Pacific Island nations considering boycott of Rugby World Cup

Pacific Rugby Players Welfare have said that their 600-strong membership are debating a motion that members make themselves unavailable for the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

The idea to boycott this year's Rugby World Cup in Japan stems from World Rugby's decision to ring-fence 12 teams from the Six Nations countries, the Rugby Championship countries, Japan and the USA into a ‘League of Nations’ tournament that is proposed to start in July with three games each and conclude in November (possibly December) with up to five test matches. The exclusion of the Pacific Island nations - Samoa, Tonga and Fiji - from the proposed competition has drawn significant criticism and former Manu Samoa lock forward Daniel Leo said that the formulation of the World League will be another disaster for the island nations.

‘This is 1995 and the creation of SANZAR all over again,’ said Leo. ‘This is exactly what happened when they created Super Rugby and all of the subsequent years of expansion. Their watchword was – let’s take their players but whatever happens, keep the islands out.’ ‘This will be Pacific Rugby Disaster 2.0.'

The formulation of the League of Nations also drew criticism from reigning Rugby World Player of the Year Johnny Sexton and New Zealand captain Kieran Read.

“To suggest that players can play five incredibly high-level test matches in consecutive weeks in November is out of touch,” said Sexton. “Fans don’t want to see fatigued players in a money driven weakened competition,” said Read.