The Pacific Nations Cup wraps up with two games in Salt Lake City on Saturday. Canada will take on Tonga in the third place decider. Both teams secured World Cup qualification in the opening round of the competition and are now playing for ranking points ahead of the draw.
Current World Ranking: 24 (59.52 points)
2025-09-14 – Canada 10, Fiji 63 (Denver)
2025-08-30 – Japan 57, Canada 15 (Sendai)
2025-08-22 – Canada 34, USA 20 (Calgary)
2025-07-18 – Canada 23, Spain 24 (Edmonton)
2025-07-12 – Canada 18, Belgium 25 (Edmonton)
Current World Ranking: 19 (66.35 points)
2025-09-14 – Tonga 24, Japan 62 (Denver)
2025-08-30 – Fiji 32, Tonga 10 (Suva)
2025-08-22 – Tonga 30, Samoa 16 (Nuku’alofa)
2024-11-24 – Georgia 22, Tonga 7 (Tbilisi)
2024-11-16 – USA 36, Tonga 17 (Chambéry)
 |
IN | OUT |
| 5 | Izzak Kelly | Callum Botchar |
| 9 | Brock Gallagher | Jason Higgins |
| 13 | Talon McMullin | Noah Flesch |
| 14 | Jack Shaw | Shane O’Leary |
|
IN | OUT |
| 6 | Tevita Ahokovi | Fotu Lokotui |
| 15 | Josiah Unga | Willis Halaholo |
- Tonga has two new caps on the bench in loosehead prop Leopino Maupese and loose forward Ephraim Tuitupou… Maupese has previously earned selection to the New Zealand Heartland XV
- Canada will hand a test debut to starting winger Jack Shaw, who played for RFC Los Angeles this past year… uncapped Pacific Pride hooker Austin Creighton is among the reserves
Steve Meehan (Head Coach)
“This tournament has been an important step forward for our group. We’ve had the chance to measure ourselves against quality opposition, and now we have one more opportunity against Tonga to finish on a strong note. The players are determined to deliver a performance that reflects the progress we’ve made and the pride in representing Canada.”
It’s been a long time since the Canadians beat Tonga, more than a decade in fact. While the Maple Leafs have shown some improvement this year, absent several of their best players it’s hard to see them turner over the Ikali Tahi. Even absent some of their own first choice players, there is star power present in the form of Charles Piutau and captain Ben Tameifuna. Tonga are favorites in Salt Lake City.
CANADA
1 Cali Martinez, 2 Dewald Kotze, 3 Cole Keith, 4 Piers von Dadelszen, 5 Izzak Kelly, 6 Mason Flesch (capt.), 7 Sion Parry, 8 Matthew Oworu, 9 Brock Gallagher, 10 Peter Nelson, 11 Josiah Morra, 12 Spencer Jones, 13 Talon McMullin, 14 Jack Shaw, 15 Nic Benn
Replacements: 16 Austin Creighton, 17 Emerson Prior, 18 Kyle Steeves, 19 Callum Botchar, 20 Matt Heaton, 21 Jason Higgins, 22 Noah Flesch, 23 Shane O’Leary
TONGA
1 Siegfried Fisi’ihoi, 2 Sam Moli, 3 Ben Tameifuna (capt.), 4 Veikoso Poloniati, 5 Harison Mataele, 6 Tevita Ahokovi, 7 Tupou Afungia, 8 Siosiua Moala, 9 Tane Takulua, 10 Patrick Pellegrini, 11 John Tapueluelu, 12 Fetuli Paea, 13 Charles Piutau, 14 Nikolai Foliaki, 15 Josiah Unga
Replacements: 16 Seko Sakalia, 17 Leopino Maupese, 18 Tau Koloamatangi, 19 Talimoni Finau, 20 Ephraim Tuitupou, 21 Siaosi Nai, 22 Willis Halaholo, 23 James Faiva
Date: Saturday, September 20
Venue: America First Field, Salt Lake City
Kickoff: 16:30 local (15:30 Pacific, 18:30 Eastern)
Weather Forecast: partly cloudy, 75°F (24°C), wind E 2-4mph (4-7km/h)
Broadcasts: Paramount+ (USA), TSN 5 (Canada), RugbyPass TV
Referee: Eoghan Cross (Ireland)
Assistants: Lex Weiner (USA) & Luke Rogan (USA)
TMO: Mike Adamson (Scotland)
HEAD-TO-HEAD (12): Tonga 7, Canada 5
2024-09-14 – Tonga 30, Canada 17 (Tokyo)
2023-08-15 – Tonga 36, Canada 12 (Nuku’alofa)
2023-08-10 – Tonga 28, Canada 3 (Nuku’alofa)
2019-08-09 – Tonga 33, Canada 23 (Lautoka)
2015-07-24 – Canada 18, Tonga 28 (Vancouver)
2013-06-08 – Canada 36, Tonga 27 (Kingston)
2011-09-14 – Tonga 20, Canada 25 (Whangarei)
2003-10-29 – Tonga 7, Canada 24 (Wollongong)
2000-05-20 – Canada 29, Tonga 11 (Vancouver)
1999-07-03 – Tonga 18, Canada 10 (Nuku’alofa)
