They are in Pool A, alongside Australia, England and the USA. Their opening pool match is against Australia on 23 August.

The new funding project is a joint effort by the three island unions, their respective governments and the Australian government.
Photo: Facebook / Manusina XV

Rugby Australia has confirmed that a new funding agreement currently being discussed with Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will enable a new regional competition structure for both men’s and women’s rugby.

The funding package is reported to be around AU$150 million.

However, the funding will not be given to the three respective unions but will be used to support a broader regional rugby development framework.

The intent is for the funding to underpin a regional development ecosystem rather than a simple allocation of funds to each union, Rugby Australia said.

The new funding project is a joint effort by the three island unions, their respective governments and the Australian government.

Fiji and Samoa join training session prior to the Cathay/ HSBC Hong Kong Sevens at So Kon Po Recreation Ground on 2 April, 2024 in Hong Kong, China. Photo credit: Mike Lee - KLC fotos for World Rugby

The fund will also support sevens rugby tournaments across the region.
Photo: World Rugby

Australia’s Foreign Minister Penny Wong shared the initiative in Apia two weeks ago when he met with Samoa’s Prime Minister La’aulialemalietoa Polāta’ivao Schmidt, and stated the initiative was still very much at the initial negotiation stage, and the structure had not yet been finalised.

The fund will also support age-grade competitions, high-performance development pathways, including academies, and support for sevens rugby tournaments across the region.

The new competrition structure is reported to include having island teams in the domestic Rugby Australia Super Rugby competition, which features the four Australian franchise clubs.

While Fiji and Tonga have signed the new funding proposal, Samoa is yet to do that.

PM La’auli had publicly stated he would not sign the proposal unless Lakapi Samoa board chairman Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi stepped down. Tuilaepa resigned last Friday.

He told RNZ Pacific earlier that La’auli’s stance was hurting Pacific rugby and called on Rugby Australia to consider moving on with Fiji and Tonga on the project.

RNZ Pacific has reached out to La’auli’s his press office for comment.