The 2015 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup was the tenth edition of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup (formerly known as the IRB Pacific Nations Cup), an annual international rugby union tournament. The 2015 title was contested between the Tier 2 nations of Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the United States.
Due to the 2015 Rugby World Cup, the tournament took place in July and August with all teams having access to overseas players. Like the 2014 IRB Pacific Nations Cup, the six teams were divided into two pools, but instead of playing each team from the same pool like in 2014, each team played the three teams from the opposing pool. Following the three rounds of cross pool matches, the six teams were seeded one through to six and played in three final play-offs to determine who finishes first to sixth. The final was contested between Fiji and Samoa, who had previously drawn 30–30 during the Cross-pool matches. Fiji won the final 39–29, scoring 6 tries to claim their second title.
Venues Five venues will be used:
VenueCityCapacityRound ANZ Stadium Suva 15,000 Round 1 Avaya Stadium San Jose 18,000 Round 1 BMO Field Toronto 30,000 Round 3 Bonney Field Sacramento 8,000 Round 2 Swangard Stadium Burnaby 5,288 Round 2 & Finals
Final positioning Pos.PoolTeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPFPAPDTFTA12 4 3 1 0 126 103 +23 16 1221 4 2 1 1 101 105 -4 11 1331 4 3 0 1 114 87 +27 12 841 4 1 0 3 80 87 -7 6 752 4 2 0 2 73 85 -12 4 862 4 0 0 4 57 84 -27 5 6
Table TeamPlayedWonDrawnLostPFPAPDTFTATry BonusLosing BonusPointsOverall Standings1 (10) 3 2 1 0 87 74 +13 10 9 1 0 112 (9) 3 2 1 0 72 66 +6 8 7 1 0 113 (12) 3 2 0 1 83 67 +16 9 7 0 0 84 (13) 3 1 0 2 60 56 +4 5 4 0 2 65 (16) 3 1 0 2 58 72 -14 4 7 0 1 56 (17) 3 0 0 3 44 69 -25 4 6 0 1 1Pool 1 Standings1 3 2 1 0 72 66 +6 8 7 1 0 112 3 2 0 1 83 67 +16 9 7 0 0 83 3 1 0 2 60 56 +4 5 4 0 2 6Pool 2 Standings1 3 2 1 0 87 74 +13 10 9 1 0 112 3 1 0 2 58 72 -14 4 7 0 1 53 3 0 0 3 44 69 -25 4 6 0 1 1 Points breakdown:*4 points for a win*2 points for a draw*1 bonus point for a loss by seven points or less*1 bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a matchPre-tournament rankings are in parentheses.
Fixtures The full match schedule was announced on 19 February 2015.
Cross-pool matches
Round 1
FB 15Kini MurimurivaluRW 14Waisea NayacalevuOC 13Vereniki Goneva (c)IC 12Levani BotiaLW 11Asaeli TikoirotumaFH 10Ben Volavola SH 9 Henry Seniloli N8 8 Sakiusa Matadigo OF 7 Malakai RavuloBF 6 Dominiko WaqaniburotuRL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Tevita Cavubati TP 3 Manasa SauloHK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Talemaitoga Tuapati PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Taniela KoroiLK 19Nemia Soqeta FL 20Peceli Yato SH 21Nikola Matawalu FH 22Josh Matavesi FB 23Metuisela TalebulaCoach: John McKee FB 15Vunga LiloRW 14Telusa VeainuOC 13Alipate Fatafehi IC 12Sione PiukalaLW 11Fetuʻu VainikoloFH 10Latiume Fosita SH 9 Taniela Moa N8 8 Viliami MaʻafuOF 7 Nili Latu (c)BF 6 Hale T-Pole RL 5 Tukulua LokotuiLL 4 Steve Mafi TP 3 Halani Aulika HK 2 Elvis TaioneLP 1 Sona Taumalolo Replacements:HK 16Sosefo SakaliaPR 17Tevita Mailau PR 18Sila Puafisi LK 19Uili Koloʻofai FL 20Viliami Fihaki SH 21Sonatane Takulua FH 22Kurt Morath WG 23Otulea Katoa Coach: Mana Otai Man of the Match: Levani Botia (Fiji)
Touch judges: Nick Briant (New Zealand) Ben O'Keeffe (New Zealand) Notes: Peceli Yato made his international debut for Fiji. Telusa Veainu made his international debuts for Tonga.
FB 15Matt Evans RW 14Jeff HasslerOC 13Ciaran HearnIC 12Connor BraidLW 11D. T. H. van der Merwe FH 10Liam Underwood SH 9 Gordon McRorie N8 8 Tyler Ardron (c)OF 7 Richard ThorpeBF 6 Thyssen de Goede RL 5 Jon Phelan LL 4 Brett BeukeboomTP 3 Doug Wooldridge HK 2 Ray Barkwill LP 1 Hubert Buydens Replacements:HK 16Aaron Carpenter PR 17Djustice Sears-Duru PR 18Andrew Tiedemann LK 19Tyler Hotson FL 20Callum Morrison SH 21Phil Mack FH 22Nathan Hirayama WG 23Phil Mackenzie Coach: Kieran Crowley FB 15Ayumu Goromaru (c)RW 14Yoshikazu Fujita OC 13Kotaro MatsushimaIC 12Yuu Tamura LW 11Kenki Fukuoka FH 10Harumichi Tatekawa SH 9 Atsushi HiwasaN8 8 Hayden HopgoodOF 7 Michael Broadhurst BF 6 Justin IvesRL 5 Luke ThompsonLL 4 Hitoshi Ono TP 3 Hiroshi Yamashita HK 2 Shota Horie LP 1 Hisateru Hirashima Replacements:PR 16Keita Inagaki HK 17Takeshi Kizu PR 18Shinnosuke Kakinaga LK 19Kazuhiko Usami FL 20Tsuyoshi MurataSH 21Keisuke UchidaWG 22Toshiaki Hirose CE 23Tim Bennetts Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Ayumu Goromaru (Japan)
Touch judges: Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Nick Ricono (United States) Notes: Thyssen de Goede and Callum Morrison made their international debuts for Canada. Tim Bennetts made his international debut for Japan.
FB 15Chris Wyles (c)RW 14Takudzwa Ngwenya OC 13Seamus KellyIC 12Thretton Palamo LW 11Blaine ScullyFH 10AJ MacGintySH 9 Shalom Suniula N8 8 Danny BarrettOF 7 John QuillBF 6 Cam DolanRL 5 Greg Peterson LL 4 Hayden Smith TP 3 Matekitonga Moeakiola HK 2 Phil Thiel LP 1 Eric FryReplacements:HK 16Zach Fenoglio PR 17Chris BaumannPR 18Titi Lamositele LK 19Scott LaValla FL 20Andrew Durutalo SH 21Mike Petri CE 22Andrew Suniula WG 23Zack Test Coach: Mike Tolkin FB 15Ahsee Tuala RW 14Sinoti SinotiOC 13Paul PerezIC 12Faialaga Afamasaga LW 11Alesana Tuilagi (c)FH 10Patrick Fa'apaleSH 9 Vavao Afemai N8 8 Sanele Vavae Tuilagi OF 7 Jack Lam BF 6 TJ IoaneRL 5 Faatiga LemaluLL 4 Filo Paulo TP 3 Anthony PereniseHK 2 Manu Leiataua LP 1 Sakaria Taulafo Replacements:HK 16Motu Matu'u PR 17Viliamu Afatia PR 18Jake GreyLK 19Maselino Paulino FL 20Oneone Faafou SH 21Pele Cowley CE 22Johnny Leota FB 23Fa'atoina Autagavaia Coach: Stephen Betham Man of the Match: TJ Ioane (Samoa)
Touch judges: Federico Anselmi (Argentina) Andrew McMaster (Canada) Notes: AJ MacGinty and Zack Test made their international debuts for the United States. Motu Matu'u and Sanele Vavae Tuilagi made their international debuts for Samoa.
Round 2
FB 15Metuisela Talebula RW 14Waisea NayacalevuOC 13Vereniki GonevaIC 12Gabiriele LovobalavuLW 11Asaeli Tikoirotuma FH 10Ben VolavolaSH 9 Nemia Kenatale N8 8 Sakiusa MatadigoOF 7 Akapusi Qera (c) BF 6 Peceli Yato RL 5 Leone NakarawaLL 4 Api RatuniyarawaTP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Sunia Koto LP 1 Peni Ravai Replacements:HK 16Viliame Veikoso PR 17Campese Ma'afu PR 18Taniela Koroi LK 19Nemia Soqeta FL 20Malakai Ravulo SH 21Henry Seniloli FH 22Josh Matavesi WG 23Napolioni Nalaga Coach: John McKee FB 15Fa'atoina Autagavaia RW 14Alofa AlofaOC 13Paul PerezIC 12Johnny LeotaLW 11Alesana Tuilagi (c)FH 10Michael Stanley SH 9 Pele CowleyN8 8 Sanele Vavae Tuilagi OF 7 Jack LamBF 6 TJ IoaneRL 5 Fa'atiga Lemalu LL 4 Filo PauloTP 3 Anthony Perenise HK 2 Motu Matu'u LP 1 Sakaria Taulafo Replacements:HK 16Manu Leiataua PR 17Viliamu Afatia PR 18Jake Grey LK 19Joe Tekori FL 20Faifili Levave SH 21Vavao AfemaiFH 22Patrick Fa'apale WG 23Faleniu Iosi Coach: Stephen Betham Man of the Match: Leone Nakarawa (Fiji)
Touch judges: Luke Pearce (England) Andrew McMaster (Canada) Notes: This was Fiji's and Samoa's first draw since 1989. Faleniu Iosi made his international debut for Samoa.
FB 15Matt Evans RW 14Jeff HasslerOC 13Ciaran Hearn IC 12Connor BraidLW 11D. T. H. van der MerweFH 10Liam Underwood SH 9 Gordon McRorie N8 8 Tyler Ardron (c)OF 7 John Moonlight BF 6 Richard ThorpeRL 5 Brett BeukeboomLL 4 Jon Phelan TP 3 Andrew Tiedemann HK 2 Aaron Carpenter LP 1 Hubert Buydens Replacements:HK 16Benoît Piffero PR 17Djustice Sears-Duru PR 18Doug Wooldridge FL 19Callum Morrison FL 20Kyle Gilmour SH 21Phil Mack FH 22Nathan Hirayama WG 23Phil Mackenzie Coach: Kieran Crowley FB 15Vunga LiloRW 14Telusa Veainu OC 13Sione PiukalaIC 12Viliami TahituʻaLW 11Fetuʻu Vainikolo FH 10Kurt Morath SH 9 Sonatane TakuluaN8 8 Viliami Maʻafu OF 7 Nili Latu (c)BF 6 Hale T-PoleRL 5 Joe Tuineau LL 4 Steve MafiTP 3 Halani Aulika HK 2 Elvis Taione LP 1 Tevita Mailau Replacements:HK 16Sosefo Sakalia PR 17Sona Taumalolo PR 18Sila Puafisi LK 19Uili Koloʻofai FL 20Viliami Fihaki SH 21Sosefo MaʻakeFH 22Latiume Fosita WG 23Otulea Katoa Coach: Mana Otai Man of the Match: Sonatane Takulua (Tonga)
Touch judges: Kurt Weaver (United States) Brian Zapp (United States) Notes: Sosefo Sakalia and Viliami Tahituʻa made their international debuts for Tonga.
FB 15Chris Wyles (c)RW 14Blaine ScullyOC 13Seamus KellyIC 12Thretton Palamo LW 11Takudzwa Ngwenya FH 10AJ MacGintySH 9 Mike Petri N8 8 Danny Barrett OF 7 Andrew DurutaloBF 6 Scott LaVallaRL 5 Cam DolanLL 4 Hayden Smith TP 3 Titi LamositeleHK 2 Zach Fenoglio LP 1 Eric FryReplacements:HK 16Phil Thiel PR 17Nicholas WallacePR 18Chris BaumannLK 19Louis Stanfill FL 20Alastair McFarland SH 21Shalom Suniula CE 22Folau Niua WG 23Zack Test Coach: Mike Tolkin FB 15Yoshikazu FujitaRW 14Karne HeskethOC 13Kotaro MatsushimaIC 12Ryohei Yamanaka LW 11Akihito Yamada FH 10Harumichi TatekawaSH 9 Keisuke Uchida N8 8 Koliniasi HolaniOF 7 Michael Broadhurst BF 6 Justin IvesRL 5 Luke ThompsonLL 4 Hitoshi Ono TP 3 Kensuke Hatakeyama (c) HK 2 Takeshi Kizu LP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:PR 16Hisateru Hirashima HK 17Hiroki Yuhara PR 18Shinnosuke Kakinaga LK 19Kazuhiko UsamiFL 20Tsuyoshi Murata SH 21Atsushi Hiwasa FH 22Kosei Ono CE 23Tim BennettsCoach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: AJ MacGinty (United States)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Andrew McMaster (Canada) Notes: Alastair McFarland made his international debut for the United States. Mike Petri earned his 50th test cap for the United States.
Round 3
FB 15Troy HallRW 14Brett ThompsonOC 13Folau Niua IC 12Andrew SuniulaLW 11Zack TestFH 10Toby L'Estrange SH 9 Shalom SuniulaN8 8 Alastair McFarlandOF 7 Scott LaVallaBF 6 Cam Dolan RL 5 Greg PetersonLL 4 Louis Stanfill TP 3 Chris BaumannHK 2 Phil Thiel (c) LP 1 Mate Moeakiola Replacements:HK 16Zach Fenoglio PR 17Nicholas Wallace PR 18Eric Fry LK 19Hayden Smith FL 20Andrew Durutalo SH 21Mike Petri CE 22Thretton Palamo WG 23Tim StanfillCoach: Mike Tolkin FB 15Otulea KatoaRW 14Telusa Veainu OC 13Sione PiukalaIC 12Alipate Fatafehi LW 11Fetuʻu VainikoloFH 10Kurt MorathSH 9 Sonatane Takulua N8 8 Viliami Fihaki OF 7 Jack RamBF 6 Steve Mafi (c)RL 5 Joe TuineauLL 4 Uili Koloʻofai TP 3 Halani Aulika HK 2 Elvis Taione LP 1 Soane Tongaʻuiha Replacements:HK 16Sosefo Sakalia PR 17Sona Taumalolo PR 18Sila Puafisi LK 19Tukulua Lokotui FL 20Hale T-Pole SH 21Sosefo Maʻake FH 22Latiume Fosita FB 23Vunga Lilo Coach: Mana Otai Man of the Match: Fetuʻu Vainikolo (Tonga)
Touch judges: JP Doyle (England) Andrew McMaster (Canada) Notes: Chris Baumann made his international debut for the United States. Sosefo Maʻake and Jack Ram made their international debuts for Tonga.
FB 15Kini Murimurivalu RW 14Metuisela TalebulaOC 13Vereniki GonevaIC 12Levani BotiaLW 11Napolioni NalagaFH 10Josh MatavesiSH 9 Henry Seniloli N8 8 Akapusi Qera (c)OF 7 Malakai Ravulo BF 6 Dominiko WaqaniburotuRL 5 Leone Nakarawa LL 4 Tevita CavubatiTP 3 Manasa Saulo HK 2 Talemaitoga Tuapati LP 1 Campese Ma'afu Replacements:HK 16Sunia Koto PR 17Peni Ravai PR 18Isei Colati LK 19Nemia SoqetaFL 20Peceli Yato SH 21Nikola Matawalu FH 22Ben Volavola WG 23Waisea NayacalevuCoach: John McKee FB 15Ayumu GoromaruRW 14Akihito YamadaOC 13Kotaro MatsushimaIC 12Yu Tamura LW 11Kenki Fukuoka FH 10Harumichi Tatekawa SH 9 Fumiaki TanakaN8 8 Hendrik TuiOF 7 Michael Leitch (c)BF 6 Michael Broadhurst RL 5 Shoji Ito LL 4 Luke ThompsonTP 3 Hiroshi Yamashita HK 2 Shota HorieLP 1 Keita Inagaki Replacements:PR 16Hisateru Hirashima HK 17Hiroki YuharaPR 18Kensuke Hatakeyama LK 19Hitoshi Ono FL 20Justin Ives SH 21Atsushi HiwasaFH 22Kosei Ono WG 23Yoshikazu Fujita Coach: Eddie Jones Man of the Match: Josh Matavesi (Fiji)
Touch judges: Angus Gardner (Australia) Dudley Phillips (Ireland)