1=JAPAN
2=FIJI
3=USA
4=SAMOA
5=TONGA
6=CANADA
The Pacific Nations Cup is an internationalÂ
rugby union competition held between threeÂ
Pacific nations:Â
Fiji,Â
Samoa andÂ
Tonga. The 2019 edition of the tournament will also include the national teams ofÂ
Canada,Â
Japan andÂ
United States. First held in 2006, the tournament is intended to strengthen the Tier 2 rugby nations by providing competitive test matches in a tournament format.
Previously,Â
Japan participated from 2006 to 2015, New Zealand from 2006 to 2009, Australia from 2007 to 2008, andÂ
Canada and theÂ
United States from 2013 to 2015. The inaugural tournament was the only one that carried the title of IRB Pacific 5 Nations; from 2007 the competition was known as the IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
FormatThe tournament is a round-robin, where each team plays one match against each of the other teams. There are four points for a win, two points for a draw and none for a defeat. There are also bonus points offered with one bonus point for scoring four or more tries in a match and one bonus point for losing by 7 points or fewer.
The tournament generally occurs every year in the June mid-year international test window. The tournament was played mainly throughout June, with the last round in early July. The revised tournament begins in May due to pre-existing Test commitments and concludes in late June
HistoryThe Pacific Nations Cup was funded as an international rugby board (IRB) tournament which was part of the $US50 million, three-year, global strategic investment programme launched in August 2005. The competition was aimed at developing the pacific
 rim sides in the second tier of the rugby nations: Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga. The junior
 all black were also invited to compete, who are New Zealands second XV. The IRB Pacific 5 Nations is a tournament that will provide more certainty for Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga in terms of regular high level Test match rugby, while also providing a high level of competition for the Junior All Blacks, said mark
 egan, the IRBs Head of Rugby Services
In the first year only it was called the IRB pacific five
 NATIONS and did not include Australia. Australia had been invited to take part in the inaugural 2006 tournament but decided against sending a team stating that they wanted to focus on their domestic competition. The inaugural tournament kicked off 3 June 2006 and was played in a round-robin format, with some games being held in Australia. The Junior All Blacks won all of their matches en route to winning the 2006 tournament. The inaugural tournament was a success in providing a platform for Pacific nations and Japan in gaining valuable exposure.
australia A joined an expanded competition for the 2007 season. The inclusion of Australia A meant that the tier 2 nations would have an even greater number of matches in the buildup to the 2007 world cup. For Australia, it provided a stepping stone for walaby selection. Following the 2008 tournament, however, the ARU announced Australia A would not play in 2009 due to the current economic environment. Australia has not participated since then.