Pacific Island rugby

[Lizard]

I really hope this comes off. http://www.nzherald.co.nz/rugby/news/ar ... d=11748378

Pacific Island rugby (not helped but their own administrative issues) is falling behind 2nd tier European rugby due to lack of resources and distance from the most lucrative pro leagues. An island-based team makes more sense than further American or Asian expansion. Fiji is the logical choice as the most developed and best connected. (Also, Port Denarau is only a couple of hours drive from my timeshare).

I’m interested to try an exercise like the one suggested by Ben Ryan in the article – picking a World XV from Pacific players not playing for a Pacific country. My rules are that the players must be test players capped in 2016, who were eligible to play for Fiji, Samoa or Tonga before they were capped by another country. Qualification (i.e. birthplace/ancestry/residence) should be stated. If you’re not sure (i.e. just racistly assuming that a New Zealand called Faumuina has at least one Samoan grandparent) then say so. Here’s a starting list – feel free to suggest better alternatives

1. Sekope Kepu (Tonga-AU, ancestry)
2. Tatafu Polata-Nau (Tonga-AU, ancestry)
3. Charlie Faumuina (Samoa-NZ, assumed ancestry)
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (Samoa-NZ, ancestry)
5. Samuala Anisi (Fiji-JP)
6. Uwe Helu (Tonga-JP, birth)
7. Ardie Savea (Samoa-NZ, ancestry)
8. Taulupe Faletau (Tonga-WL, birth)
9. ?
10. Lima Sopoaga (Samoa-NZ, ancestry)
11. Julian Savea (Samoa-NZ, ancestry)
12. Samu Kerevi (Fiji-AU, birth)
13. Tevita Kuridrani (Fiji-AU, birth)
14. Virimi Vakatawa (Fiji, (Fiji-FR, birth)
15. Israel Folau (Tonga-AU, ancestry)

I can’t think of a single halfback that fits the criteria. Genia is Papua New Guinean. Khan Fotuali’i plays in Europe but is capped for Samoa. There’s a Mike Te’o that plays for USA but I would presume he is American Samoan or Hawaiian as he started out in American football. NZ hasn’t selected Augustine Pulu since 2014 and probably won’t ever again. Japan seems to reserve the 9 jersey for natives only.

[cashead]

Pulu missing out was due to

1. a freak injury where a Springbok trying to charge down a clearance kick collided with his leg and put him out for ages
2. he was involved with the 7s programme, rather than Hansen ignoring him

[Lizard]

Pulu missing out was due to

1. a freak injury where a Springbok trying to charge down a clearance kick collided with his leg and put him out for ages
2. he was involved with the 7s programme, rather than Hansen ignoring him

I did not mean to cast any aspersions on Augustine's fitness to wear the Black. I simply meant that as a matter of fact, given the time he has been out, it is unlikley that he will overtake TKB and TJP to ride the pine behind Smith. They are all about the same age (TJP is a couple of years younger) and the incumbents are all world class. There's no reason for Shag to be casting about looking for another 9 at the moment.

[rowan]

Great stuff. Far from a new idea, of course. The prospect of a combined islands team has been there since the outset of Super Rugby, and of course Pacific Island nations competed in the Super 10 and South Pacific Series before that. I really thought they should have been included in this year's expanded model, rather than Japan. But it was up to them to come up with a superior bid, of course, which they evidently didn't. Good to see they have the financial clout behind them now. Maybe they'll replace Japan, who looked out of their depth and were required to travel ludicrous distances. If not, Super Rugby will likely have to expand again, if the Fiji-based franchise is to be accommodated. Exciting times for Fiji anyway.

[zer0]

And how is this team supposed to fit into SR? Get perpetually flogged in the NZ conference? Have Australia give up a side to make way? Some nonsense system where they play in Africa?

[rowan]

Your first point was addressed toward the end of my previous post. Regarding your second, I doubt they'll get flogged if they can get hold of at least some of their best players, and certainly not as badly as the Sunwolves. I'd hate to see the Aussies give up a side, personally. The Kings seem to be the team most likely to be axed, apart from Japan. My view is that Super Rugby should go back to three conferences, comprising 6 teams each, in which case the island team could join NZ (6 teams), Japan could join Australia (6) teams and South Africa and Buenos Aires would form a 7-team conference. If Japan were axed, they could shift the island team to Australia and Buenos Aires to NZ, making it an event 3 conferences of 6. If the Kings were axed, you'd have the same result without moving anybody.

[zer0]

Your first point was addressed toward the end of my previous post. Regarding your second, I doubt they'll get flogged if they can get hold of at least some of their best players, and certainly not as badly as the Sunwolves. I'd hate to see the Aussies give up a side, personally. The Kings seem to be the team most likely to be axed, apart from Japan. My view is that Super Rugby should go back to three conferences, comprising 6 teams each, in which case the island team could join NZ (6 teams), Japan could join Australia (6) teams and South Africa and Buenos Aires would form a 7-team conference. If Japan were axed, they could shift the island team to Australia and Buenos Aires to NZ, making it an event 3 conferences of 6. If the Kings were axed, you'd have the same result without moving anybody.

As the Jaguares, with their better players, have proven, having good players doesn't equate to success (see also, the Blues). Japan, and their population/money, will not be going anywhere, nor will any South African franchise. SR is an utterly unworkable format in the short to medium term. That's before you even consider introducing another team from the Pacific. Short of reverting to the Super 12/14, the only viable option is a long term transition to a full on NFL conference/division/championship system. That way you can cater for Fiji and more teams from the Americas.

[rowan]

The Jaguares didn't disgrace themselves and ultimately played a significant role in determining the championship - by defeating the Lions and forcing them to travel to Wellington for the final. Anyway, I'm all for the Fiji-based team, but think it should go back to three conferences and restrict itself to Southern Hemisphere teams. Japan already has its own pro competition and should look to expansion about Asia, rather than traversing the globe to play far more powerful teams.

[rowan]

Fijian Rugby Union denies all knowledge, reports The Observer:

"WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The Fiji Rugby Union says it has no knowledge of sponsorship negotiations being conducted by former national sevens coach Ben Ryan aimed at entering a Pacific team in the Super Rugby competition.

Ryan told Britain's Daily Telegraph newspaper he has secured promises of more than $35 million to fund the project which he hopes will end the player drain from the Pacific Islands.

However FRU chief executive John O'Connor told the Fiji Village news website Wednesday that the union is not party to the negotiations and Ryan is not acting on the FRU's behalf.

Ryan's plan includes the construction of a stadium at Denarau near the major city of Nadi. O'Connor said the FRU has its own plans for a stadium which it has already flagged with World Rugby."

http://sobserver.ws/en/17_11_2016/rugby ... y-plan.htm