This year sees the tournament operating under a new round-robin format with defending champions Fiji taking on Samoa and Tonga for the Pacific Island Conference title, while the United States, Canada and Japan will battle it out for the Asia/Pacific Conference crown.

This will be the ninth edition of the Tier Two tournament, which aims to give smaller nations the opportunity to take part in competitive test matches in order to help gain more experience on the international stage and close the gap with Tier One nations.

The tournament is due to take place over three match days on June 7, 14 and 21.

The Pacific Island Conference kicks-off with Samoa hosting Tonga at Apia Park before the Tongans travel to Lautoka to take on Fiji at Churchill Park.

Fijian capital Suva is then the location for the final clash on June 21 as Samoa travel to take on their old rivals in what is likely to be a title decider.

Meanwhile, Canada and Japan get the Asia/Pacific Conference underway at the Swanguard Stadium in Burnaby, British Columbia.

The following week the Japanese will be in California to take on the United States at the Stub Hub Center in Los Angeles.

The Canadians will then make the trip south to California to face their old foes at the Cal Expo Facility in Sacramento.

Fiji and Samoa will meet in Suva on the final match-day of the Pacific Island Conference ©AFP/Getty Images



The team with the most points at the end of the round-robin competition will be crowned champions of their respective conferences.

The tournament coincides with rugby's June international window and when a team is not in action in either conference they will host a Tier One nation.

In round one Fiji will host Italy, who then travel to Samoa in round two, while Tonga take on the Pacific Barbarians in the final week.

On the Asia/Pacific side, the United States will play Scotland during round one before Canada host the Scots in round two, while Italy will provide the opposition for the Japanese in the final week.

"The Pacific Nations Cup is an excellent opportunity for all participating teams to play some tough, competitive test matches with just over a year to go until Rugby World Cup 2015," said IRB head of competitions and performance Mark Egan.

"We have a long-term commitment through our 10-year Strategic Plan to create greater levels of quality test competition for Tier Two nations in order to boost the competitiveness of the world game."

"The PNC will help us reach that goal, but also provide some great rugby for local fans, especially on the last day when great rivals Fiji take on Samoa in Suva and USA host their neighbours Canada in California."

Other Tier Two nation competitions will be held this summer including the IRB Tbilisi Cup which will see Georgia hosting Spain, Emerging Italy and the Argentina Jaguars in June.

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