2025 Rugby League Pacific Championships

2025 Rugby League Pacific Championships
Number of teams6 (men)
6 (women)
Host countries New Zealand
Papua New Guinea
Australia
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The 2025 Rugby League Pacific Championships are the fourth edition of the Rugby League Pacific Championships and the third under their current name (having previously been called the Oceania Cup in 2019). The championships consist of several international rugby league tournaments being played from October to November 2025 between nations of the Pacific region.

Like previous editions, a Men's Pacific Cup, Men's Pacific Bowl, Women's Pacific Cup, and Women's Pacific Bowl will be played.[1]

The draw was announced by the International Rugby League and National Rugby League on 6 August 2005.[2][3]

Teams

Team changes

Following the results of the promotion / relegation playoffs in 2024, New Zealand will remain in the Men's Pacific Cup, while Samoa will be promoted to the Women's Pacific Cup after defeating Papua New Guinea.[4][5][6]

2025 will see the return of the Ashes. Originally, to be held in Australia, a change of host occurred due Australia hosting the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.[7] As a result, Australia have been confirmed as unavailable for the Men's Pacific Cup. Samoa will take their place after returning to the competition following their 2024 tour of England.[8][9] Originally, a women's Ashes series was also scheduled,[10] however this never materialised and Australia were confirmed as participants for the Women's Pacific Cup on 22 July.[1][11]

Finally, the Cook Islands (while still participating) will host South Africa on their off week in the Men's Pacific Bowl for a place in the 2026 Men's World Cup.[12] Conversely, Fiji are unavailable for the Women's Pacific Bowl due to competing in World Cup qualifiers in Canada.[13]

Squads

Men's teams

Competition Team World
ranking[1][14] 		Coach Captain Ref
Pacific Cup  New Zealand 2 New Zealand Stacey Jones James Fisher-Harris [15]
 Samoa 5 Australia Ben Gardiner Jarome Luai [16][17]
 Tonga 4 Australia Kristian Woolf Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo
Pacific Bowl  Cook Islands 10 Australia Karmichael Hunt Brad Takairangi
 Fiji 7 Fiji Wise Kativerata Tui Kamikamica [18]
 Papua New Guinea 6 Australia Jason Demetriou Rhyse Martin and Lachlan Lam [19]

Women's teams

Competition Team World
ranking[1][14] 		Coach Captain(s) Ref
Pacific Cup  Australia 1 Australia Jess Skinner Kezie Apps and Ali Brigginshaw [11]
 New Zealand 2 New Zealand Ricky Henry Georgia Hale [25][26]
 Samoa 12 Australia Jamie Soward Annetta-Claudia Nuuausala [27]
Pacific Bowl  Cook Islands 9 New Zealand Rusty Matua Kiana Takairangi
 Papua New Guinea 5 Australia Tahnee Norris Elsie Albert [28][29]
 Tonga 15 Australia Meg Ward Natasha Penitani [30][31]

Venues

Venues in Papua New Guinea, New Zealand, and Australia have been confirmed.[2]

About OpenStreetMaps
Maps: terms of use
1000km
621miles
5
5 Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney
5 Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney
4
4 Eden Park, Auckland
4 Eden Park, Auckland
3
3 Lang Park, Brisbane
3 Lang Park, Brisbane
2
2 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
2 Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
1
1 PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
1 PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Host venues
1
PNG Football Stadium, Port Moresby
2
Mount Smart Stadium, Auckland
3
Lang Park, Brisbane
4
Eden Park, Auckland
5
Western Sydney Stadium, Sydney

Six venues across four countries were selected to host the Championships.

Men's Pacific Cup

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2  Samoa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Tonga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: NRL

Fixtures

Group stage

26 October 2025
15:00 AEST (UTC+10:00)
Samoa  v  Tonga
Report
2 November 2025
18:00 NZDT (UTC+13:00)
New Zealand  v  Tonga
Report

Men's final

9 November 2025
16:05 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
TBC v TBC
Report


Men's Pacific Bowl

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Cook Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Winner
2  Fiji 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Papua New Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: NRL

Fixtures

The announced schedule for the Men's Pacific Bowl does not include a final or play-off/relegation match.[2]


Women's Pacific Cup

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Australia 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Advance to final
2  New Zealand 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Samoa 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: NRL

Fixtures

Group stage

26 October 2025
13:00 AEST (UTC+10:00)
Australia  v  Samoa
Report
2 November 2025
16:00 NZDT (UTC+13:00)
New Zealand  v  Australia
Report

Women's final

9 November 2025
13:35 AEDT (UTC+11:00)
TBC v TBC
Report


Women's Pacific Bowl

Pos Team Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts Qualification
1  Cook Islands 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 Winner
2  Papua New Guinea 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
3  Tonga 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0
Updated to match(es) played on unknown. Source: NRL

Fixtures

The announced schedule for the Women's Pacific Bowl does not include a final or play-off/relegation match.[2]


Men's World Cup qualification: Southern Hemisphere playoff

Further information: 2026 Men's Rugby League World Cup qualification § Inter-confederation play-offs

References

  1. ^ a b c d e "IRL World Rankings: June 30, 2025". IRL. 22 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  2. ^ a b c d "Pacific Championships draw announced". International Rugby League. 6 Aug 2025. Retrieved 6 Aug 2025.
  3. ^ "2025 Pacific Championships draw announced". NRL. 6 Aug 2025. Retrieved 6 Aug 2025.
  4. ^ "Teen debutant stars as Kiwis secure Pacific Cup safety". 10 November 2024.
  5. ^ "Fetu Samoa turn on the power to earn Pacific Cup promotion". 10 November 2024.
  6. ^ "Pacific Championships finals round-up: Kangaroos reign supreme, Kiwis survive, Kumuls miss out". 10 November 2024.
  7. ^ Bower, Aaron (28 October 2024). "Rugby league's 2025 Ashes series makes late switch to England's shores". The Guardian.
  8. ^ England vs Samoa (27 October 2024): Official Match Programme pg 55
  9. ^ "International rugby league road map revealed: World Cup going to Africa?". 14 January 2025.
  10. ^ Walter, Brad (9 Jul 2024). "Jillaroos want Vegas Test to inspire next generation". NRL. Retrieved 10 Jul 2024.
  11. ^ a b c "ARLC confirms Kangaroos and Jillaroos coaches". NRL. NRL Media Release. 23 Jul 2025. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  12. ^ "RLWC2026 men's qualifying play-offs announced".
  13. ^ "Canada to host historic IRL Women's World Series". Rugby League International Federation.
  14. ^ a b "World Rankings: Men". IRL. Archived from the original on 21 July 2025. Retrieved 22 July 2025.
  15. ^ "Stacey Jones Appointed NZ Kiwis Head Coach". NZRL. 21 Feb 2024. Retrieved 13 Aug 2024.
  16. ^ "Ryan Hinchcliffe joins Toa Samoa coaching staff". International Rugby League. 18 Jul 2025. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  17. ^ Nicolussi, Christian (22 Jun 2025). "Meninga's assistant has unfinished business with Bears". Sun Herald. p. 42.
  18. ^ Dikonstatino, Kristina (22 May 2025). "Ratavola returns from Bulldogs". Fiji Times. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  19. ^ Walter, Brad (6 Aug 2025). "Returning stars and young talent to boost Kumuls stocks". NRL. Retrieved 6 Aug 2025.
  20. ^ Hosken, Jason (26 May 2025). "Turned up to play and we didn't: Goannas hand premiers a reality check". News Corp News Network.
  21. ^ "2025 Wests Group Macarthur First Grade Premiership - South West Goannas Premiership - Thirlmere Roosters Premiership". Play Rugby League. 20 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jul 2025.
  22. ^ "21-man squad for Round 19 is named". Hull KR. 17 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jul 2025.
  23. ^ "Match Report - St Helens - Round 19". Leigh Leopards. 18 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jul 2025.
  24. ^ "NRL Team Lists: Round 21". NRL. 22 Jul 2025. Retrieved 24 Jul 2025.
  25. ^ "2025 NRLW Kiwi Ferns tracker". NZRL. 19 May 2025. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  26. ^ "Unchanged Kiwi Ferns coaching team to assemble under Ricky Henry for upcoming Pacific Championships". NZRL. 31 Jul 2025. Retrieved 6 Aug 2025.
  27. ^ Tinetali-Fiavaai, Grace (12 Nov 2024). "It doesn't end here: Fetu Samoa coach Jamie Soward on the team's success". RNZ. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  28. ^ Walter, Brad (5 Jun 2025). "Norris re-appointed as PNG Orchids coach for World Cup". NRL. Retrieved 5 Jun 2025.
  29. ^ Walter, Brad (6 Aug 2025). "Home is where the heart is: Orchids building towards World Cup". NRL. Retrieved 6 Aug 2025.
  30. ^ Walter, Brad (22 Jul 2025). "Tonga to appoint women's coach for 2025 Pacific Championships". NRL. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  31. ^ a b "Meg Ward Head Coach - TRXIII Womens Rugby League". Tonga Rugby League. 18 Aug 2025. Retrieved 18 Aug 2025.
  32. ^ Dikonstatino, Kristina (9 Jul 2025). "Five chosen for Pacific combine". Fiji Times. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  33. ^ Walter, Brad (12 Aug 2025). "Bulikula step up preparations for World Cup qualifier in Canada". NRL. Retrieved 12 Aug 2025.
  34. ^ "History-making Foliaki announces immediate retirement". Sharks.com.au. Sharks Media. 1 Jul 2025. Retrieved 1 Jul 2025.
  35. ^ "HNWP Team List: Round 2". Parra Eels. 8 Jul 2025. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
  36. ^ "NRLW Team Lists: Round 4". NRL. 22 Jul 2025. Retrieved 23 Jul 2025.
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