2023 | Rugby League Pacific Championships|
---|---|
Number of teams | 6 (men) 7 (women) |
Host countries | Australia New Zealand Papua New Guinea |
Winner | New Zealand (Cup) Papua New Guinea (Bowl) |
< 2020 2024 > |
The 2023 Rugby League Pacific Championships was the second edition of the Rugby League Pacific Championship and the first under its current name (having previously been called the Oceania Cup in 2019). The championship included a collection of international rugby league tournaments to be played from October to November 2023 between nations located in the Pacific region.
The competition was played in three groupings: the Pacific Cup for higher ranking men's teams, the Pacific Bowl for lower ranking men's teams, and a section of women's matches played throughout.[1][2][3][4][5]
Main article: 2023 Rugby League Pacific Championships squads |
Competition | Team | World ranking |
Coach | Captain | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pacific Cup | Australia | 1 | Mal Meninga | James Tedesco | [6][7][8] |
New Zealand | 2 | Michael Maguire | James Fisher-Harris | [9][10] | |
Samoa | 3 | Ben Gardiner | Junior Paulo | [11][12] | |
Pacific Bowl | Cook Islands | 13 | Karmichael Hunt | Brad Takairangi | [13] |
Fiji | 7 | Wise Kativerata | Tui Kamikamica | [14][15][16] | |
Papua New Guinea | 6 | Justin Holbrook | Kyle Laybutt | [17][18] |
Competition | Team | World ranking |
Coach | Captain | Ref |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
Women | Australia | 1 | Brad Donald | Kezie Apps and Ali Brigginshaw | [19][8] |
Cook Islands | 6 | ||||
Fiji | 19 | Josaia Dakuitoga | Josephine Maejiirs | [20][16] | |
New Zealand | 2 | Ricky Henry | Georgia Hale and Raecene McGregor | [9][21] | |
Papua New Guinea | 5 | Ben Jeffries | Elsie Albert | [22][23] | |
Samoa | 20 | Jamie Soward | Niall Williams Guthrie | [11][24] | |
Tonga | 16 | Kelvin Wright | Tiana Penitani | [25] |
Five venues across three countries were selected to host the Championships.
Referees and side-line officials for week one matches were announced on 10 October 2023.[26] Appointments for week two were announced on 17 October 2023, with several changes of role.[27]
Referees |
|
Touch Judges |
|
Bunker Review Officials |
Pos. | Team | Pld. | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff. | Pts. | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Australia | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 74 | 30 | +44 | 4 | Advance to Pacific Cup Final |
2 | New Zealand | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 68 | 36 | +32 | 2 | |
3 | Samoa | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 88 | –76 | 0 |
NB: Tonga were intended to participate but had already arranged a tour of England before the tournament was announced.
Australia | 38–12 | Samoa |
---|---|---|
Tries: Haas 4' Tedesco 9' Fa'asuamaleaui 12' Murray 15' Tabuai-Fidow (2) 39', 54' Staggs 79' c Goals: Staggs (5/7) 5', 13', 17', 40', 80' |
1st: 28–6 2nd: 10–6 Report |
Tries: Taulagi 18' Leilua 72' Goals: Crichton (2/2) 20', 74' |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 18,144 Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia) Video Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Touch judges: Phil Henderson (Australia), Wyatt Raymond (Australia) |
Australia | Position | Samoa | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
James Tedesco | 1 | FB | 1 | Sualauvi Faalogo |
Dylan Edwards | 2 | WG | 2 | Murray Taulagi |
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | 3 | CE | 3 | Izack Tago |
Kotoni Staggs | 4 | CE | 4 | Young Tonumaipea |
Selwyn Cobbo | 5 | WG | 5 | Brian To'o |
Cameron Munster | 6 | SO/FE | 6 | Stephen Crichton |
Daly Cherry-Evans | 7 | SH/HB | 7 | Daejarn Asi |
Payne Haas | 8 | PR | 8 | Stefano Utoikamanu |
Ben Hunt | 9 | HK | 19 | Justin Matamua |
Tino Fa'asuamaleaui | 10 | PF | 10 | Junior Paulo |
Cameron Murray | 11 | SR | 11 | Luciano Leilua |
Liam Martin | 12 | SR | 12 | Connelly Lemuelu |
Isaah Yeo | 13 | LF/LK | 13 | Keenan Palasia |
Harry Grant | 14 | IN | 9 | Gordon Chan Kum Tong |
Lindsay Collins | 15 | IN | 14 | Spencer Leniu |
Patrick Carrigan | 16 | IN | 15 | Terrell May |
Reuben Cotter | 17 | IN | 16 | Heilum Luki |
Nicho Hynes | 18 | CS | 18 | Royce Hunt |
Mal Meninga | Coach | Ben Gardiner |
New Zealand | 50–0 | Samoa |
---|---|---|
Tries: Isaako (2) 13', 24' Hughes 22' Asofa-Solomona 44' Papali'i 48' Mulitalo (2) 60', 73' Nikora 63' c Fisher-Harris 76' Goals: Isaako (7/9) 14', 23', 26', 45', 65', 75', 78' |
1st: 18–0 2nd: 32–0 Report |
New Zealand | Position | Samoa | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
Charnze Nicoll-Klokstad | 1 | FB | 1 | Sualauvi Faalogo |
Ronaldo Mulitalo | 2 | WG | 2 | Murray Taulagi |
Matthew Timoko | 3 | CE | 4 | Marion Seve |
Joseph Manu | 4 | CE | 21 | Tommy Talau |
Jamayne Isaako | 5 | WG | 20 | Greg Marzhew |
Dylan Brown | 6 | SO/FE | 6 | Stephen Crichton |
Jahrome Hughes | 7 | SH/HB | 7 | Daejarn Asi |
James Fisher-Harris | 8 | PR | 8 | Stefano Utoikamanu |
Kieran Foran | 14 | HK | 9 | Gordon Chan Kum Tong |
Moses Leota | 10 | PF | 10 | Junior Paulo |
Isaiah Papali'i | 11 | SR | 11 | Luciano Leilua |
Briton Nikora | 12 | SR | 16 | Heilum Luki |
Joseph Tapine | 13 | LF/LK | 14 | Spencer Leniu |
Fa'amanu Brown | 9 | IN | 13 | Keenan Palasia |
Nelson Asofa-Solomona | 15 | IN | 15 | Terrell May |
Griffin Neame | 16 | IN | 18 | Royce Hunt |
Leo Thompson | 17 | IN | 19 | Ronald Volkman |
Naufahu Whyte | 18 | CS | 17 | Justin Matamua |
Michael Maguire | Coach | Ben Gardiner |
Australia | 36–18 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: Holmes 8' Collins (2) 21', 30' Edwards 50' Hunt 77' Murray 79' Goals: Holmes (6/7) 9', 22', 31', 51', 65', 78' |
1st: 18–12 2nd: 18–6 Report |
Tries: Nikora 17' Mulitalo 38' Brown 69' Goals: Isaako (3/3) 19', 39', 71' |
Australia | Position | New Zealand | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
James Tedesco | 1 | FB | 1 | |
Dylan Edwards | 2 | WG | 2 | |
Hamiso Tabuai-Fidow | 3 | CE | 3 | |
Kotoni Staggs | 4 | CE | 4 | |
Valentine Holmes | 5 | WG | 5 | |
Cameron Munster | 6 | SO/FE | 6 | |
Daly Cherry-Evans | 7 | SH/HB | 7 | |
Jake Trbojevic | 8 | PR | 8 | |
Ben Hunt | 9 | HK | 9 | |
Thomas Flegler | 10 | PF | 10 | |
Cameron Murray | 11 | SR | 11 | |
Reuben Cotter | 12 | SR | 12 | |
Isaah Yeo | 13 | LF/LK | 13 | |
Harry Grant | 14 | IN | ||
Lindsay Collins | 15 | IN | ||
Patrick Carrigan | 16 | IN | ||
Nicho Hynes | 17 | IN | ||
Liam Martin | 18 | CS | ||
Mal Meninga | Coach | Michael Maguire |
Australia | 0–30 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
1st: 0–12 2nd: 0–18 Report |
Tries: Mulitalo 14' Isaako (2) 34', 47' Timoko 59' Neame 70' Goals: Isaako (4/5) 16', 35', 61', 72' Field goals: Isaako (1/1) 67' |
Australia | Position | New Zealand | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
1 | FB | 1 | ||
2 | WG | 2 | ||
3 | CE | 3 | ||
4 | CE | 4 | ||
5 | WG | 5 | ||
6 | SO/FE | 6 | ||
7 | SH/HB | 7 | ||
8 | PR | 8 | ||
9 | HK | 9 | ||
10 | PF | 10 | ||
11 | SR | 11 | ||
12 | SR | 12 | ||
13 | LF/LK | 13 | ||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
CS |
Pos. | Team | Pld. | W | D | L | PF | PA | Diff. | Pts. | Qualification |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
1 | Fiji | 2 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 65 | 34 | +31 | 4 | Advance to Pacific Bowl Final |
2 | Papua New Guinea | 2 | 1 | 0 | 1 | 62 | 53 | +9 | 2 | |
3 | Cook Islands | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 28 | 68 | –40 | 0 |
Papua New Guinea | 46–10 | Cook Islands |
---|---|---|
Tries: Z. Laybutt 7', 39' Derby 12' Kapinias 15' Richard 22' Macdonald 26', 41', 42', 76' Goals: Z. Laybutt (5/9) 14', 16', 23', 41', 44' |
1st: 30–0 2nd: 16–10 Report |
Tries: E. Ioka 48' S. Marsters 58' Goals: E. Ioka (1/1) 60' Takairangi (0/1) |
National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Attendance: 7,133[29] Referee: Peter Gough (Australia) Video Referee: Chris Butler (Australia) Touch judges: Ziggy Przeklasa-Adamski (Australia), Drew Oultram (Australia) |
Papua New Guinea | Position | Cook Islands | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
1 | FB | 1 | ||
2 | WG | 2 | ||
3 | CE | 3 | ||
4 | CE | 4 | ||
5 | WG | 5 | ||
6 | SO/FE | 6 | ||
7 | SH/HB | 7 | ||
8 | PR | 8 | ||
9 | HK | 9 | ||
10 | PF | 10 | ||
11 | SR | 11 | ||
12 | SR | 12 | ||
13 | LF/LK | 13 | ||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
CS |
Fiji | 22–18 | Cook Islands |
---|---|---|
Tries: Sivo 24' Bula 55' Blake 67' Turuva 74' Goals: Wakeham (3/4) 56', 68', 75' |
1st: 4–6 2nd: 18–12 Report |
Tries: E. Marsters 18' E. Ioka 46' Cooper-Tetevano 71' Goals: S. Marsters (3/3) 19', 47', 72' |
National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Attendance: 7,001[30] Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Touch judges: Liam Kennedy (Australia), Todd Smith (Australia) |
Fiji | Position | Cook Islands | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
Jahream Bula | 1 | FB | 1 | Esom Ioka |
Maika Sivo | 2 | WG | 2 | Malachi Morgan |
Sunia Turuva | 3 | CE | 3 | Kayal Iro |
Waqa Blake | 4 | CE | 4 | Alvin Maungaati |
Mikaele Ravalawa | 5 | WG | 5 | Steven Marsters |
Kurt Donoghoe | 6 | SO/FE | 6 | Brad Takairangi |
Brandon Wakeham | 7 | SH/HB | 7 | Esan Marsters |
Tui Kamikamica | 8 | PR | 8 | Davvy Moale |
Noah Nailagoliva | 14 | HK | 9 | Rua Ngatikaura |
Gordon Whippy | 16 | PF | 17 | Takai Mokohar |
Kitione Kautoga | 11 | SR | 11 | Zane Tetevano |
Taane Milne | 13 | SR | 12 | Reuben Porter |
Caleb Navale | 15 | LF/LK | 13 | Pride Petterson-Robati |
Penioni Tagituimua | 9 | IN | 10 | William Samuel |
Apisalome Saukuru | 12 | IN | 14 | Kadiyae Ioka |
Watisoni Waqanisaravi | 17 | IN | 15 | Rhys Dakin |
Sirilo Lovokuro | 20 | IN | 16 | Justin Estall-Makirere |
Pio Seci | 21 | CS |
Papua New Guinea | 16–43 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Johnston 2' Kot 61' Kapinias 72' Goals: Martin (2/3) 62', 73' |
1st: 4–19 2nd: 12–24 Report |
Tries: Donoghoe (2) 12', 32' Kamikamica 17' Sivo (2) 46', 48' Navale 55' Qareqare 65' Goals: Wakeham (7/8) 13', 18', 33', 48', 57', 66', 69' Field goals: Wakeham (1/1) 39' |
National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Attendance: 14,546 Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Touch judges: Peter Gough (Australia), Phil Henderson (Australia) |
Papua New Guinea | Position | Fiji | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
Alex Johnston | 1 | FB | 1 | Jahream Bula |
Robert Derby | 2 | WG | 2 | Maika Sivo |
Zac Laybutt | 3 | CE | 4 | Waqa Blake |
Benji Kot | 4 | CE | 5 | Mikaele Ravalawa |
Nene Macdonald | 5 | WG | 18 | Jason Qareqare |
Kyle Laybutt | 6 | SO/FE | 6 | Kurt Donoghoe |
Lachlan Lam | 7 | SH/HB | 7 | Brandon Wakeham |
Epel Kapinias | 8 | PR | 8 | Tui Kamikamica |
Edwin Ipape | 9 | HK | 9 | Penioni Tagituimua |
Valentine Richard | 10 | PF | 10 | King Vuniyayawa |
Rhyse Martin | 11 | SR | 12 | Apisalome Saukuru |
Daniel Russell | 12 | SR | 13 | Taane Milne |
Jack de Belin | 13 | LF/LK | 15 | Caleb Navale |
Judah Rimbu | 14 | IN | 14 | Noah Nailagoliva |
Wellington Albert | 15 | IN | 16 | Gordon Whippy |
Keven Appo | 16 | IN | 19 | Mesake Ravonu |
Jacob Alick | 17 | IN | 20 | Sirilo Lovokuro |
Liam Horne | 18 | CS | 21 | Pio Seci |
Justin Holbrook | Coach | Waisake Kativerata |
Fiji | 12–32 | Papua New Guinea |
---|---|---|
Tries: Blake (2) 42', 68' Goals: Wakeham (2/2) 42', 69' |
1st: 26–0 2nd: 6–12 Report |
Tries: Ipape 15' Derby (2) 23', 28' Johnston 38' Kapinias 75' Goals: Martin (5/5) 16', 25', 29', 39', 77' |
National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Attendance: 14,809 Referee: Grant Atkins (Australia) Touch judges: Liam Kennedy (Australia), Todd Smith (Australia) |
Papua New Guinea | Position | Fiji | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
Alex Johnston | 1 | FB | 1 | Jahream Bula |
Robert Derby | 2 | WG | 2 | Maika Sivo |
Zac Laybutt | 3 | CE | 4 | Waqa Blake |
Rodrick Tai | 4 | CE | 5 | Mikaele Ravalawa |
Nene Macdonald | 5 | WG | 18 | Jason Qareqare |
Kyle Laybutt | 6 | SO/FE | 6 | Kurt Donoghoe |
Lachlan Lam | 7 | SH/HB | 7 | Brandon Wakeham |
Epel Kapinias | 8 | PR | 8 | Tui Kamikamica |
Edwin Ipape | 9 | HK | 9 | Penioni Tagituimua |
Valentine Richard | 10 | PF | 10 | King Vuniyayawa |
Rhyse Martin | 11 | SR | 12 | Apisalome Saukuru |
Daniel Russell | 12 | SR | 13 | Taane Milne |
Jack de Belin | 13 | LF/LK | 15 | Caleb Navale |
Judah Rimbu | 14 | IN | 11 | Kitione Kautoga |
Liam Horne | 15 | IN | 16 | Gordon Whippy |
Junior Rop | 16 | IN | 17 | Watisoni Waqanisaravi |
Nixon Putt | 17 | IN | 21 | Pio Seci |
Jacob Alick | 18 | CS | 20 | Sirilo Lovokuro |
Justin Holbrook | Coach | Waisake Kativerata |
A series of matches involving seven Women's teams was announced, however the number of matches to be played is irregular and there will be no semi-finals or final.
Australia | 16–10 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: Upton (2) 4', 31' Johnston 25' Goals: Brigginshaw (2/3) 5', 26' |
Report |
Tries: Biddle 12' Hufanga 43' Goals: McGregor (1/2) 44' |
Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Attendance: 12,067 Referee: Todd Smith (Australia) Video Referee: Ashley Klein (Australia) Touch judges: Belinda Sharpe (Australia), Darian Furner (Australia) |
Australia | Position | New Zealand | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
1 | FB | 1 | ||
2 | WG | 2 | ||
3 | CE | 3 | ||
4 | CE | 4 | ||
5 | WG | 5 | ||
6 | SO/FE | 6 | ||
7 | SH/HB | 7 | ||
8 | PR | 8 | ||
9 | HK | 9 | ||
10 | PF | 10 | ||
11 | SR | 11 | ||
12 | SR | 12 | ||
13 | LF/LK | 13 | ||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
CS |
Samoa | 26–12 | Fiji |
---|---|---|
Tries: Tui (2) 10', 42' Mapusua (2) 21', 68' Nu'uausala 31' Goals: Piliae-Rasabale (3/5) 22', 32', 70' |
Report |
Tries: Naikore 5', 54' Namoce 57' |
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Referee: Liam Kennedy (Australia) Video Referee: Chris Butler (Australia) Touch judges: David Munro (Australia), Chris Sutton (Australia) |
Samoa | Position | Fiji | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
1 | FB | 1 | ||
2 | WG | 2 | ||
3 | CE | 3 | ||
4 | CE | 4 | ||
5 | WG | 5 | ||
6 | SO/FE | 6 | ||
7 | SH/HB | 7 | ||
8 | PR | 8 | ||
9 | HK | 9 | ||
10 | PF | 10 | ||
11 | SR | 11 | ||
12 | SR | 12 | ||
13 | LF/LK | 13 | ||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
CS |
New Zealand | 28–10 | Tonga |
---|---|---|
Tries: Roache (3) 5', 10', 46' Pasikala 38' Hufanga 58' Goals: McGregor (2/6) 12', 40' |
Report |
Tries: Penitani (2) 25', 55' Goals: Hifo (1/2) 27' |
New Zealand | Position | Tonga | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
1 | FB | 1 | ||
2 | WG | 2 | ||
3 | CE | 3 | ||
4 | CE | 4 | ||
5 | WG | 5 | ||
6 | SO/FE | 6 | ||
7 | SH/HB | 7 | ||
8 | PR | 8 | ||
9 | HK | 9 | ||
10 | PF | 10 | ||
11 | SR | 11 | ||
12 | SR | 12 | ||
13 | LF/LK | 13 | ||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
CS |
Papua New Guinea | 28–20 | Cook Islands |
---|---|---|
Tries: Kapo 9' Banu 18' Allan (2) 22', 48' Kerowa 34' Norris 44' Goals: Veivers (2/6) 10', 20' |
Report |
Tries: Makira 14' Rewi 26' Takairangi 58' Holloway-Samuels 63' Goals: Kiria-Ratu (2/4) 16', 65' |
Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Attendance: 7,001[31] Referee: Belinda Sharpe (Australia) |
Papua New Guinea | Position | Cook Islands | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
1 | FB | 1 | ||
2 | WG | 2 | ||
3 | CE | 3 | ||
4 | CE | 4 | ||
5 | WG | 5 | ||
6 | SO/FE | 6 | ||
7 | SH/HB | 7 | ||
8 | PR | 8 | ||
9 | HK | 9 | ||
10 | PF | 10 | ||
11 | SR | 11 | ||
12 | SR | 12 | ||
13 | LF/LK | 13 | ||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
CS |
Australia | 6–12 | New Zealand |
---|---|---|
Tries: Chapman 9' Goals: Brown (1/1) 10' |
Report |
Tries: Hufanga 34' Tufuga 62' Goals: McGregor (2/2) 35', 64' |
Australia | Position | New Zealand | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
Name | Number | Number | Name | |
1 | FB | 1 | ||
2 | WG | 2 | ||
3 | CE | 3 | ||
4 | CE | 4 | ||
5 | WG | 5 | ||
6 | SO/FE | 6 | ||
7 | SH/HB | 7 | ||
8 | PR | 8 | ||
9 | HK | 9 | ||
10 | PF | 10 | ||
11 | SR | 11 | ||
12 | SR | 12 | ||
13 | LF/LK | 13 | ||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
IN | ||||
CS |
21 October 2023
|
New Zealand A | 36–26 | Tonga A |
---|---|---|
Tries: Warbrick 2, Howarth, Kini, Roache, Leiataua Goals: Tuaupiki 6 |
Report (NZRL) |
Tries: Koloamatangi-Kalepo, Finefeuiaki, Foketi, Francis Goals: Teaupa 3 |