include pacific islander's into the tri nation .

[terry j]

Would it work that the PI team is made up of people from each of the countries? Ie, only one team, but however many countries to choose from

 

[TheNextBigThing]

Better yet the Pacific Island nations combined at full strength could put forth a belter of a side.

They have put together a combined touring team with some regularity since 2004. The only test team they've ever troubled is Italy.

edit: after wikipediaing, pacific islanders have won 1 from 9 against test teams (italy by 8 in 2008). They did however resoundingly beat the reds and Waratahs in the super 12 postseason in 2004.

 

[jay-c]

if samoa figi tonga etc could confirm their top players i think it would be wonderful to see a southern hemisphere 8 nations tournament
maybe the trinations(soon to be quad nations) could become a southern hemisphere cup on a four year cycle ?
eg wc in 2011, southern hemisphere cup 2012? or 2015? considering lions in 2013.
id still like to see the trinations remain in 3/4 years thou

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

the PI team was an ad hoc team put together with relatiavely short notice and time together though.
I think fiji, tonga and samoa have improved considerably since 2004. virtually all their players are now playing professionally.
it would be nice to see the PI team perform like the lions. maybe a tour every four years. aside from that, i think we can see from the pacific nations cup that fiji, tonga, samoa and japan are all improving. the best thing to happen would be for aus rugby to allow each team to double the number of non australians that can play. bring in some argentians and islanders. i think the ARU are headed in that direction. NZ has taken steps to allowing more foreigners.

 

[Army_Gav]

Originally the Tri-Nations/Four-Nations weren't included as part of the IRB 'release window'. However to allow Argentina in, they changed this last year. So it is possible.

Biggest issues are external to Rugby, eg. politcally related, especially with Fiji.

Wouldn't mind the relegation idea, similar to the League Four-Nations. Perhaps the Pacific Cup winner of the previous year? Eg. We'd have Japan next year.

 

[waves]

the PI team was an ad hoc team put together with relatiavely short notice and time together though.
I think fiji, tonga and samoa have improved considerably since 2004. virtually all their players are now playing professionally.
it would be nice to see the PI team perform like the lions. maybe a tour every four years. aside from that, i think we can see from the pacific nations cup that fiji, tonga, samoa and japan are all improving. the best thing to happen would be for aus rugby to allow each team to double the number of non australians that can play. bring in some argentians and islanders. i think the ARU are headed in that direction. NZ has taken steps to allowing more foreigners.

Agree with you SRH, I've looked at the World Cup Squads and have read reports on Pacific Cup games coming up with a side which could compete with the All Blacks, Bokks and Wallabies at top level.

1. Sona Taumalolo - Tonga (Chiefs, NZ)
2. Mahonri Schwalger - Samoa (Highlanders, NZ)
3. Anthony Perenise - Samoa (Hurricanes, NZ)
4. Kane Thompson - Samoa (Highlanders, NZ)
5. Joe Tuineau - Tonga (Highlanders, NZ)
6. Finau Maka - Tonga (Toulouse, France)
7. Maurie Fa'asavalu - Samoa (Harlequins, England)
8. Sisa Koyamaibole - Fiji (Sale, England)
9. Kahn Fotuali'i - Samoa (Crusaders, NZ)
10. Kurt Morath - Tonga (Easts, Australia)
11. Alesana Tuilagi - Samoa (Leicester, England)
12. Seilala Mapusua - Samoa (London Irish, England)
13. Albert Vulivuli - Fiji (Racing Metro, France)
14. Cooper Vuna - Tonga (Rebels, Australia)
15. Paul Williams - Samoa (Stade Francias, France)

 

[wamberal]

On the face of it, a combined Pacific Islands tour of Australia, along the lines of the British Lions tour, is attractive.


However, basically, they do not like each other all that much, whereas there is a long tradition behind the Lions concept (even during the depths of the troubles in NI, the English, Irish, Scottish, and Welsh managed to tour together).


Plus one of biggest benefits of the Lions tour is the number of inbound supporters that follow the whole circus from beginning to end. The rich viewing audience in the home countries is obviously worth gold to the host broadcaster.


A Pacific Islands combination would be a worthy contribution to rugby in the Pacific, but it would not, could not, be compared to a British Lions tour. Sadly.

 

[barbarian]

Agree with you SRH, I've looked at the World Cup Squads and have read reports on Pacific Cup games coming up with a side which could compete with the All Blacks, Bokks and Wallabies at top level.

1. Sona Taumalolo - Tonga (Chiefs, NZ)
2. Mahonri Schwalger - Samoa (Highlanders, NZ)
3. Anthony Perenise - Samoa (Hurricanes, NZ)
4. Kane Thompson - Samoa (Highlanders, NZ)
5. Joe Tuineau - Tonga (Highlanders, NZ)
6. Finau Maka - Tonga (Toulouse, France)
7. Maurie Fa'asavalu - Samoa (Harlequins, England)
8. Sisa Koyamaibole - Fiji (Sale, England)
9. Kahn Fotuali'i - Samoa (Crusaders, NZ)
10. Kurt Morath - Tonga (Easts, Australia)
11. Alesana Tuilagi - Samoa (Leicester, England)
12. Seilala Mapusua - Samoa (London Irish, England)
13. Albert Vulivuli - Fiji (Racing Metro, France)
14. Cooper Vuna - Tonga (Rebels, Australia)
15. Paul Williams - Samoa (Stade Francias, France)

I don't think that side could compete in the 3N. It sounds silly to say it after Sunday, but a grinding 3N/4N schedule will be too much for this team which is essentially made up of fringe Super Rugby players and a few NH guys. How many of those would make the Wallabies? I would suggest Mapusua but no more. Maybe Maka.

 

[Ruggo]

The groundwork would need to be layed first which would have to include a super rugby presence to keep players in the SH. It can be done but there would be one hell of a shitfight. A sixth team in each of the confrences, 2 combind PI teams in the AUS and NZ conferences and the 6th SA franchice they always talk about. A combined PI side in the tri nations could compete under those conditions. It would need some financial assistance from the IRB but it would be good for the game. It wouldn't line some old fart's wallet in Europe, so I can't see them backing it sadly.

 

[villafella]

if samoa figi tonga etc could confirm their top players i think it would be wonderful to see a southern hemisphere 8 nations tournament
maybe the trinations(soon to be quad nations) could become a southern hemisphere cup on a four year cycle ?
eg wc in 2011, southern hemisphere cup 2012? or 2015? considering lions in 2013.
id still like to see the trinations remain in 3/4 years thou

 

[villafella]

The groundwork would need to be layed first which would have to include a super rugby presence to keep players in the SH. It can be done but there would be one hell of a shitfight. A sixth team in each of the confrences, 2 combind PI teams in the AUS and NZ conferences and the 6th SA franchice they always talk about. A combined PI side in the tri nations could compete under those conditions. It would need some financial assistance from the IRB but it would be good for the game. It wouldn't line some old fart's wallet in Europe, so I can't see them backing it sadly.

Who's the eighth nation?

 

[Ruggo]

What 8th nation?

 

[Sir Arthur Higgins]

What 8th nation?

i think he's referring to japan. as in four nations plus the pacific nations.

i'd like to see either regular tours by the pacific islanders combined team a la the lions

or finally some proper inclusion by the australian and NZ teams of the islander players.

 

[jay-c]

japan they just won the PNC (Pacific Nations Cup)

 

[gladiator]

In the wake of Samoa's massive upset of Australia, I feel it is time that the Pacific Island teams were finally playing in a top flight rugby competition.

With the expansion of the Tri Nations to Four Nations next year I for one will be interested to see how Argentina progress. However past that there is room for more expansion. I believe you can split this competition up into two divisions. Division One will obviously be the Four Nations of New Zealand, South Africa, Argentina and Australia. Then the second division will be the Pacific Nations Cup teams of Japan, Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. The format will be in the fashion that the Four Nations will take place: 6 games for each team, i.e. everyone plays each other twice home and away. At the end of it the lowest ranked team from Division One plays the highest ranked team from Division Two in a play-off for who is promoted and relegated. This can be done in a home and away leg tie with an aggregate score.

I feel this format will give the likes of Samoa the opportunity to stake their claim to play top flight rugby on a regular basis, and hence improve the standard of their rugby as a whole. The only problem would be enabling all of their players to be eligible for matches, which can be sorted out in conjuction with the Argentina have done so.

What do you guys think?

this is a great idea ,i dont agree with having a combine pacific island team , why ? originally the idea of combining the island teams was to make them compatible with the first tier nation , but that's the past , island teams only had a few players playing at top lvl rugby to choose from around the world , and had to field the rest with local players , so there where holes there , hence why the combine idea was started ...............................but moving on to the NOW , fiji , samoa and tonga dont have this problem nomore , each nation now can field their own team and can be a genuine threat to the 1st tier nation's .......... you only have to look at the 2007 world cup , i hope australia and new zealand do more to include the pacific islanders into their yearly comp's , just to help a mate out , after all , we are neigbour's , are we ?

 

[Nusadan]

How about having a PI team to play concurrently with the Lions every four years with a difference being that the PI plays two tests each in the two countries in Tri Nations that are not hosting the Lions that year....?

 

[TheNextBigThing]

How about having a PI team to play concurrently with the Lions every four years with a difference being that the PI plays two tests each in the two countries in Tri Nations that are not hosting the Lions that year....?

Although they haven't formed since 2008, the PI team played more regularly than the Lions already. A tour every two years as opposed to four.

 

[Bowside]

I dont think having them in an extended 4 nations is a good idea at all. They have there 4 nations we have ours, its a good system.

But I do like the 1 off tests, and I think a combined team that tours every 4 year between world cups and plays during the nh off season would be great. The sooner they revive that idea the better.

 

[Bruwheresmycar]

This thread should have been closed the moment the OP showed his true colours.

He asked a perfectly reasonable question at the start of the thread, but when he received a perfectly rational, reasonable and objective response from Farva, he slags the comment off because it didn't suit the kind of answer he was looking for. If this is the case, why ask a question in the first place?

Some people love to think it is some kind of conspiracy, maybe we are just so scared of the PI teams that the ARU and NZRU would rather take a pay-cut than have to face the almighty Fijian's twice a year...

There is no discussion to be had really, we have enough mindless whinging threads in the rugby section.

 

[gladiator]

This thread should have been closed the moment the OP showed his true colours.

He asked a perfectly reasonable question at the start of the thread, but when he received a perfectly rational, reasonable and objective response from Farva, he slags the comment off because it didn't suit the kind of answer he was looking for. If this is the case, why ask a question in the first place?

Some people love to think it is some kind of conspiracy, maybe we are just so scared of the PI teams that the ARU and NZRU would rather take a pay-cut than have to face the almighty Fijian's twice a year...

There is no discussion to be had really, we have enough mindless whinging threads in the rugby section.

mate , im sure farva can defend himself , ..........anyways , im okay with everything you said , except , that bit where you said , i showed my true colours , if your going to call me something , just say it mate , guy's like me take on the chin and move on , im not too sure about you ..............anyways , i do agree with farva , that money will be an issue , i was fired up at the time when i replied to his comment , i tend to say alotta shit when im fired up , but i stand by what i said , it's time that someone with authority push for the pacific islander's to be included . .......... as for you bruwheresmycar ...., harden up , mate . ( i say that with a big smile on my face ) .