Fiji and Japan will meet in the final of the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 after both sides registered emphatic semi-final wins at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka on Saturday.
Defending champions Fiji beat Canada 45-29 before the Brave Blossoms ran out 63-14 victors over the USA, with the victorious semi-finalists now set to meet in the title decider for the third successive year.
Canada and the USA will meet in the third place play-off, with both games to be played at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo on 19 September.
FIJI 45-29 CANADA: Fiji show champion pedigree to advance to final
Record seven-time champions Fiji advanced to next Saturday’s Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 final with an impressive semi-final win over Canada at Hanazono Rugby Stadium in Osaka.
The Flying Fijians are bidding to win the annual tournament for the third successive year and underlined their quality by outscoring the Canadians by seven tries to four.
Senirusi Seruvakula’s men will now face Japan in the final in Tokyo.
Player of the match Motikiai Murray, the Fiji flanker who scored two second-half tries, said: “I have to thank Almighty God for the win.
“We did pretty well, there were a few mistakes, but our mission was to start fast and we did that.”
Indeed, Fji led almost immediately when blindside flanker Kitione Salawa charged down Jason Higgins’ kick and touched down in the right corner.
Seruvakula’s side then conjured a delightful second try when Kalaveti Ravouvou and Joji Nasova combined to send Frank Lomani scampering clear.
Canada gradually steadied themselves and blindside flanker Mason Flesch dived under the posts from close range, but an exhilarating Fiji counter-attack culminated in Manase Mataele sending Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula powering clear.
Prop Peni Ravai collected a deft offload from captain Tevita Ikanivere to dive over from close range for Fiji’s fourth.
Canada claimed a second through Sion Parry to make it 26-17 at the break but Ikanivere burst onto a fine pass from Virimi Vakatawa to score Fiji’s fifth try.
Murray then took centre stage with two tries in the space of 11 minutes, racing down the left wing to claim his first before adding his second from a lineout.
Kyle Tremblay touched down for Canada and Flesch claimed his second before Fiji had Isoa Nasilasila and debutant Terio Tamani Veilawa red-carded and sin-binned respectively late on.
Canada will go into the third place play-off against USA with cause for optimism and head coach Stephen Meehan said: “There were aspects of our game we were really happy with.
“There were other parts where we lacked concentration for two or three minutes and a side like Fiji can go 90 metres to score.
“We play Fiji at next year’s World Cup and we’re excited about that.”
JAPAN 63-14 USA: Brave Blossoms flex their muscles to reach title decider
Hosts Japan showed their class in front of a rapturous home crowd in Osaka after a comprehensive semi-final win over USA secured a place in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 final.
Eddie Jones’ men will face defending champions Fiji at Prince Chichibu Memorial Stadium in Tokyo in a mouthwatering title decider.
The Brave Blossoms outscored the USA by nine tries to two and, having led 35-14 at the interval, they kept their opponents scoreless during the second half.
Player of the match, Japan hooker Mamoru Harada said: “We knew it was going to be a tough match from the beginning, but we executed well. Our target now is to beat Fiji and win the championship.”
Her Imperial Highness Princess Akiko, Honorary Patron of the Japan Rugby Football Union, met both teams before the game and Japan quickly established total control.
Centre Yuya Hirose produced some impressive footwork and strength to muscle his way through the USA defence for the opening try in the second minute.
Second-row Michael Stolberg soon added a second from close range before a neat passing sequence culminated in Dylan Riley scoring Japan’s third in the ninth minute.
It was a stunning start from the Brave Blossoms in front of the massed ranks of Japan supporters but things got even better for them in the 16th minute.
The impressive Harada got in on the act with their fourth try from close range before his opposite number Shilo Klein hit back for the USA with a similar score.
The Men's Eagles scored again when centre Tavite Lopeti displayed remarkable strength to manoeuvre his way past several Japan defenders to touch down. However, prop Sojiro Otsuka added a fourth for the Brave Blossoms on the stroke of half-time.
Riley added his second and Jack Cornelsen, Esei Haangana and Sam Greene added further scores during a one-sided second half which saw USA captain Jason Damm and Jack Cornelsen sin-binned.
Damm reflected: “We knew Japan are a great side and we’re trying to catch them up, but we saw the gap today so we know we’ve got a lot of work to do.”
