Pacific Islanders rugby union team

Pacific Islanders
	Moses Rauluni (2008)
Top scorer	Kameli Ratuvou (15)
	Team kit
	Team kit
First match
	NSW Waratahs 21–68 Pacific Islanders; (25 June 2004)
Largest defeat
	Ireland 61–17 Pacific Islanders; (26 November 2006)

The Pacific Islanders was a combined international

Niue and the Cook Islands also supplied players to the squad for their tour in 2004. The team did not play at Rugby World Cups

, where each of the nations continued to represent themselves.

History

Australia/New Zealand 2004

The

New Zealand and 38-24 v South Africa

. The Islanders did beat a Queensland XV 48-29 at Ballymore and NSW Waratahs 68-21 at Australia Stadium.

As the individual nations were primarily concerned with qualifying for the next World Cup the Islanders did not tour again until 2006. Scheduled matches against Italy and New Zealand in June 2006 did not take place, but they undertook a

that year's tour to Great Britain and Ireland would consist only of players who had previously played for Fiji, Manu Samoa or Tonga. This was intended to ensure that the Pacific Islanders team serves to develop players for the island nations only. Notably, two players on the 2004 tour, Sione Lauaki and Sitiveni Sivivatu (the latter the Islanders' leading scorer on that tour), went on to play for New Zealand.^[1] During that tour, they were the last opponents of Ireland at their traditional home of Lansdowne Road

before its redevelopment into a modern all-seater stadium. The Pacific Islanders were beaten in all three matches.

Europe 2008

In November 2008, the team toured Europe and played Tests against England, France and Italy. The team's manager was Major-General Sitiveni Rabuka, former Prime Minister of Fiji and author of two military coups in 1987.^[2] Though it began with two defeats, the tour ended with the Islanders' first ever win over European opposition, with a 25-17 victory in Italy.^[3]

Alliance ends in 2009

In July 2009, the

Samoa Rugby Union informed fellow Alliance members Fiji and Tonga that it had decided to quit the alliance because the merged Pacific Island team had failed to produce financial benefits sought by member unions.^[4]

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 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.
— Peter Schuster, SRU Chairman, 2009 [4]

Future status

There was speculation that the Islanders would be admitted into an expanded

Tri Nations Series, but instead the organisers of the Super 12 and the Tri Nations, SANZAR, opted to expand the Super 14 by adding one team each in Australia and South Africa and an extra round of fixtures to the Tri Nations without admitting any new teams. French businessman Eric Series, owner of the Asia Pacific Dragons team,^[5] proposed a Pacific Islands team for the 2016 Super Rugby season but was outbid by the Japan Rugby Football Union.^[6]

In 2014, a match between the Pacific Islanders and the British & Irish Lions was proposed for the 2017 British & Irish Lions tour to New Zealand,^[7] but the match was never scheduled.^[8]

Squad

The squad for the 2008 tour to Europe

Note: Flags indicate national union affiliation of the registered club.

Player	Position	Club
Tani Fuga	Hooker	Harlequins
Sunia Koto	Hooker	London Welsh
Aleki Lutui	Hooker	Worcester Warriors
Tonga Leaʻaetoa	Prop	London Irish
Census Johnston	Prop	Saracens
Kas Lealamanua	Prop	Dax
Kisi Pulu	Prop	Perpignan
Justin Va'a	Prop	Glasgow Warriors
Paino Hehea	Lock	Racing Métro
Kele Leawere	Lock	Hino Motors
Filipo Levi	Lock	Ricoh Black Rams
Hale T-Pole	Lock	Suntory Sungoliath
Nili Latu (vc)	Flanker	Green Rockets
Semisi Naevo	Flanker	Green Rockets
George Stowers	Flanker	Kobelco Steelers
Viliami Vaki	Flanker	Perpignan
Sisa Koyamaibole	Number 8	Toulon
Finau Maka	Number 8	Toulouse

Player	Position	Club
Sililo Martens	Scrum-half	Sale Sharks
Mosese Rauluni (c)	Scrum-half	Saracens
Seremaia Bai	Fly-half	Clermont
Pierre Hola	Fly-half	Kobelco Steelers
Seilala Mapusua	Centre	London Irish
Seru Rabeni	Centre	Leicester Tigers
Epi Taione	Centre	Harlequins
Vilimoni Delasau	Wing	Montauban
Napolioni Nalaga	Wing	Clermont
Sailosi Tagicakibau	Wing	London Irish
Kameli Ratuvou	Fullback	Saracens
Gavin Williams	Fullback	Dax

Two further players were originally included in the squad Sireli Bobo and Soane Tongaʻuiha. However Bobo became unavailable, and Tongaʻuiha later withdrew from the tour.

Results

2004

20 June 2004

Kefu
Con: Milroy (3)
Pen: Milroy

Try: Sivivatu (3)
Bai
Bobo
Fa'atau
Ligairi
Filise
Con: Bai (4)

Ballymore, Brisbane
Attendance: 3,000
Referee: George Ayoub (Australia)

25 June 2004

New South Wales	21–68	Pacific Islanders
Try: Turinui McGann Thaiday Con: Burke (3)		Try: Sivivatu (2) Filise (2) Mapusua (2) Bai Koyamaibole Tongaʻuiha Fa'atau Con: Bai (9)

Aussie Stadium, Sydney
Attendance: 8,005
Referee: Greg Hinton (Australia)

3 July 2004

Australia	29–14	Pacific Islanders
Try: Mortlock (2) Giteau (2) Cannon Con: Roff Burke		Try: Lauaki Bobo Con: Bai (2)

Adelaide Oval, Adelaide
Attendance: 19,266
Referee: André Watson (South Africa)

Australia: 15.

Lote Tuqiri, 10. Stephen Larkham, 9. George Gregan (capt), 8. David Lyons, 7. Phil Waugh, 6. Radike Samo, 5. Nathan Sharpe, 4. Justin Harrison, 3. Al Baxter, 2. Brendan Cannon, 1. Bill Young – Replacements: 16. Jeremy Paul, 17. Nic Henderson, 18. Dan Vickerman

, 19. George Smith, 20. Chris Whitaker, 21. Matt Burke, 22. Chris Latham

Pacific Islanders: 15.

Moses Rauluni, 8. Alifereti Doviverata, 7. Sisa Koyamaibole, 6. Sione Lauaki, 5. Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4. Inoke Afeaki (capt), 3. Taufaʻao Filise, 2. Aleki Lutui, 1. Soane Tongaʻuiha - Replacements: 17. Tevita Taumoepeau, 18. Leo Lafaiali'i, 19. Semo Sititi, 20. Steven So'oialo, 21. Seru Rabeni, 22. Sireli Bobo – Unused: 16. Joeli Lotawa

10 July 2004

New Zealand	41–26	Pacific Islanders
Try: Rokocoko (2) Marshall Gear Meeuws Umaga Con: Carter (4) Pen: Carter		Try: Sivivatu (2) Rabeni Lauaki Con: Bai (3)

North Harbour Stadium, Albany
Attendance: 22,000
Referee: Stuart Dickinson (Australia)

New Zealand: 15. Mils Muliaina, 14. Rico Gear, 13. Tana Umaga (capt.), 12. Dan Carter, 11. Joe Rokocoko, 10. Carlos Spencer, 9. Justin Marshall, 8. Xavier Rush, 7. Marty Holah, 6. Jono Gibbes, 5. Keith Robinson, 4. Chris Jack, 3. Carl Hayman, 2. Keven Mealamu, 1. Kees Meeuws – Replacements: 18. Jerry Collins, 20. Byron Kelleher, 21. Nick Evans – Unused: 16. Andrew Hore, 17. Greg Somerville, 19. Mose Tuiali'i, 22. Sam Tuitupou
Pacific Islanders: 15.

Moses Rauluni, 8. Sisa Koyamaibole, 7. Alifereti Doviverata, 6. Sione Lauaki, 5. Ifereimi Rawaqa, 4. Inoke Afeaki (c), 3. Taufaʻao Filise, 2. Aleki Lutui, 1. Soane Tongaʻuiha - Replacements: 17. Tevita Taumoepeau, 18. Filipo Levi, 19. Semo Sititi, 19. Semo Sititi, 21. Tane Tuʻipulotu, 22. Sireli Bobo – Unused: 16. Joeli Lotawa, 20. Steven So'oialo

17 July 2004

Gosford, Australia

Attendance: 15,732
Referee: Scott Young (Australia)

South Africa: 15. Percy Montgomery, 14. Breyton Paulse, 13. Marius Joubert, 12. De Wet Barry, 11. Jean de Villiers, 10. Jaco van der Westhuyzen, 9. Bolla Conradie, 8. Jacques Cronjé, 7. AJ Venter, 6. Schalk Burger, 5. Gerrie Britz, 4. Bakkies Botha, 3. Eddie Andrews, 2. John Smit (c), 1. Os du Randt – Replacements: 17. CJ van der Linde, 18. Quinton Davids, 19. Pedrie Wannenburg, 20. Fourie du Preez – Unused: 16. Danie Coetzee, 21. Brent Russell, 22. Gaffie du Toit
Pacific Islanders: 15.

Seremaia Baikeinuku, 22. Brian Lima

2006

11 November 2006

Wales	38–20	Pacific Islanders
Try: M. Jones Hook Morgan Byrne Sweeney Con: Sweeney (5) Pen: Sweeney		Try: Va'a Mapusua Ratuvou Con: Pisi Pen: Pisi

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Attendance: 50,769
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

18 November 2006

Callam
Brown
Henderson
Con: Paterson (4)
Pen: Paterson
Drop: Di Rollo

Try: Caucaunibuca
Ratuvou (2)
Leo
Con: Pisi

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 19,055
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

26 November 2006

Ireland	61–17	Pacific Islanders
Try: Hickie Wallace O'Kelly Easterby (2) Horgan Best O'Connell Con: Wallace (6) Pen: Wallace (3)		Try: Rabeni Fa'atau Pisi Con: Pisi

Lansdowne Road, Dublin
Attendance: 43,000
Referee: Christophe Berdos (France)

2008

8 November 2008

England	39–13	Pacific Islanders
Try: Sackey (2) Cipriani Kennedy Mears Con: Cipriani (4) Pen: Cipriani (2)	Report	Try: Rabeni Con: Hola Pen: Hola Bai