The Pacific Islanders did 3 tours (2004, 06, 08) and weren't overly successful against the then 3N/6N test sides, but did beat Italy in their last game (see a report of the PI alliance breakup below).
Problems with a PI side in the soup would be the small revenue base and probably having to be nomadic team.
Samoa quits Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance
Planet Rugby: 17th July 2009
This week the Samoan Rugby Union informed fellow Alliance members Fiji and Tonga of its intention to withdraw, saying the merged Pacific Island team had failed to produce financial benefits sought by member unions.
"We've already advised (PIRA) of that decision by Samoa," Samoa Rugby Union chief executive Peter Schuster told the Samoa Observer. "The original concept was basically to provide an opportunity (to play) every two years.
"There were two aims, to get revenue to help in the running of the activities of the unions (and) to provide players with the opportunity to play against tier one sides. But the International Rugby Board (IRB) changed the schedule for the Pacific Islands team to play every four years. Every four years won't generate the revenue needed to run our rugby."
... Samoa was the only Pacific nation invited by SANZAR to bid for a place in the enlarged 15-team competition but Schuster said the island nation did not have the financial resources or facilities to support a team at this stage.
"Unfortunately our stadium at Apia Park is not a full (international) rugby ground," Schuster told the Observer.
... Schuster said a Super competition might eventually expand to 18 or 20 teams and Samoa would re-examine participation at that time. It was also eager to discuss with Australia whether Samoan players might join a new franchise based there.
"From what I can gather it's a choice between Melbourne, Gold Coast and western Sydney," he said.
"They're not sure yet whether it will be in Melbourne but we've already indicated ... that we'd like to have a relationship with the new team."
