Rugby Canada Announce Calgary as Host of Canada v USA Match: World Rugby Releases Full Pacific Nations Cup Schedule
Rugby Canada have completed the announcement of their summer/fall schedule for the men’s XVs team with the Canada v USA fixture in Calgary on August 22nd. That will give them 5 games between July and September, possibly 6 if they finish in the top 4 at the Pacific Nations. World Rugby have also announced the full schedule for the Pacific Nations. Both reports are listed below.
from Rugby Canada
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will open the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup, the team’s first opportunity to earn direct qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, against the United States in Calgary on Friday August 22.
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team will open the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup, the team’s first opportunity to earn direct qualification for the 2027 Men’s Rugby World Cup, against the United States in Calgary on Friday August 22.
Kicking off at 7:00pm MT at McMahon Stadium, the home of the CFL’s Calgary Stampeders and the University of Calgary Dinos, this will be the team’s third match in Alberta this summer following two in Edmonton, as well as the second Canada vs USA match-up on home soil in 2025, with Canada’s Women’s Rugby Team taking on the Eagles in Ottawa.
Tickets will go on sale here on May 15 at 10:00am PT / 11:00 am MT / 1:00pm ET, starting at $38 plus taxes and fees.
The rugby community in Alberta (and other provinces interested in club travel) will be offered the opportunity to fundraise for their clubs and attend the match together via the Club Ticket Program. Details, including a special ticket link exclusively for club members that will grant access to tickets in a designated section of the stadium and donate 15% of ticket sales back to the club, will be distributed to clubs shortly.
This will be Canada’s first match of the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup. The top three teams from the tournament will qualify for the Rugby World Cup (minus Fiji and Japan, who have already qualified); the last placed team at the conclusion of the tournament will then look to qualify through the South America / Pacific Play-off.
A reimagined version of the Pacific Nations Cup was launched last year and saw Canada play Japan at BC Place in Vancouver, with the 2025 tournament being the second iteration of this cross-regional competition featuring Canada, the United States, Japan, Fiji, Tonga and Samoa.
Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team and the United States last met in the 2024 Pacific Nations Cup, with the United States winning 28-15 in Los Angeles last August. Canada has played the United States more than any other team and is looking for their first win over the Americans since 2021. This will also be the first time the team has played in Calgary since 2017, when Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team played a test match against Georgia.
“All three matches in Alberta this summer are important and exciting for our team,” said Stephen Meehan, Head Coach of Canada’s Men’s Rugby Team. “We have been speaking with Canadian players in leagues and competitions around the world regarding current performances and playing philosophies and working with them to ensure that they will arrive to camp well prepared and supported. The response from the players has been brilliant. They are eager to get stuck in and to be playing such an important match in front of a home crowd in Calgary this summer.”
“Calgary is excited to be the host city for the Pacific Nations Cup and this critical match in the men’s team’s pathway to World Cup,” says Calgary Mayor Jyoti Gondek. “Rugby is about heart, hustle, and community – something that resonates with who we are as a city! We’re proud to welcome athletes and fans from Canada and the US to Calgary to not just experience this incredible sport, but our world-class hospitality, incredible energy, and community spirit.”
“Tourism Calgary is thrilled to partner with Rugby Canada to bring the highest level of rugby to our city” says Carson Ackroyd, Senior Vice President, Sales at Tourism Calgary. “Welcoming the Canadian National Team for this match will be an incredible opportunity for Calgary to host local, national and international rugby fans at McMahon Stadium and we fully expect there to be huge interest and support from the community.”
“Rugby Alberta is incredibly excited to be hosting another senior men’s national team fixture in Calgary in August,” said Chris Cooke, President of Rugby Alberta. “Nothing brings out a crowd like Canada vs the USA, and I know the Calgary rugby community and everyone else travelling to Calgary for the match will make it an electrifying environment to play in. Let’s fill McMahon stadium with red and white and give the squad an extra push!”
Rugby Canada would like to thank Tourism Calgary and the City of Calgary for their support in bringing the Pacific Nations Cup to Alberta.
Further details, including TSN broadcast specifics and media accreditation applications, will be announced shortly.
from World Rugby
World Rugby has officially announced the full schedule for the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (22 August – 20 September), the second edition of the revitalised and expanded competition that is fast becoming a pillar of the international rugby calendar.
- World Rugby confirms Pacific Nations Cup 2025 match schedule
- USA will host the PNC Final Series for the first time with matches in Denver and Salt Lake City (Utah)
- Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 qualification is on the line for the participating teams
- Panel of seasoned Emirates World Rugby Match Officials appointed
World Rugby has officially announced the full schedule for the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 (22 August-20 September), the second edition of the revitalised and expanded competition that is fast becoming a pillar of the international rugby calendar.
This year’s tournament will once again bring together six of the most dynamic and passionate rugby nations: Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, and the USA, battling it out for glory and direct qualification for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia, with defending PNC champions Fiji, set to defend their title with a home opener in Suva on 30 August.
Launched with a reimagined format and vibrant identity in 2024, the Pacific Nations Cup was designed to offer more consistent and meaningful competition for nations in the Pacific region. The 2025 edition builds upon that foundation, offering teams a chance to grow their High Performance programmes, compete on a global stage, and provide their players with high-performance opportunities in a structured and globally integrated tournament.
This year, for the first time, the Pacific Nations Cup Final Series will be hosted in the United States, underscoring USA Rugby’s growing role in the global game and its lead-up to hosting Men’s and Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2031 and 2033, respectively.
A tournament built for growth and global impact
The Pacific Nations Cup 2025 will be contested across five weekends during the southern hemisphere international window, from 22 August-20 September. In its second year under the updated structure, the tournament continues to emphasise logistical efficiency, player welfare, and competitive balance.
The teams are split into two regional pools of three, minimising long-haul travel during the pool stage, reducing the tournament’s carbon footprint, and maximising player recovery time.
- Pool A: Fiji, Samoa, Tonga
- Pool B: Canada, Japan, USA
Each nation is guaranteed at least three matches, including a minimum of one home fixture, offering critical opportunities for fan engagement, expansion and awareness of the game. These fixtures play a key role in promoting the sport locally, building national team visibility, and giving home fans the chance to support their teams on home soil.
Key dates and locations
The 2025 tournament opens with a pair of highly anticipated regional match-ups.
Week 1
- Friday, 22 August: Canada v USA – Calgary, Alberta, Canada
A fierce North American rivalry kicks off Pool B in front of a home crowd in Calgary - Saturday, 23 August: Tonga v Samoa – Teufaiva Sport Stadium, Nuku’alofa, Tonga
One of rugby’s most historic island rivalries ignites Pool A action in what promises to be a physical and emotional encounter.
Week 2
- Saturday, 30 August: Fiji v Tonga – HFC Bank Stadium, Suva, Fiji
Fiji returns to home turf to welcome Pacific rivals Tonga in a pivotal Pool A match-up. - Saturday, 30 August: Japan v Canada – Sendai Yurtec Stadium, Sendai, Japan
Japan kicks off their campaign against Canada in front of home fans in the northern city of Sendai.
Week 3
- Saturday, 6 September September: Samoa v Fiji – Rotorua, New Zealand
This final pool-stage encounter will carry major implications for the semi-finals. - Saturday, 6 September: USA v Japan – Heart Health Park, Sacramento, California
This fixture doubles as a marquee event for USA Rugby, providing a glimpse of the future ahead of hosting Men’s Rugby World Cup 2031.
Final Series, USA to host for the first time
In a major step forward for rugby in North America, the Pacific Nations Cup 2025 Finals will be hosted on US soil, with Denver and Salt Lake City set to welcome fans for the knockout rounds of the competition.
The Final Series is structured to ensure teams playing across the two weekends, offer both competitive clarity and consistent exposure:
Sunday, 14 September – Semi-finals (DICK’S Sporting Goods Park, Denver, Colorado):
- Fifth place play-off (Men’s RWC 2027 qualifier) A3 v B3
- Semi-final 1: A2 v B1
- Semi-final 2: A1 v B2
These match-ups will determine which teams advance to the Cup final and third-place play-off, while the fifth v sixth play-off offers just as much excitement with the eventual winner qualifying directly for Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. The looser will have another opportunity to qualify in a play-off with South America.
Saturday, 20 September – Finals (America First Field, Salt Lake City, Utah):
- Third place play-off
- Final
Kick-off times and broadcast arrangements will be announced in the coming weeks. As with last year’s tournament, matches will be available globally through local broadcast partners as well as on RugbyPass TV, ensuring fans across the world can follow the action.
Emirates World Rugby match officials at the whistle
This year’s tournament of 11 matches will be officiated by nine Emirates World Rugby Match Officials representing eight nations.
Angus Gardner (Australia) and Luke Pearce (England), two of the three current referees with more than 50 tests to their names, will take charge of matches on the opening weekend.
Luc Ramos (France) and Eoghan Cross (Ireland) will be in the middle for the two semi-finals, while Damian Schneider (Argentina) has been handed the honour of refereeing the final in Salt Lake City on 20 September.
See the full list of match officials appointment >>
Pathway to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027
The Pacific Nations Cup 2025 carries more than just the honour of regional supremacy, it also serves as a crucial qualification pathway to Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 in Australia. This ensures that every fixture has tangible stakes, adding to the intensity and quality of play throughout the competition.
The best three teams of the Pacific Nations Cup 2025, other than already-qualified Fiji and Japan, will punch their tickets to Australia 2027. The sixth-place team will join the South America/Pacific Play-off.
A strategic and sustainable vision
World Rugby Chair Brett Robinson said: “The reimagined Pacific Nations Cup is more than just a tournament, it’s a manifestation of World Rugby’s broader commitment to building a global game that is inclusive, competitive, and sustainable.
“By balancing high-performance standards with financial, environmental, and logistical considerations, the PNC offers a model that supports the long-term health of our sport. The structure, regional pools, home fixtures, finals rotation, and integrated development pathways, ensures that players, fans, and unions all benefit.
“Meanwhile, strategic host markets like Japan and the United States are playing key roles in rugby’s global expansion, combining established fanbases with emerging commercial potential. The USA Finals will mark a pivotal moment in preparation for Rugby World Cups 2031 and 2033 and I would like to thank all our local partners, starting with USA Rugby, for transforming this ambitious vision into a reality.”
USA Rugby CEO, Bill Goren added, “We couldn’t be more pleased to announce the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup, as we venture further in hosting premier global rugby on US soil. With Rugby World Cup 2031 and 2033 inching closer, major event opportunities like the Pacific Nations Cup are key contributors in growing the American rugby fanbase, engaging partners and raising the profile of our sport. We have a lot to look forward to this fall as our Men’s Eagles target Rugby World Cup qualification in front of the home crowd.”
Mark your calendars
The Pacific Nations Cup 2025 promises five weekends of fast-paced, emotionally charged international rugby. With Men’s Rugby World Cup qualification on the line, a rotation of high-profile host cities, and a tournament format designed for maximum impact, this year’s competition is set to be a defining chapter in the rise of global rugby.
From Suva to Sendai, from Calgary to Salt Lake City, as six proud nations battle to lift the Pacific Nations Cup and take a massive step toward Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027.