Two intense matches rounded off the 2026 Pacific Nations Cup, with Japan beating defending champions Fiji in a classic-of-its-kind final, while Canada held on against the USA to claim third place.
Fiji 15-20 Japan
This triumph for Japan in front of a home crowd in Tokyo was built on two key foundations: a maul that Fiji were unable to stop, and an impressive defensive display against their dangerous attack.
Eddie Jones, the Japan head coach, acknowledged afterwards that having a strong maul counts for more in the Pacific Nations Cup where there is more of a focus on running rugby, and hailed the impact off the bench, in particular, of Michael Stolberg, the Queensland-born lock who made his Japan debut earlier this year.
“Coming into this team this year at the age of 34… he’s going through a golden period. He’s really added to the team. He’s obviously an Australian boy, but his commitment to Japanese rugby is massive.”
Virimi Vakatawa, previously a top performer for France and now representing Fiji, finished powerfully for the game’s first try after 10 minutes. But the pressure Japan were able to pile on through their maul eventually told, resulting in Mesake Doge’s yellow card and Mamoru Harada’s try.
Short lineout moves have been a regular weapon for Fiji in recent years and they caught Japan napping with a slick score finished by captain Tevita Ikanivere, giving Fiji a narrow 12-10 lead going into half-time.
But the power shown by Japan’s pack, not just in their set-piece but through their ball-carriers including Ben Gunter’s try, proved to be the difference in a tight final.
“We’ve fallen short [twice] so to finally get that one as this group, definitely pretty special.” said Jack Cornelsen, the Japan second row, referencing their losses to Fiji in the two previous PNC finals.
Frank Lomani, Fiji’s scrum-half, was philosophical about his side losing their PNC crown and a testing year overall.
“A few games where we went short but then again, it’s rugby sometimes. You cannot win it all. As a team, all we can do is give our best out there.”
Top performers
Samisoni Tua (Japan) – A moment of individual brilliance from the Japan replacement proved to be the match-winning try, stepping inside the first defender before a burst of acceleration took him through multiple tacklers to score.
Tua battled back from a serious knee injury a few years ago to get back onto the field with Urayasu D-Rocks. To now have this pivotal, title-winning moment given what he has been through will no doubt mean a lot to Tua.
Tevita Ikanivere (Fiji) – The Fiji captain’s efforts were in vain but he added to his try with a busy performance, not only ranking as one of Fiji’s top tacklers on 16 but also winning an impressive three turnovers. That effort backs up a number of strong displays by Ikanivere dating back to the summer during the Nations Championship.
Canada 19-16 USA
Coaches love it when a good plan comes together, and the first-phase move off a lineout put together by Canada to rip the USA open for the game’s opening try was a thing of beauty. Fake the maul, peel the hooker round, then hit your hard-running inside centre Ben LeSage to punch through a hole and step around the last defender with a brilliant break.
Canada’s second try a few minutes later will have been equally as satisfying for their coach Steve Meehan, finished in the corner by the back-row Mason Flesch.
That early 12-0 lead meant the USA had to chase Canada down in their third-place playoff in Tokyo, sneaking ahead at the start of the second half through a Jack Carty penalty.
A dart from Canada scrum-half Jesse Kilgour, sniping his way over, had Canada back out in front. But this game went down to the wire, with the USA metres out from the Canadian line when veteran number eight Lucas Rumball came up with the crucial turnover to clinch a tight win.
In a rivalry which over the last two decades has been largely dominated by the USA, the win felt particularly sweet for Rumball.
“Personally it’s massive. I’ve gone through my career losing a fair bit to the US to be honest,” he told RugbyPass TV. Canada have now won back-to-back Tests in this rivalry and three of the past five.
Top performers
Lucas Rumball (Canada) – Along with that match-sealing turnover Rumball was everywhere for Canada, leading the team in carries (18) and tackles (15). Rumball added afterwards how pleased he was with Canada’s attacking ambition for those two early tries.
“That first half, I was really proud of the boys for not being afraid to play, showing up, taking the options and it’s huge growth for us, it’s something we can really build on going into November.”
Fakaosifolau Pifeleti (USA) – How can you not love front-rowers running lines that centres would be proud of? The Chicago Hounds prop cut a nice angle to race on to Ruben de Haas’s flat pass to bring the USA back into the contest with their first try.
