The Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025 gets underway in Calgary on Friday as Canada take on USA in the first match of the tournament, while Tonga kick-off their challenge against Samoa in Nuku’alofa.
Here’s everything you need to know about both matches on the opening weekend of the tournament, where all roads lead to the semi-finals in Denver, Colorado, on 14 September.
CANADA v USA
Venue: McMahon Stadium, Calgary
Referee: Luke Pearce (England)
Assistant referees: Adam Leal, Anthony Woodthorpe (both England)
Television Match Official: Eric Gauzins (France)
There’s a real sense of jeopardy to the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Pool B opener between neighbours Canada and USA. Why? Because whoever wins this match in Calgary steals a potentially decisive march on qualification for Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia.
This is Canada coach Steve Meehan’s first tournament, and just his third international in charge since his appointment in January, but his goal has long been evident – to get Canada back at the Rugby World Cup table after they missed out on France 2023.
That qualification carrot, he believes, should be more than enough to motivate his players. Speaking to journalists before the first test on his watch, against Belgium in July, he said: “To get Canada back into the World Cup is a really strong driving force, real motivating, certainly for me, and for those that I’ve spoken to.”
His opposite number, USA’s Scott Lawrence guided his side to fourth place in 2024, only denied a podium finish by a late Samoa try in the third-place play-off. His goal is equally clear – USA Rugby’s Moonshot 2031 project is to get the Eagles to the Men's Rugby World Cup quarter-finals in six years. Their next step of the mission is qualifying for RWC 2027.
An opening day defeat won’t mark the end of those dreams for either coach, their players, or their country. But the qualification route, involving pool phase matches for both against already qualified Japan – who have eyes on this year’s title – is likely to become a lot more difficult and could involve a two-leg play-off against the losing finalist of Sudaméricano 2025. This one is going to be tense.
Matchday squads
Canada (1-15): 1 Calixto Martinez, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith; 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Evan Olmstead; 6 Matthew Oworu, 7 Lucas Rumball, 8 Tyler Ardron; 9 Jason Higgins, 10 Cooper Coats; 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Ben LeSage, 13 Noah Flesch, 14 Isaac Olson; 15 Peter Nelson
Replacements: 16 Jesse Mackail, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Kyle Steeves, 19 Mason Flesch, 20 Siôn Parry, 21 Stephen Webb, 22 Spencer Jones, 23 Nic Benn
USA: 1 Jack Iscaro, 2 Kapeli Pifeleti, 3 Tonga Kofe; 4 Marno Redelinghuys, 5 Jason Damm; 6 Benjamin Bonasso, 7 Cory Daniel, 8 Makeen Alikhan; 9 JP Smith, 10 AJ MacGinty; 11 Lauina Futi, 12 Tavite Lopeti, 13 Dominic Besag, 14 Rufus McLean; 15 Erich Storti
Replacements: 16 Kaleb Geiger, 17 Ezekiel Lindenmuth, 18 Pono Davis, 19 Tevita Naqali, 20 Viliami Helu, 21 Christian Poidevin, 22 Ethan McVeigh, 23 Tom Pitman
TONGA v SAMOA
Venue: Te’ufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa
Referee: Angus Gardner (Australia)
Assistant referees: Jordan Way (Australia), Michael Winter (New Zealand)
Television Match Official: James Leckie (Australia)
Speaking of tense. Like Canada and USA in the opening match of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025, Tonga and Samoa kick-off their Pool A challenge in Nuku’alofa with Rugby World Cup qualification firmly in their sights.
Tonga warmed up for the tournament with a six-try, 38-19 win over an out-of-season and inexperienced Queensland Reds last week, in their only outing of 2025 to date, while visitors Samoa lost 41-14 against Scotland in Auckland in July – their first match since September 2024.
The other Pool A side, Fiji – who kick-off the defence of their title against Tonga in Suva next weekend – are already assured of a place in Australia thanks to their run to the quarter-finals of Rugby World Cup 2023 in France, so both Tonga and Samoa will target a first-up win to give themselves every chance of grabbing one of the three available direct qualification places.
The two sides here have a proud Rugby World Cup history. Tonga have featured in every tournament to date, while Samoa have been permanent fixtures since their first appearance in 1991. Neither will want to risk missing out with an opening day PNC loss.
Matchday squads
Tonga (1-15): 1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 2 Siua Maile, 3 Ben Tameifuna; 4 Halaleva Fifita, 5 Harison Mataele; 6 Tanginoa Halaifonua, 7 Siosiua Moala, 8 Lotu Inisi; 9 Sonatane Takulua, 10 Patrick Pellegrini; 11 John Tapueluelu, 12 Fetuli Paea, 13 Solomone Kata, 14 Fine Inisi; 15 Salesi Piutau
Replacements: 16 Samiuela Moli, 17 Salesi Tuifua, 18 Solomone Tukuafu, 19 Tupou Afungia, 20 Fotu Lokotui, 21 Augustine Pulu, 22 Josiah Unga, 23 Nikolai Foliaki
Samoa: 1 Aki Seiuli, 2 Pita Anae-Ah Sue, 3 Michael Alaalatoa; 4 Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee, 5 Samuel Slade; 6 Taleni Seu, 7 Theo McFarland, 8 Iakopo Mapu; 9 Melani Matavao, 10 AJ Alatimu; 11 Tuna Tuitama, 12 Henry Taefu, 12 Melani Nanai 14 Tomasi Alosio; 15 Lolagi Visinia
Replacements: 16 Luteru Tolai, 17 Jarred Adams, 18 Bradley So’o Amituanai, 19 Michael Curry, 20 Olajuwon Noa, 21 Joel Lam, 22 Rodney Iona, 23 Elisapeta Alofipo
All 11 Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2025 matches will be available to watch either through RugbyPass TV or via broadcast partners in certain markets.
If you do not already have a RugbyPass TV account, you can sign up for free here.
