Should The Pacific Islanders Return As A Touring Team?

[Tokouso]

The Pacific Islanders were a short lived combined team with players from Samoa, Fiji, Tonga, Cook Isl and Niue. They played inconstantly between 2004 and 2008. Returning them as a touring team will be great because it will bring exposure to these players and these pacific island teams will be more strengthen to take on the all blacks south africa ETC.


Have them play against:
The Lions
The Barbarians
New Zealand
Australia

 

[stormbati]

Sadly not much has changed since.
I think it would be great but they have to keep it going.

 

[clarency]

They absolutely should, though they should probably change their structure to ensure they are financially viable. Pacific Islands are in the unique position of having natural talent at the sport but barely any commercial potential; so basically no one wants to touch them.

It's been demonstrated that they can get a lot of public support if they play in the right areas, specifically Sydney and particular parts of New Zealand. If they can focus themselves there they may actually make some money, which is the first and last criteria for their decision to actually operate a combined nation team.

 

[Disinterested third party]

They are all following rugby league now.

 

[clarency]

As a follower of international league for well over a decade... don't get so excited. It takes more than a few wins to garner support, not to mention that Pacific Island countries will never see a RL match played on their own soil. They'll go back to playing bare minimum matches over the next few years and when the next world cup comes along (in Europe where there is no local support base) their fans and the hype will be long gone.

It was fun while it lasted though.

 

[clarency]

Yeah it really seems to be on it's deathbed.



Anytime now...

 

[iJehovah]

They are touring each year, they play the Bledisloe each year against the Wallabies. They're the "Fijian Tongan Samoan All Blacks"