Rugby League Pacific Championships 2025: Schedule, Teams & Results
The Rugby League Pacific Championships enters its fourth edition on October 18, 2025, with New Zealand and Samoa set to clash at Go Media Stadium on November 9 in a Grand Final devoid of Australia’s men’s team. Twelve Oceania nations compete across men’s and women’s tiers in the first tournament since the Kangaroos sat out 2019’s inaugural event.
Inaugural Year: 2019 · 2025 Final Date: 9th November 2025 · 2025 Final Venue: CommBank Stadium · Key Matchup: Kiwis vs Toa Samoa · Region: Oceania nations
Quick snapshot
- Fourth edition held October–November 2025 (Wikipedia)
- New Zealand won Men’s Pacific Cup Grand Final 36-14 over Samoa on 2025-11-09 at CommBank Stadium (Zero Tackle)
- 12 teams involved across men’s and women’s competitions (Sky Sports)
- Full broadcast details for Women’s Pacific Bowl matches in all regions
- Complete team lists beyond Week 1 matches
- Official RLIF or NRL confirmation of prize details
- Australia returns to men’s competition if no Ashes scheduling conflict
- Promotion/relegation between Cup and Bowl tiers continues
- Women’s participation growing with Australia confirming entry
Key facts about the 2025 tournament reveal a restructured draw and competitive outcomes across both tiers.
| Field | Value |
|---|---|
| Format | International tournament for Oceania teams |
| Inaugural | 2019 |
| Next Series | 2025 October-November |
| Official Site | NRL.com/pacific-championships |
| 2025 Final | Kiwis vs Toa Samoa |
How does the Pacific Championship work in the rugby league?
The Pacific Championships split into two tiers: the Pacific Cup and the Pacific Bowl. The Cup features the top-ranked Oceania nations competing for the main title, while the Bowl accommodates developing teams in a parallel competition. Both men’s and women’s versions run simultaneously, giving fans roughly six weeks of back-to-back internationals across venues in Australia and New Zealand. The format allows promotion between tiers, creating a pathway for nations like Samoa to rise into the elite draw.
Tournament format
The men’s competition operates with three teams in the Pacific Cup—New Zealand, Samoa, and Tonga—and three teams in the Pacific Bowl: Cook Islands, Fiji, and Papua New Guinea. Round-robin matches precede finals, with the top two Cup teams meeting in the Grand Final. According to Sky Sports, the women’s tournament mirrors this structure, with Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa in the Cup, and Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga in the Bowl.
Australia’s absence reshaped the entire men’s field, elevating Samoa and giving New Zealand a clearer path to the final—but it also raised the stakes for Tonga, which had never faced this level of competition without the Kangaroos as a benchmark.
Qualification and pools
Teams qualify based on their international rankings and participation history. For 2025, Australia declined the men’s draw to tour England for the Ashes series starting October 25 (Sporting News). This opened a spot for Samoa, which returned after their 2024 England tour, according to Wikipedia.
The implication: Samoa’s promotion means the 2025 draw functions as both a competitive tournament and a proof-of-concept for future expanded formats with Australia returning.
Who plays in the Pacific Championships?
The tournament brings together 12 national sides from across Oceania, split evenly between men’s and women’s competitions. Each team carries distinct rugby league heritage—New Zealand’s Kiwis, Tonga’s Mate Ma’a, Samoa’s Toa, Fiji’s Bati—creating rivalries rooted in both geography and cultural identity.
Participating nations
Men’s Pacific Cup: New Zealand, Samoa, Tonga
Men’s Pacific Bowl: Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea
Women’s Pacific Cup: Australia, New Zealand, Samoa
Women’s Pacific Bowl: Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, Tonga
2025 teams
New Zealand’s men’s side entered with coach Stacey Jones and captain James Fisher-Harris, per Wikipedia. Samoa’s leadership came from dual captains Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo under coach Ben Gardiner. Tonga’s co-captains Addin Fonua-Blake and Jason Taumalolo play under coach Kristian Woolf.
Australia’s women’s team features coach Jess Skinner with captains Kezie Apps and Ali Brigginshaw (Wikipedia). Australia confirmed their women’s entry on July 22, 2025, after no women’s Ashes materialized.
What is the 2025 Pacific Championships schedule?
The 2025 tournament opened October 18 with three Pacific Bowl double-headers hosted at PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby—a first for the competition. The men’s and women’s finals land on November 9 at CommBank Stadium in Sydney, creating a blockbuster closing day.
Key fixtures
The standout matchup arrives early: New Zealand vs Samoa on October 19 at Go Media Stadium, Auckland, kickoff 4:00 PM AEST (Sporting News). Samoa then faces Tonga on October 26 at Suncorp Stadium.
Round 1 matches
Results from the opening round set the tone: Fiji defeated Cook Islands 44-24 in the Men’s Pacific Bowl on October 18 at PNG Football Stadium, while PNG Women opened against Cook Islands Women at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby, at 2:00 PM AEST the same day.
The Grand Finals bookend the tournament: Women’s Pacific Cup Final at 1:35 PM AEST and Men’s Pacific Cup Final at 4:05 PM AEST, both November 9 at CommBank Stadium (Sporting News).
Every two weeks from October 18 through November 9, the Pacific Bowl delivered a double-header from Port Moresby, building momentum toward the Sydney finals while giving PNG fans unprecedented access to top-tier international rugby league.
What this means: Port Moresby’s three consecutive double-headers established a new tournament rhythm, shifting the Bowl’s traditional role from afterthought to launchpad for the Sydney finals.
Where is the Pacific Rugby League final being played?
The 2025 Pacific Cup Grand Finals land at CommBank Stadium in Sydney’s Parramatta precinct on November 9, 2025. This 30,000-seat venue has become the de facto home for major Pacific rugby league events, offering strong transport links and a fan base already familiar with international fixtures.
2025 final venue
CommBank Stadium hosted both women’s and men’s Pacific Cup finals on the same day. The women’s match kicks off at 1:35 PM AEST, followed by the men’s final at 4:05 PM AEST (Sporting News). The venue’s fixed seating and rectangular pitch make it ideal for the fast-paced international style.
Previous finals
The inaugural 2019 tournament and subsequent editions established a pattern of rotating venues between Australia and New Zealand. The 2023 event maintained this rhythm before the 2025 competition cemented CommBank Stadium as the premier Pacific final destination.
Samoa faced New Zealand in the 2025 Grand Final after finishing second in the Cup table—a matchup that rewarded their promotion and set up a cultural showdown with massive implications for Pacific rugby league’s competitive landscape.
What channel is the Pacific Championships rugby league on?
Broadcast access varies significantly by region, with free and paid options across multiple platforms. Australia’s Nine Network offers the widest free coverage, while UK viewers require Sky Sports and US fans need a specific FuboTV add-on.
Broadcast options
In Australia, Pacific Championships air on Channel Nine and Nine Now (free streaming), with additional coverage on Kayo and Foxtel (Sporting News). UK viewers catch live action on Sky Sports, though early morning kickoffs like Tonga Women vs Cook Islands on October 25 start at 4:00 AM (Sky Sports).
Live streaming
US viewers access select games via FOX Soccer Plus through FuboTV, requiring a $6.99 monthly add-on (TechRadar). Canadian fans subscribe to Watch NRL at £39 per month or £143 annually. Australian free streams remain available on 9Now.
For live scores, team lineups, and official results, NRL’s official Pacific Championships hub provides the most comprehensive centralized resource, according to TechRadar’s global viewing guide.
The catch: Free-to-air access remains limited outside Australia, making the £39/month Watch NRL subscription a significant cost barrier for Canadian fans wanting comprehensive coverage beyond select FOX Soccer Plus games.
Results and winners
New Zealand dominated the 2025 Pacific Championships, winning the Men’s Pacific Cup Grand Final 36-14 over Samoa on November 9 at CommBank Stadium. Earlier, they defeated Samoa 24-18 in the October 19 opener at Go Media Stadium.
In the Pacific Bowl, Papua New Guinea claimed the title, defeating Fiji 50-18 on November 1. Earlier results include Fiji’s 44-24 win over Cook Islands (October 18) and Papua New Guinea’s 40-28 defeat of Cook Islands (October 25).
The women’s competition saw Australia (Jillaroos) as defending champions after winning the inaugural title in 2024 over New Zealand.
The Kiwis’ Grand Final victory delivered exactly what was expected: New Zealand asserting Pacific dominance through superior forward play and tactical discipline. For Samoa, the runner-up finish marks significant progress—a promotion earned and a final contested against the tournament’s established powerhouse, setting a new benchmark for future campaigns.
“The Pacific Championships are making a return. In its fourth edition, this tournament will proceed without the current titleholders, Australia, who are currently touring England for the Ashes series.”
“The Pacific Championships in the men’s and women’s are split into two competitions – the Bowl and the Cup.”
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New Zealand’s Kiwis sealed the men’s title with a commanding 36-14 victory over Toa Samoa at CommBank Stadium, where Toa Samoa vs Kiwis highlights detail the thrilling action.
Frequently asked questions
What are the Pacific Championship fixtures today?
Check the official draw at NRL.com/pacific-championships for the most current fixtures. The 2025 tournament ran October 18 through November 9.
When did the Rugby League Pacific Championships start?
The inaugural edition launched in 2019, making 2025 the fourth edition and third under the current tournament name.
Who won the 2023 Pacific Championships?
The 2023 edition concluded with its own set of Cup and Bowl winners. Australia’s men’s team won that year before sitting out 2025.
Is there a women’s Pacific Championships?
Yes, a parallel women’s tournament operates alongside the men’s competition, with Australia, New Zealand, and Samoa in the Cup tier and Cook Islands, Papua New Guinea, and Tonga in the Bowl.
How often are the Pacific Championships held?
The tournament runs annually, with each edition featuring both men’s and women’s competitions across Pacific Cup and Pacific Bowl tiers.
What is the prize for winning?
Winners receive the Pacific Cup or Bowl trophy, along with valuable ranking points for future international fixtures. Prize details are set by the NRL and participating federations.
Are Pacific Championships results live on NRL?
Yes, NRL.com provides live scores, results, and official match reports for all Pacific Championships fixtures.
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