Pacific Island nations are questioning whether the Pacific Nations Cup tournament is achieving its objective of developing rugby in the region, the Fiji Times newspaper reported Tuesday.
The six-nation tournament, involving Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Japan, Australia A and the New Zealand Maori, is intended by the International Rugby Board to build the strength of the island nations through regular test play.
But lopsided results, including victories by Australia A over Tonga (90-7) and Fiji (50-9) and New Zealand Maori’s 65-22 defeat of Japan, have caused island sides to question whether the tournament, in its current form, is beneficial, the newspaper reported.
Fiji, Tonga and Samoa have been unable to field full-strength teams because many of their best players have not been released by their European club sides.
Fiji Rugby Union chief executive Timoci Tavanavanua told the newspaper the tournament was unlikely to benefit island sides unless they were able to choose their best teams.
“In the next Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) meeting we will hold discussions on this matter,” Tavanavanua said.
“Also when the review of the PNC takes place in August, we will talk about it.
“We want to have our development but need to field a side which is strong and ready to compete.
“We don’t want to get a message out to the top teams that we can’t play against them by not having our best players and losing in the PNC.”
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