World Rugby continue their development programme in Oceania and the Americas ©World Rugby

World Rugby have launched details of their initiative to aid the development of players from emerging nations in sport with a four-year plan in the Pacific Islands.

The High Performance Combine in the Pacific Islands will look to identify future stars with an aim to invest in domestic Pacific Islanders to participate at the 2023 and 2027 Rugby World Cup. 

After its initial launch in 2018, 51 players have graduated from the programme with two of those, Frank Lomani of Fiji and James Faiva of Tonga, both playing at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

This year's Pacific Combine will be hosted in Suva, the capital city of Fiji from March 15 to 18, being held immediately after the World Rugby Pacific Challenge 2020, with the programme being held annually.

World Rugby chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said, "Greater depth of competition at Rugby World Cup is dependent on robust strategies to lift high performance and the Pacific Challenge, combined with the Pacific Combine, is a proven developer and enabler of Pacific Island talent, creating a pathway to international rugby."

A similar initiative will work closely with Rugby Canada and USA Rugby at the North America Combine which is scheduled to take place from June 21 to 27 in Salt Lake City in the United States.

Frank Lomani of Fiji is one of two graduates from the Pacific High Performance Combine to play at the 2019 World Cup ©Getty Images
Frank Lomani of Fiji is one of two graduates from the Pacific High Performance Combine to play at the 2019 World Cup ©Getty Images

After the event, selected players will be offered full-time scholarships in their union's academy system. 

World Rugby vice-chairman and Americas Rugby President Agustín Pichot said, "The development of a truly global game requires a global vision for the development and promotion of the best emerging talent from unions where a high performance programme is hard to access.

"The North America Combine is an innovative and exciting programme that does not just identify talent.

"It nurtures and supports players on and off the field, providing a club and a community that supports a player in being the best they can be as a person and as a player."

Currently, there are 102 member unions and 17 associated unions with World Rugby. 

World Rugby general manager of High Performance Peter Horne said: "The High Performance Combine programme is an amazing opportunity for Pacific Islands and North America to identify and develop the most promising talents in their region.

"The Combine has proven its effectiveness with successful alumni making it to the highest level and we are delighted to renew our commitment with a long-term vision that will increase unions’ competitiveness."