World Rugby, in collaboration with USA Rugby and TEG Rugby Live, has officially unveiled the full schedule for the highly anticipated Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (PNC), the second edition of the reimagined and expanded competition that continues to cement its place in the global rugby calendar. And here’s what has us buzzing: the 2025 Finals are happening on U.S. soil. That’s right. Denver and Salt Lake City will host the knockout rounds, while Sacramento gets the honor of hosting a pool match between Japan and the USA. It’s a powerful step forward for rugby in North America and a defining moment for Pasifika fans across the diaspora.
With the USA preparing to host the Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cups in 2031 and 2033, these matches aren’t just games, they’re groundwork. USA Rugby CEO Bill Goren summed it up perfectly: “Major event opportunities like the Pacific Nations Cup are key contributors in growing the American rugby fanbase, engaging partners and raising the profile of our sport.”
Mark your calendars: Salt Lake City will host both the Final and Third Place Play-off on Saturday, September 20 at America First Field. A fitting location, Utah is no stranger to rugby greatness. With 38 national titles in the last 39 years and home to founding Major League Rugby team the Utah Warriors, the Beehive State is a proud rugby stronghold.
“Bringing the PNC Finals to The State of Sport is a major milestone,” said Utah Sports Commission President Jeff Robbins. “It showcases Utah’s rise as a global sports destination and highlights the strength of our local rugby community.”
This year’s tournament brings together six powerhouse nations: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and the USA, all with their eyes on glory and qualification for the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. Fiji, the defending 2024 champs, will kick things off with a home opener in Suva on August 30.
Pasifika, this is our time.
To show up. To show out.
To support our brothers from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga.
This tournament is more than just sport, it’s a celebration of who we are, and a chance to raise our flags high, together.
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson calls the revamped PNC “a manifestation of World Rugby’s broader commitment to building a global game that is inclusive, competitive, and sustainable.” The competition format reflects that: teams are divided into two regional pools of three, minimizing long-haul travel, reducing environmental impact, and maximizing player performance.
Pool A
🇫🇯 Fiji
🇼🇸 Samoa
🇹🇴 Tonga
Pool B
🇨🇦 Canada
🇯🇵 Japan
🇺🇸 USA
Every nation is guaranteed at least three matches, including one home fixture, a vital opportunity for fans to rally behind their teams, boost visibility, and grow the sport from the grassroots up.
This year’s 11-match tournament will be officiated by nine Emirates World Rugby Match Officials representing eight countries, and fans can catch all the action via local broadcasters and globally on RugbyPass TV. Kick-off times and broadcast details will be released soon.
TEG Rugby Live, the official U.S. delivery partner for World Rugby and USA Rugby, is leading the charge in bringing PNC 2025 to life for American fans. “We’re thrilled to roll out the Pacific Nations Cup across the U.S.,” said Stephen Cottrell, Managing Director. “This is a huge moment for rugby in the U.S., and we can’t wait to bring fans closer to the action than ever before.” And if you’re wondering what’s at stake, here’s the kicker: the top three teams, excluding already-qualified Fiji and Japan, will earn direct entry to the Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027. The sixth-place finisher will face off in the South America/Pacific play-off.
From the islands of Suva to the stadium lights of Salt Lake City, this is a moment for our people, our teams, our culture. We’re not just competing… we’re representing.
📅 Key Dates + Locations
Week 1
• Friday, 22 August – Canada v USA – Calgary, Alberta
• Saturday, 23 August – Tonga v Samoa – Nuku’alofa, Tonga
(Fiji and Japan have a bye week)
Week 2
• Saturday, 30 August – Fiji v Tonga – Suva, Fiji
• Saturday, 30 August – Japan v Canada – Sendai, Japan
(Samoa and USA have a bye week)
Week 3
• Saturday, 6 September – Samoa v Fiji – Rotorua, New Zealand
• Saturday, 6 September – USA v Japan – Sacramento, California
(Tonga and Canada have a bye week)
Sunday, 14 September – Semi-finals – Denver, Colorado
• 5th Place Play-off (Men’s RWC 2027 Qualifier): A3 vs B3
• Semi-final 1: A2 vs B1
• Semi-final 2: A1 vs B2
Saturday, 20 September – Finals – Salt Lake City, Utah
• Third Place Play-off
• Final
🎟️ Tickets available now at: www.world.rugby/pacific-nations-cup/en/tickets!!!
