Pacific Islanders Tour Update

[Burgs]

For the benefit to Pacific Rugby it is great to see that they are taking steps to close down "other nations" poaching senior players straight out of the PI Squad as happened last time.

Eligibility tightened for PI side

Monday, July 31, 2006

The Pacific Islanders rugby team which will tour Britain in November will be made up exclusively of players who have chosen to play for Fiji, Tonga or Samoa, the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance has ruled.

The first Islanders team, which played matches against Australia, New Zealand and South Africa in 2004, included players such as Sione Lauaki and Sitiveni Sivivatu, who went on to play for the New Zealand All Blacks.

PIRA chief executive Sakopo Lolohea said eligibility rules for this year's team would be changed to ensure the Islanders tour served the development of Pacific Islands rugby.

"The team will definitely not be selected as in 2004," Lolohea said.

"It will be made up of players eligible to play for the three island nations."

The PIRA board is due to meet in Fiji on August 6 to finalise details of the tour, which involves Tests against Wales, Ireland and Scotland.

The meeting is also expected to confirm the appointment of Samoa coach and former All Black Michael Jones as Islanders head coach. New Zealander John Boe coached the team in 2004.

AP via Rugby Heaven

[The InnFORCEr]

Great work by the PIRA, they have to start somewhere, and by creating these opportunities for the "loyal" players you would hope that the IRB and even some sponsors will get on board as well.

Playing Wales Ireland and Scotland....could be some upset TWF members in November as well

[JediKnight]

...Playing Wales Ireland and Scotland....could be some upset TWF members in November as well

I didn't realise we had any members from the Pacific Islands...!!!

[The InnFORCEr]

I guess it's just as well you Scots have sense of humour!

[felixnelson]

Can i say that this Pacific Islands team is a great concept and a major step forward for competitive rugby. These island nations are just too small to be a top class side however a combined side of all these little nations could be very successful given time. An example of this could be the West Indies in world cricket, a group of small, individual countries banded together in order to be a competitive test nation. Their state competition is actually technically an international competition as they represent their countries (Barbados, Trinidad and Tabago ect.) Whilst the other nations focus on their club competitions Tonga, Fiji and Samoa could have a little tri nations of their own. Which could be used as a selection trial for the pacific islanders team just as Australia uses the super 14. What do you guys think?

[frontrow]

I like that concept, surprised that it isn`t already in place, but the financial aspects for these small countries may be prohibitive