Equip with Pacific Islanders of Rugby to XV

The Pacific Islanders is an international selection of Rugby to XV created by the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) in 2003, starting from the best elements of the three national teams of the Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. Its selector is currently Pat Lam assisted of the selectors of the three nations concerned. That made it possible the Pacific Islands to constitute a competitive team vis-a-vis the best nations of Rugby to XV such as the All Blacks and the Wallabies.

The team already recorded significant victories vis-a-vis the Australian teams of the Queensland Reds (48-29) and of the New South Wales Waratahs (68-21), but however lost their first test matches in 2004 against Wallabies (14-29), All Blacks (26-41) and the Springboks (24-38).

The PIRA hopes for that its team will be able to take part in the Super 14 or the Tri-nations, that would make it possible the three nations concerned to preserve their best players, the latter having currently interest to join the rows of the professional teams of New Zealand, Australia or European teams.

Currently this team functions like that of the British Lions and carries out rounds all the three or four years. The team of Pacific Islanders is pulled by Michael Jones, a former Samoan player who belonged to All Blacks. This team already had famous players in her rows, in particular Sitiveni Sivivatu and Sione Lauaki.

In 2006, Pacific Islanders played against the Wales (demolished 20-38), the Scotland (demolished 22-34) and the Ireland.

External bonds

Pacific Islanders Site Pacific Islanders
Australia-Pacific Islanders in 2004
New Zealand - Pacific Islanders in 2004
South Africa - Pacific Islanders in 2004

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