The 2017 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup was the twelfth edition of the Pacific Nations Cup annual international rugby union tournament. The 2017 title was contested solely by the Pacific nations of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga.

Teams competing in previous years, Canada, Japan and the United States were not scheduled to participate in the tournament for 2017 or 2016 due to the 2019 Rugby World Cup qualifying format. The top two teams on aggregate across the 2016 and 2017 Pacific Nations Cups for Japan 2019, with the team finishing third scheduled to enter the repechage for qualification.

Having not hosted a test match since playing Fiji in June 2009, Tonga was given the go-ahead to host a test match with World Rugby's approval of the revamped Teufaiva Sport Stadium.

Fiji retained their title to win for the third consecutive year.

Table

Fixtures The full match schedule was announced on 23 March 2017.

Round 1

FB 15Atieli PakalaniRW 14David HalaifonuaOC 13Nafi TuitavakeIC 12Siale Piutau (c)LW 11Cooper Vuna FH 10Latiume FositaSH 9 Sonatane TakuluaN8 8 Valentino Mapapalangi OF 7 Nili LatuBF 6 Daniel FaleafaRL 5 Steve Mafi LL 4 Leva FifitaTP 3 Siua Halanukonuka HK 2 Paul NgauamoLP 1 Siegfried FisiihoiReplacements:HK 16Suliasi TaufalelePR 17Latu TalakaiPR 18Ben Tameifuna FL 19Jack Ram FL 20Michael Faleafa SH 21Leon FukofukaFH 22Kali HalaCE 23Tevita Taufuʻi Coach: Toutai Kefu FB 15Tim Nanai-WilliamsRW 14Alapati LeiuaOC 13Kieron Fonotia IC 12Rey Lee-LoLW 11David Lemi (c)FH 10Tusi Pisi SH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i N8 8 Faifili LevaveOF 7 Galu TaufaleBF 6 Piula FaʻasaleleRL 5 Fa'atiga Lemalu LL 4 Chris VuiTP 3 Paul Alo-EmileHK 2 Manu Leiataua LP 1 Nephi Leatigaga Replacements:HK 16Elia Elia PR 17Jordan Lay PR 18James LayLK 19Masalosalo Tutaia FL 20Taiasina Tuifu'aSH 21Auvasa Faleali'i FH 22D'Angelo Leuila CE 23Henry Taefu Coach: Alama Ieremia Touch judges: Nick Briant (New Zealand) Paul Williams (New Zealand) Notes: This was Tonga's first home game since they played Fiji in 2009. This was Tonga's first win over Samoa since they won 29–19 in 2011. Siegfried Fisiihoi, Atieli Pakalani (both Tonga), Auvasa Faleali'i, Jordan Lay, Henry Taefu and Masalosalo Tutaia (all Samoa) made their international debuts. David Lemi (Samoa) earned his 50th test cap.

Round 2

FB 15Atieli PakalaniRW 14David Halaifonua OC 13Siale Piutau (c)IC 12Tevita TaufuʻiLW 11Cooper Vuna FH 10Latiume FositaSH 9 Sonatane TakuluaN8 8 Valentino Mapapalangi OF 7 Jack Ram BF 6 Daniel Faleafa RL 5 Steve MafiLL 4 Leva FifitaTP 3 Siua Halanukonuka HK 2 Paul Ngauamo LP 1 Siegfried Fisiihoi Replacements:HK 16Suliasi Taufalele PR 17Latu Talakai PR 18Ben Tameifuna FL 19Sione Tau FL 20Michael Faleafa SH 21Leon FukofukaFH 22Kali Hala WG 23Kiti Taimani Vaini Coach: Toutai Kefu FB 15Timoci NagusaRW 14Josua Tuisova OC 13Asaeli Tikoirotuma IC 12Jale VatubuaLW 11Patrick OsborneFH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Serupepeli Vularika N8 8 Nemani NagusaOF 7 Akapusi Qera (c)BF 6 Dominiko Waqaniburotu RL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Tevita Cavubati TP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Talemaitoga Tuapati PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Kalivati Tawake LK 19Api Ratuniyarawa FL 20Viliame Mata SH 21Henry Seniloli CE 22Vereniki Goneva WG 23Benito Masilevu Coach: John McKee Touch judges: Paul Williams (New Zealand) Marius Mitrea (Italy) Notes: Sione Tau (Tonga) made his international debut. With this Result Fiji guaranteed qualification for the Rugby World Cup 2019 as Oceana 1.

Round 3

FB 15Tim Nanai-WilliamsRW 14Alapati LeiuaOC 13Kieron Fonotia IC 12Rey Lee-LoLW 11David Lemi (c) FH 10Tusi PisiSH 9 Kahn Fotuali'i N8 8 Faifili Levave OF 7 Jack LamBF 6 Piula Faʻasalele RL 5 Fa'atiga LemaluLL 4 Chris VuiTP 3 Paul Alo-Emile HK 2 Elia Elia LP 1 Jordan Lay Replacements:HK 16Seilala Lam PR 17Nephi Leatigaga PR 18James Lay FL 19Galu Taufale N8 20Sanele Vavae Tuilagi SH 21Auvasa Faleali'i FH 22D'Angelo Leuila FB 23Ahsee Tuala Coach: Alama Ieremia FB 15Timoci Nagusa RW 14Vereniki GonevaOC 13Asaeli Tikoirotuma IC 12Jale VatubuaLW 11Patrick OsborneFH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Henry Seniloli N8 8 Nemani NagusaOF 7 Akapusi Qera (c) BF 6 Dominiko WaqaniburotuRL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Tevita Cavubati TP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Talemaitoga Tuapati LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Sunia Koto PR 17Joeli Veitayaki Jr. PR 18Kalivati Tawake LK 19Api Ratuniyarawa FL 20Viliame Mata SH 21Frank Lomani CE 22Eroni Vasiteri WG 23Josua Tuisova Coach: John McKee Touch judges: Marius Mitrea (Italy) Nick Briant (New Zealand) Notes: James Lay (Samoa) and Frank Lomani (Fiji) made their international debuts. This was Fiji's first win in Samoa since their 17–16 win in 2002.

Squads NationHead coach Captain John McKeeAkapusi Qera Alama IeremiaDavid Lemi Toutai KefuSiale Piutau

Note: Number of caps and players' ages are indicated as of 1 July 2017 – the tournament's opening day, pre first tournament match.

Fiji On 9 May, John McKee named an extended squad ahead of Fiji's 2017 June tests against Australia, Italy and Scotland and their Rugby Pacific Nations Cup / 2019 RWC Oceania qualification campaign in July.

Samoa On 29 May, Alama Ieremia named a 35-man squad ahead of Samoa's 2017 June tests against New Zealand and Wales and their Pacific Nations Cup / 2019 RWC Oceania qualification campaign in July.

Tonga On 9 June, Tonga named a 35-man extended squad for their 2017 June test against Wales and their Pacific Nations Cup / 2019 RWC Oceania qualification campaign in July.

References