Pacific Rugby teams

Horan calls for Pacific Island inclusion in Super Rugby revamp

The Sanzaar competition looks set to undergo a major revamp from next year, with New Zealand Rugby having announced a wholesale review into every aspect following the outbreak of COVID-19.

International travel has been an exorbitant feature of the competition and with many flight paths currently closed off by the coronavirus crisis, there is widespread speculation the teams from South Africa and Argentina will be omitted from an Asia-Pacific model of Super Rugby.

Family affair for Pacific nations at the Rugby World Cup

Among the legions of supporters to descend on Japan are a host of proud parents, partners, siblings and cousins following the fortunes of Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.

Saki Waikere made the trip from Suva to Sapporo with some friends to watch his cousin Leone Nakarawa play in Fiji's World Cup opener against Australia.

"We're here to support him and definitely we're coming for a win so we're looking forward to that and I know it's going to be a good game," he said.

"Even though (against) Australia we are playing as underdogs today so definitely we will catch up to them."