1996 Pan Pacific Series

The inaugural Pan Pacific series between 8 Pacific Rim countries will take place in the first half of this year. Teams from Western Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Japan, Hong Kong, Canada, USA and Argentina will take part.

All teams will play each other in a round-robin format, with the top four sides advancing to the semifinals. The tournament format is supposed to remain unaltered for an initial four year period.

The Pan Pacific steering organization is chaired by Bryan Williams, the Western Samoan coach and former All Black winger.

Draw

(Home team listed first.)
 April 27     Argentina v Tonga
              U.S. v Fiji

 May 4        Canada v Tonga
              Hong Kong v Fiji

 May 7        U.S. v Argentina

 May 11       Canada v Argentina
              U.S. v Tonga
              Fiji v Western Samoa

 May 12       Japan v Hong Kong

 May 18       Canada v U.S.
              Western Samoa v Tonga

 May 19       Japan v Argentina

 May 25       Hong Kong v Argentina

 June 1       Hong Kong v Canada

 June 8       Argentina v Fiji

 June 9       Japan v Canada
              Hong Kong v U.S.

 June 15      Western Samoa v Hong Kong

 June 16      Japan v U.S.

 June 22      Western Samoa v U.S.
              Fiji v Japan
              Tonga v Hong Kong

 June 29      Western Samoa v Japan
              Tonga v Fiji

 July 6       Argentina v Western Samoa
              Fiji v Canada
              Tonga v Japan

 July 13      Canada v Western Samoa

 July 20-21   Semifinals

 July 27-28   Final


Canada will also being touring Australia, playing one test between its June 9th game in Japan and its July 6 game in Fiji.