The Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 kicks off this weekend with two mouthwatering semi-finals at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka.
Defending champions Fiji take on Canada in the first semi-final before hosts Japan face USA in another intriguing showdown.
This year’s tournament features a condensed four-team format with the semi-final winners progressing to next Saturday’s final – and the losers facing off in a third place play-off, with both games taking place at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo.
Semi-final: Fiji v Canada – Saturday, 16:00 local time (GMT-8)
Fiji are bidding to be crowned champions for the third successive year as they prepare to face Canada in their Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 semi-final at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka.
The Flying Fijians, famed for their scintillating, fast-paced style of rugby, have beaten Japan in the last two title deciders in 2024 and 2025 and will now look to complete a hat-trick of tournament wins.
Hooker Tevita Ikanivere will captain a Fiji side featuring a mix of seasoned campaigners and emerging talent and is joined in the front row by props Peni Ravai and Mesake Doge.
Mesake Vocevoce and Temo Mayanavanua form the second-row pairing with Kitione Salawa, Motikiai Murray and debutant Isoa Tuwai in the back row.
Frank Lomani and Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula are the half-backs with Manasa Mataele and Jone Nasova on the wings, Kalaveti Ravouvou and Virimi Vakatawa in the centres and Sireli Rabitu at full-back.
Fiji, who have named a further three uncapped players on the bench, were famously crowned champions in four successive years from 2015-18 and victory over Canada on Saturday would see them register a ninth successive Pacific Nations Cup win for the first time.
Canada, meanwhile, were beaten 57-12 by Japan last weekend and head coach Stephen Meehan has made 10 changes to his squad with Dewald Kotze starting at hooker and Jason Higgins returning at scrum-half.
Jamie Armstrong, who made his debut against Japan, will make his first international start on the wing and Jacob Ince has been shifted to outside centre. Ethan Fryer is set to make his first appearance for Canada since November 2024 when he suffered a fractured skull against Chile.
Canada and Fiji will face each other again at Men's Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia – meeting in Adelaide | Tarntanya on 10 October – and Meehan said: “We’ve made some changes to the squad this week.
“It was always our intention to share the load a little on this tour and provide people with opportunities to get back into it.
“The key message against teams like Fiji is always to expect the unexpected – we must remain diligent and disciplined with our defensive game.
“If we can do that, we might be able to get our attacking game into gear and see what we can do to disrupt them.”
Semi-final: Japan v USA – Saturday, 19:05 local time (GMT-8)
Eddie Jones’ Japan side go into their Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 semi-final against the USA in confident mood, having warmed up for the tournament an impressive 57-12 win over Canada in Niigata last Saturday.
The Brave Blossoms marked the 100th anniversary of the Japan Rugby Football Union with a nine-try success that was chiselled on forward dominance.
Eight of Japan’s tries were fashioned by their pack as hooker Mamoru Harada scored twice and Takato Okabe, debutant Takumi Inaba, Ben Gunter, Kanji Shimokawa, Yuya Hirose, Harry Hockings and Tiennan Costley also touched down.
It was a timely tonic for Jones’ men after they lost back-to-back games against Australia last month and consecutive Nations Championship defeats to Ireland and France in July.
Jones has named a relatively inexperienced side that will be captained by scrum-half Naoto Saito again in the absence of Warner Dearns. Winger Kazuma Ueda and full-back Sam Greene both come into a backline which sees Ryunosuke Ito, Yuya Hirose, Dylan Riley and Inoke Brua – who impressed on debut against Canada – continue.
Japan have won nine of their last 10 matches against the USA and Brave Blossoms coach Jones said: “It’s our best 23. It’s important that players get as much experience as they can in test match rugby and every match in test match rugby is different.
“It’s always about the best 23 first and then obviously we’re trying to build a team for the World Cup.”
Meanwhile, Chris Hilsenbeck starts at fly-half following his return to the USA squad and will be partnered by Ruben de Haas.
Noah Brown and Mitch Wilson come into the side at wing and full-back respectively in a team not dissimilar to that which recorded a recent thrilling 25-24 win over an Argentina XV in Fort Lauderdale.
Experienced hooker Joe Taufete’e, who has not represented USA since appearing as a replacement against Romania in August 2023, has been named on the bench.
USA head coach Scott Lawrence said: “Joe’s been an enormous influence since he’s been here. He knows how to play in these big moments and so you trust him to do that.”
Watch the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 on RugbyPass TV or your local rights-holding broadcaster. Click here to find your local broadcaster.
