Official team lists, updates and injury news for Week 1 of the 2025 Pacific Championships Men's and Women's tournaments.
The Pacific Bowl kicks off with two games in Port Moresby on Saturday before we head to Auckland on Sunday for a Kiwis-Samoa double-header.
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Pacific Championships Team Lists: Week 1 - Men's
Fiji Bati v Cook Islands Aitu, Saturday 4.00pm (AEDT) at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Fiji: Storm veteran Tui Kamikamica will captain the Bati in his 22nd Test match with Taane Milne, Kitione Kautoga and Caleb Navale adding plenty of punch in the pack. Speedsters Jahream Bula, Sunia Turuva and Michael Jennings will keep the Aitu defence busy as will debutant Jethro Rinakama on the wing. Prop Michael Waqa and interchange trio Solomone Saukuru, Terrell Kalo Kalo and Keresi Maya also make their international debut. Halfback Brandon Wakeham plays his 11th Test and first since the 2023 Pacific Bowl final against PNG.
Cook Islands: Veterans Tepai Moeroa, Brad Takairangi and Esan Marsters are joined by Sharks centre KL Iro and Broncos back-rower Brendan Piakura, who played three Test matches for Cook Islands in 2022 including the World Cup contests with PNG and Tonga. Wynnum-Manly Seagulls halfback Cassius Cowley makes his Test debut and Mason Teague lines up at hooker in is third international. Rabbitohs NSW Cup rake Rua Ngatikaura will back Teague up from the bench in his seventh Test for Cook Islands.
Kiwis v Toa Samoa, Sunday 4.05pm (AEDT) at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Kiwis: James Fisher-Harris captains a vastly experienced side that includes 31-Test veteran Kieran Foran at halfback in his first international appearance since the 2023 Pac Champs Final. Twelve members of the team that defeated PNG in last year's promotion-relegation clash are part of the squad including Joseph Tapine, Erin Clark, Phoenix Crossland and Naufahu Whyte. Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King lines up at hooker in his first Test match since the 2022 World Cup. Forward leader Tapine wins his 23rd Test cap and Nelson Asofa-Solomona makes his 16th appearance in Kiwi colours. Broncos young gun Xavier Willison has been named 18th man as he chases a Test debut.
Toa Samoa: Jarome Luai and Junior Paulo lead a powerhouse Samoa squad that includes Payne Haas, Brian To'o, Terrell May, Jeremiah Nanai and Roger Tuivasa-Sheck. Young gun Blaize Talagi joins Luai in the halves while Izack Tago and Deine Mariner form a dynamic centre pairing. Raiders veteran Josh Papalii returns to the Toa Samoa side on a two-year mission to lead his country to a historic World Cup victory. The 33-year-old will play his first Test match since the 2022 World Cup final against Australia at Old Trafford. International newcomers Ata Mariota, Lyhkan King-Togia and Benaiah Ioelu are listed among the reserves.
Pacific Championships Team Lists: Week 1 - Women's
PNG Orchids v Cook Islands Moana, Saturday 2.00pm (AEDT) at Santos National Football Stadium, Port Moresby
Orchids: TBC
Moana: Sharks playmaker Chantay Kiria-Ratu will be a key figure for Cook Islands on the back of an impressive NRLW campaign in which she came up with nine try assists and five line break assists. Fullback Kiana Takairangi again captains the side while Warriors prop Lavinia Kitai leads from the front in her sixth Test match. Fellow front-rower Ashlee Matapo, centre Deleni Paitai, hooker Pearl Tuitama, winger Hannah Makira and bench playmaker Memory Paitai will all make their Test debuts.
Kiwi Ferns v Fetu Samoa, Sunday 1.35pm (AEDT) at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Kiwi Ferns: Coach Ricky Henry has named four debutantes in his squad for the Pacific Cup opener with five-eighth Patricia Maliepo, back-rower Shakira Baker, winger Tysha Ikenasio and bench forward Ivana Lauitiiti earning their first caps. Halfback Raecene McGregor and lock Georgia Hale will captain the side which features premiership-winning Broncos Mele Hufanga and Brianna Clark as well as Sharks stars Annessa Biddle and Brooke Anderson, who line up in their sixth and seventh Tests respectively. Knights forward Tiana Davison is listed as 18th player.
Fetu Samoa: Broncos premiership winner Annetta-Claudia Nu'uausala will captain the side in her fifth Test for Samoa and 18th overall while fellow Brisbane forwards Destiny Brill and Shalom Sauaso are also part of Jamie Soward's team. Titans duo Taliah Fuimaono and Pauline Piliae-Rasabale will call the shots in the halves while youngsters Sarina Masaga and Destiny Mino-Sinapati are also part of a classy backline. Veteran Niall Williams-Guthrie lines up for her second Test appearance at age 37 in the second row alongside teenager Ryvrr-Lee Alo, who makes her Samoa debut after playing for Cook Islands in 2024.
