Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup The 2026 semi-finals take place this weekend as part of a doubleheader at the Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka. Fiji want to defend their PNC title, while Japan, the USA and Canada looking to dethrone the reigning champions.
It’s a bit of a preview for some key men Rugby World Cup And in 2027, pool matches, with the semi-final matches being repeated in that tournament. Japan and the USA Eagles will face off on Saturday night and meet again less than 400 days later.
Fiji took silverware the last time the PNC was held in Japan, before backing up those heroics with another title the following year in Utah. The Flying Fijians got a train from Tokyo to Osaka on Thursday, before taking to the field for the captain’s drive on Friday morning.
Mie Honda Heat whore Tevita Ikanivere the captain of the Fiji team which includes ex France Star of the week Virimi Vakatawa in midfield, and Olympic silver medalist Joji Nasova on one wing. There are also some potential debutants in the lineup, including HSBC SVNS Series star Terio Tamani.
The Flying Fijians are the highest ranked team in the PNC, currently ranked ninth in the World Rugby Rankings. Canada, meanwhile, is the lowest ranked of the four – at 24thth place, which is 10 behind the US and 12 below Japan.
Fiji and Canada meet in the first PNC semi-final on Saturday at 16:00 JPN time, before hosts Japan take to the field. The Brave Blossoms are coming off a dominant 45-point win over the Canadians and will next play the United States at 7:05 p.m.
Team news
Fiji vs. Canada at 4:00 p.m
Fiji
Terio Tamani has been named the SVNS Men’s Dream Team of the Year in partnership with HSBC after a phenomenal campaign with the Fiji Sevens squad. The playmaker was instrumental in the team’s strong run during the regular season, finishing second in the standings.
Tamani is now set to make his debut for the Flying Fijians after being named on the bench. Penaia Cakobau and Inoke Ravuiwasa are also in line for their first international appearances in the Test arena, having also been selected as substitutes.
Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula won the race to start at flyhalf, with Caleb Muntz named on the bench in his place. Armstrong-Ravula will link up with Fijian Drua Scrum-half Frank Lomani at fly-half, while Isikeli Rabitu stands at full-back.
Fiji: Peni Ravai, Tevita Ikanivere (c), Mesake Doge, Mesake Vocevoce, Temo Mayanavanua, Kitione Salawa, Motikiai Murray, Isoa Tuwai, Frank Lomani, Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, Manasa Mataele, Kalaveti Ravovou, Virimi Nakatavau, Is Joike Nakatavau.
Replacements: Benaiah Cakobau*, Mel Tun, Enoch Ravuiwasa*, Esau Nasilasila, Joseph Taman, Terio Taman*, Caleb Muntz, Tuidraki Samumuvodre.*
Canada
Ethan Fryer hasn’t played for Canada in more than 670 days, but the sidelined forward has been named for his return this weekend. Fryer suffered a fractured skull on 9 November 2024 but has been working hard to return to Test level.
Coach Stephen Meehan recalled Fryer and several other players from long absences from the Test arena, with Austin Creighton and Emerson Prio also set to wear Canadian red for the first time this year.
Dewald Kotze was brought in on the opposite side at Hooker, with Creighton providing coverage off the bench and Foster DeWitt now out for Game 23. On the backs, 31-Test no. 9 Jason Higgins will link up with New Zealand-bred Spencer Jones at fly-half.
Jacob Ince has started just one more game for Canada, but the midfielder will get another chance after being selected at outside centre. The varsity state champion will be partnered in the midfield by Ben LeSage, who is the most experienced fullback on the team.
Canada: Sam Miller, Dewald Kotze, Kyle Steeves, Daragh Doyle, Izzak Kelly, Mason Flesch, Siôn Parry, Lucas Rumball, Jason Higgins, Spencer Jones, Jamie Armstrong, Ben LeSage, Jacob Ince, Kyle Tremblay, Takoda McMullin.
Replacements: Austin Creighton, Emerson Prior, Bryce Worden, Barnaby Waddell, Ethan Fryer, Stephen Webb, TBD, Josh McIndoe.
Japan vs. USA at 7:05 p.m
Japan
Brave Blossoms coach Eddie Jones wants to “build a team for the World Cup” in Australia, which is now less than 13 months away. Jones has selected a side that includes a dozen players with less than 10 games of experience.
Without regular skipper Warner Dearnes, scrum-half Naoto Saito will lead the side. Saito is joined at half-time by in-form Ryunosuke Ito, who scored an excellent try in the defeat to the Wallabies in the team’s last match at the Stadium.
Brisbane Grammar School product Sam Greene was brought into the starting side, joined in the First XV by four others from the Australian circuit. Ben Gunter went to boys’ college in Brisbane, while Jack Cornelsen, Harry Hawkings and Dylan Riley also spent time Down Under.
“That’s our best 23. That’s the first thing,” Jones told reporters Thursday.
“It’s important that players get as much experience as possible in Test match rugby and every match in Test match rugby is different.
“Especially for a winger like Inoke (Brua), experiencing a Test match like this will be important in preparation for what’s to come.
“It’s always about the best 23 first and then obviously we’re trying to make a team for the World Cup.”
USA
Former Rugby World Player of the Year candidate Joe Taufete will wear the red, white and blue of the USA Eagles for the first time in three years, with the forward coming off the bench in the 16th jumper.
Taufete’e was shortlisted for the prestigious honor after making four appearances for the USA at the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, but the award was presented to then-first World Cup winner Pieter-Steph du Toit.
Fly-half Chris Hilsenbeck kicked the match-winner for the Eagles in a thriller against Portugal during the brand new Rugby World Cup, and the number 10 guided the team to two more victories during those July Tests.
Hilsenbeck was not available for the USA XV match against Argentina XV, with Luke Carty wearing the number 10 shirt instead. The two were named to play in the PNC semi-final, with Hilsenbeck starting and Carty on the bench.
Noah Brown comes into the side on the wing and Marno Redelinghuys should play at Test level for the first time this year. Jason Damm captains an otherwise fairly settled Eagles side, which continues to build towards the World Cup.
“We’re a year away from being where we want to be. We’ve got work to do, but we’re three months ahead of where we were three months ago,” coach Scott Lawrence told reporters.
“There’s a plan to go towards the World Cup. I think we’re ahead in some areas, I think we’re behind in some areas. All in all, relatively on track.”
Recent pattern
Fiji started Nations Championship with a score of 0-3, fell to Wales, England and Scotland in their three Tests in the United Kingdom. Including the USA XV match, Fiji is the only team in the PNC that has not played since July.
Canada started the season with a stunning 42-run draw Spain in Edmonton, before falling to Portugal and then beating Portugal. It was a 1-1-1 record for the Canadians after the July Tests, before a 45-point loss to Japan in Niigata.
Japan are coming off the back of a confidence-building win over Canada, which saw them return to winning ways after two losses to Australia. Defeated Brave Blossoms Italy during the July tests, but also went down swinging at Ireland and France.
The U.S. has made a winning habit so far in 2026, defeating three other teams heading to next year’s Rugby World Cup during July’s tests. It may not have been a test, but an Eagles-heavy USA XV also held on for a thrilling win against Argentina XV in Miami.
