The IRB has announced a new format for the 2011 Pacific Rugby Cup. Previous renditions consisted of two local teams from each of the Pacific Island rugby nations of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga, who battled it out to be crowned champions
As of this year, the competition will consist of the local ‘A’ teams from each nation with the best local talent for selection. It also throws in an added twist with three teams from Australia and New Zealand participating as well.
Confirmed teams for Pacific Rugby Cup 2011:
Fiji Warriors (2010 champions),
Samoa A,
Tonga A,
QAS Academy Reds (QLD),
Junior Waratahs,
Brumby Runners,
Crusaders Development XV,
Hurricanes Development XV,
Chiefs Development XV.
The tournament will start on February 19 with the Australia series, where the Junior Waratahs host Tonga A at Foreshaw Rugby Park. Other matches include Brunmby Runners versus Samoa A at Canberra Stadium and QAS Reds versus Fiji Warriors at Ballymore.
It will run for two more rounds in Australia as each Australian team takes on the PI nations up to February 28.
Round 4 to round 6 matches will be played in New Zealand. The final leg will then take place in Fiji as the PI nations battle it out from March 19 to March 26.
However, no word has been given whether the Australian teams will be playing the other NZ teams or whether the other six teams will even be eligible to be crowned champions of the 2011 PRC.
All in all, I think the tournament was thrown together too quickly, without any future developments and what exactly they are hoping to achieve with it given adequate consideration.
Hopefully the IRB will stick to this format and persist with it since no doubt the local PI players will emerge for the tournament as better players.
This could be the start of a second tier competition below the Super Rugby competition.
Who knows, perhaps these PRC matches could have been used as curtain raisers to the main Super Rugby matches.
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