Pacific Islanders consider World Cup boycott

"Pacific Island nations are considering a boycott of this year’s Rugby World Cup in protest at plans to revamp the international Test calendar.

A World Rugby proposal suggests creating a 12-team World League from 2020 - with nations such as Samoa, Fiji and Tonga potentially not included. Pacific Rugby Players Welfare wants its 600 members to discuss the boycott.

PRPW's Daniel Leo said,Now is the time for the voice of Pacific rugby to be heard through our players, and the former Samoa lock added that the call for a boycott was a legitimate player protest at World Rugby's reported plans.

World Rugby has said it would not exclude Pacific Islands nations, and that promotion to and relegation from the World League was likely.

Fiji, Samoa and Tonga have all qualified for the World Cup in Japan, which starts on 20 September.