
|---|---|
| Host |  Japan |
| Dates | 12–19 September 2026 (7 days) |
| Teams | |
← 2025 | |
The 2026 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup[a] is an upcoming international rugby union tournament and set to be the eighteenth Pacific Nations Cup (PNC) tournament. The tournament features a condensed version, hosted over two matchdays in Japan between four teams with semi-finals, a third-place game and a final.[2]
Background
The 2026 edition of the PNC tournament features a new four-team format with Japan, Fiji, Canada, and the United States.[2] Semi-finals will be held in Ōsaka on 12 September, followed by the third-place play-off and final in Tokyo on 19 September.[2] Defending champions Fiji will be aiming for a third consecutive title.[2]
The competition forms an important part of preparations for the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia and aligns with World Rugby's revamped international calendar.[2] Although Samoa and Tonga are not competing in this edition, they will instead play in the new Nations Cup in July and continue to receive development support.[2][3]
Bracket
| Semi-finals | Final | |||||
| 12 September – Higashiōsaka | ||||||
 Fiji | ||||||
| 19 September – Tokyo | ||||||
.svg.png){kind=small} Canada | ||||||
| 12 September – Higashiōsaka | ||||||
| Japan | ||||||
 United States | ||||||
| Third place play-off | ||||||
| 19 September – Tokyo | ||||||
Matches
Semi-finals
| 12 September 2026 16:00 JST (UTC+09) |
| Fiji | v | Canada |
| Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka Referee: Katsuki Furuse (Japan)[4] |
|
Assistant referees:[4]
|
| 12 September 2026 19:05 JST (UTC+09) |
| Japan | v | United States |
| Hanazono Rugby Stadium, Higashiōsaka Referee: Jordan Way (Australia)[4] |
|
Assistant referees:[4]
|
Third place play-off
| 19 September 2026 16:00 JST (UTC+09) |
| Loser SF1 | v | Loser SF2 |
| Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Referee: TBC |
|
Assistant referees:
|
Grand Final
| 19 September 2026 19:05 JST (UTC+09) |
| Winner SF1 | v | Winner SF2 |
| Chichibunomiya Rugby Stadium, Tokyo Referee: TBC |
|
Assistant referees:
|
Participants
| Team | Coach | Captain | World Rugby Ranking | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Start[b] | End[c] | |||
| Canada |
.svg.png){kind=small} Steve Meehan |
TBD | ||
| Fiji |
TBD | |||
| Japan |
Eddie Jones |
TBD | ||
| United States |
Scott Lawrence |
TBD | ||
Squads
Caps and ages are as of the first match of the tournament (12 September 2026).
Canada
On 25 August 2026, Canada announced a 32-player squad for their September tour of Japan and the following Pacific Nations Cup tournament.[5][6]
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Austin Creighton | Hooker | 6 June 2000 (aged 26) | 3 |  Cobras Brasil |
| Foster DeWitt | Hooker | 26 May 1996 (aged 30) | 7 |  Peñarol |
| Dewald Kotze | Hooker | 14 June 1997 (aged 29) | 15 | Seattle Seawolves |
| Sam Miller | Prop | 7 | .svg.png){kind=small} Benfica | |
| Emerson Prior | Prop | 6 April 1998 (aged 28) | 8 | Westshore |
| Kyle Steeves | Prop | 31 January 2000 (aged 26) | 8 | Hunter Wildfires |
| Sam Turner | Prop | 0 |  Clifton | |
| Bryce Worden | Prop | 0 | West Harbour | |
| Ryan Cozens | Lock | 0 | Reading Rams | |
| Daragh Doyle | Lock | 21 September 2005 (aged 20) | 2 |  Clontarf |
| Izzak Kelly | Lock | 9 April 2000 (aged 26) | 16 | Benfica |
| Barnaby Waddell | Lock | 19 December 2001 (aged 24) | 2 | Camborne |
| Callum Botchar | Back row | 3 October 1997 (aged 28) | 10 | James Bay |
| Mason Flesch | Back row | 18 November 1999 (aged 26) | 23 | Chicago Hounds |
| Ethan Fryer | Back row | 27 May 2001 (aged 25) | 5 | Peñarol |
| Cody Nhanala | Back row | 30 October 2001 (aged 24) | 2 | UBC Thunderbirds |
| Sion Parry | Back row | 29 October 1998 (aged 27) | 19 |  Ebbw Vale |
| Lucas Rumball | Back row | 2 August 1995 (aged 31) | 67 | Chicago Hounds |
| Jason Higgins | Scrum-half | 28 March 1995 (aged 31) | 30 | Cork Constitution |
| Jesse Kilgour | Scrum-half | 1 | Aurora Barbarians | |
| Stephen Webb | Scrum-half | 3 | UBC Thunderbirds | |
| Jamie Armstrong | Fly-half | 0 | Ottawa Irish | |
| Jack Gore | Fly-half | 0 | Oakville Crusaders | |
| Liam James | Fly-half | 2 | UBCOB Ravens | |
| Jacob Ince | Centre | 2 | Guelph Gryphons | |
| Spencer Jones | Centre | 17 July 1997 (aged 29) | 17 |  Hamilton Old Boys |
| Ben LeSage | Centre | 24 November 1995 (aged 30) | 39 | New England Free Jacks |
| Josh McIndoe | Centre | 2 | UVIC Vikes | |
| Isaac Olson | Centre | 1 July 2000 (aged 26) | 7 | Castaway Wanderers |
| Takoda McMullin | Wing | 7 | Bayside Sharks | |
| Kyle Tremblay | Wing | 7 | Bayside Sharks | |
| Cooper Coats | Fullback | 6 October 1996 (aged 29) | 23 | UVIC Vikes |
Fiji
Fiji announced a 31-man squad in late August 2026 ahead of the tournament.[7][8]
| Player | Position | Date of birth (age) | Caps | Club/province |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Penaia Cakobau | Hooker | 28 December 1993 (aged 32) | 0 | Drua |
| Tevita Ikanivere | Hooker | 6 September 1999 (aged 27) | 34 | Honda Heat |
| Kavaia Tagivetaua | Hooker | 5 June 2003 (aged 23) | 1 | Drua |
| Mesake Doge | Prop | 1 April 1993 (aged 33) | 28 | Drua |
| Vilikesa Nairau | Prop | 3 June 2002 (aged 24) | 0 | Saracens |
| Livai Natave | Prop | 20 April 1999 (aged 27) | 9 | Worcester Warriors |
| Peni Ravai | Prop | 16 June 1990 (aged 36) | 55 | Drua |
| Inoke Ravuiwasa | Prop | 0 | Drua | |
| Samu Tawake | Prop | 11 September 1996 (aged 30) | 19 | Drua |
| Meli Tuni | Prop | 29 June 2000 (aged 26) | 3 | Drua |
| Temo Mayanavanua | Lock | 9 November 1997 (aged 28) | 36 | Drua |
| Isoa Nasilasila | Lock | 13 September 1999 (aged 26) | 32 | Drua |
| Mesake Vocevoce | Lock | 16 May 2003 (aged 23) | 18 | Drua |
| Elia Canakaivata | Back row | 12 July 1996 (aged 30) | 22 | Drua |
| Motikai Murray | Back row | 8 August 2003 (aged 23) | 6 | Drua |
| Kitione Salawa Jr. | Back row | 23 May 2001 (aged 25) | 14 | Drua |
| Joseva Tamani | Back row | 2 April 1997 (aged 29) | 2 | Drua |
| Isoa Tuwai | Back row | 4 June 2002 (aged 24) | 0 | Drua |
| Frank Lomani | Scrum-half | 18 April 1996 (aged 30) | 46 | Drua |
| Sam Wye | Scrum-half | 11 November 2000 (aged 25) | 7 | Drua |
| Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula | Fly-half | 7 January 2004 (aged 22) | 20 | Drua |
| Philip Baselala | Fly-half | 14 September 2004 (aged 21) | 4 | Drua |
| Caleb Muntz | Fly-half | 30 October 1999 (aged 26) | 23 |  Provence |
| Maleli Nauvasi | Centre | 0 | Drua | |
| Tuidraki Samusamuvodre | Centre | 16 February 1998 (aged 28) | 2 | Drua |
| Virimi Vakatawa | Centre | 1 May 1998 (aged 28) | 1 | Drua |
| Kemu Valetini | Centre | 26 August 1994 (aged 32) | 6 | Drua |
| Manasa Mataele | Wing | 27 November 1996 (aged 29) | 4 | Drua |
| Joji Nasova | Wing | 9 June 2000 (aged 26) | 3 | Drua |
| Isaac Ratuimatavuki-Kneepkens | Wing | 0 | Southern Districts | |
| Kalaveti Ravouvou | Wing | 6 June 1998 (aged 28) | 17 | Bristol Bears |
| Terio Tamani | Wing | 6 July 1994 (aged 32) | 0 | Fiji Sevens |
| Isikeli Rabitu | Fullback | 22 January 2005 (aged 21) | 1 | Drua |
Japan
Yet to be announced.
United States
Yet to be announced.
See also
Notes
- ↑ Known as the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup for sponsorship reasons.[1][2]
- ↑ As of 7 September 2026
- ↑ As of 21 September 2026
References
- ↑ "Asahi Super Dry becomes title sponsor of Pacific Nations Cup". world.rugby. World Rugby. 16 August 2024.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 "Dates set for Pacific Nations Cup 2026 as Asahi Super Dry confirmed as Title Partner". World Rugby. 4 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
- ↑ "Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 To Feature Fewer Teams – Hosted in Japan". Rugby Asia 24/7. 4 July 2026. Retrieved 4 July 2026.
- 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 "Appointments | Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026". world.rugby. World Rugby. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ "Canada's Men's Rugby Team 2026 September Tour Squad Announced". rugby.ca. Rugby Canada. 25 August 2026. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Newcombe, Jon (26 August 2026). "Canada's Pacific Nations Cup squad missing experienced French-based trio". RugbyPass. Retrieved 29 August 2026.
- ↑ Stark, Mataiasi (24 August 2026). "Seven new caps named in Flying Fijians PNC squad". Fijian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
- ↑ Morton, Finn (25 August 2026). "Flying Fijians select SVNS Dream Team star in Pacific Nations Cup squad". RugbyPass. Retrieved 25 August 2026.
External links
- Pacific Nations Cup web page at World Rugby