As rugby's major powers embark on mid-year test programs, Pacific rim nations will begin an annual bid for advancement and recognition in the Pacific Nations Cup.
Upcoming test matches between Australia and Italy, New Zealand and France, England and Argentina and a looming series between world champion South Africa and the British and Irish Lions will likely fix the attention or world rugby over the next month, to the detriment of the Pacific tournament.
The Pacific Nations Cup (PNC), which starts Friday in Samoa, provides island nations Fiji, Samoa and Tonga and fellow participants Japan with the majority of their international programs outside World Cup years.
For that reason, it gives those nations their best chance to win recognition which attracts sponsorship - Fiji, ranked ninth in world rugby and a quarterfinalist at the last World Cup has no major sponsor -and to show they deserve future matches against the world's best sides.
That message may largely be drowned out this year by the clamor around matches involving Australia, New Zealand, South Africa and the Lions.
In addition, the Pacific nations have to call on players based around the world to assemble squads for the annual tournament. The availability of those players, mainly attached to clubs in Britain, Europe and Japan, determines the strength of their challenge in the Pacific tournament.
The International Rugby Board has recently attempted to coordinate the end of the club seasons in Britain and France with the mid-year internationals but the French season continues to press into June, affecting player availability for the Island teams.
No Pacific team, nor Japan, has managed to win the tournament since it was established in 2005. New Zealand has variously made the Junior All Blacks, New Zealand A or New Zealand Maori teams its representative in the tournament and has won in each of those years, pressed most closely by Australia A.
Tonga plays Fiji in Nuku'alofa on Saturday before the tournament moves to Fiji where Japan opens its campaign against Samoa on Thursday.
Hard-fought matches between Tonga and Fiji have become one of the features of the annual tournament. Though Fiji is ranked five places higher the 14th-ranked Tonga, the Fijians have lost to their Pacific neighbors in each of the last three years.
Coach Ilivasi Tabua said his players could not dwell on those losses as they prepare to take on Tonga in Tonga on Saturday.
"We have set high standards in the PNC, which is a must." Tonga coach Kudus Felea said his team was determined to start the tournament strongly in its only home match.
"Winning the first game is always important and that is why we have selected a team of experienced and young players," Felea said.
"We have got a talented squad of established international players plus up-and-coming players," coach Colin Cooper said.
"The Junior All Blacks have a proud unbeaten record in the Pacific Nations Cup and this year's team will be keen to maintain that record."
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