Pacific Championship 2024 (Women's)

There are seven nations involved, three in the Cup and four in the Bowl. Let's look at how they went.

Cup: Two sides have players in a semi pro league and are head and shoulders above the rest. Australia were hot favourites and won both their matches although the Kiwi Ferns gave them a real test without being able to score. Then the NZ side easily overcame the PNG Orchids but lacked the finishing of the Jillaroos so that kept the scoreline more respectable for PNG. 

The final placings as below so the top two go into the final while PNG will take on the winner of the Bowl competition.

Bowl: This was played in a knock out format. Samoa overcame Tonga and Fiji the Cook Is. This pitted the two winners in the final and the match highlights are shown above in the video. Samoa scoring a last gasp try to win the Bowl tournament and meet PNG in the final.

This is the table below, the top two played twice and the bottom two just one match each.

The final games are below and results will be given once the games are completed. 

Pacific Championship 2024 (Men's)

The Pacific Cup and Bowl tournaments have six sides competing (with Samoa away in England). We will look at each separately.

Cup: Australia were favourites although the NZ side was expected to give them a run for their money and Tonga competitive and not to be ruled out. As things transpired, the Kangaroos won both the pool matches but had to work hard in the process. 

It came down to the other two as to who would join them in the final. The highlights are above if you want to watch them before knowing the score.

Tonga came out and led 24-0 just before half time. The Kiwis then took over and came back to draw level but in the end Tonga showed more composure in slotting home the winning field goal while the Kiwis kept missing their attempts. 

The final placings has Australia and Tonga going into the final while NZ takes on the winner of the Bowl group. 

Bowl: PNG were the team tipped to win this division and that's what happened. Fiji was a stern test though. Then Fiji overwhelmed the Cook Is team, the latter started well against PNG but couldn't sustain their effort.

The final placings are shown below. PNG earned a crack at the Kiwis which is a challenge against a side smarting from not making the Cup final as was expected. 

The two final games are as below with the results posted soon.

Toulouse Olympique

The Toulouse Olympique RL Club have been trying to enter Super League (division one). They entered League One (division three) in 2016 and gained immediate promotion to the Championship (division two). After four years, they reached SL but only won five of their 27 matches played and were immediately relegated. 

They have since remained in the Championship and 2025 will be their third attempt to win promotion. Now there is a difference. Off field performance is now a major factor in succeeding so the club is pinning its hopes on an IMG grading score to achieve what it hasn't been able to do and that is get into SL and stay there by on field success.

What has been the problem? Spending money on travel, both for themselves and visiting teams is unreasonable and may be at the crux of the matter. Money needed to improve the squad is being taken by travel costs. The playing group therefore simply isn't of Super League quality. 

The Catalan Dragons club is now going to pay travel costs both ways as Toulouse Olympique is already doing. They are a finacially well off club that will be able to carry that burden but TO isn't at the same level monetarily. 

In 2024, they averaged 2,700 spectators in a city with a metropolitan population of just over a million. The team (Wakefield) that got promoted at their expense in 2024 had over double the attendance figure. Even if they get back into SL via IMG grading, they won't be attracting many fans if they are losing regularly. The squad has to be better but it seems only if IMG points keep them in SL while they build that up.

Sport is expensive and running a sports club is usually a loss making exercise. Some balance the books but few do. Quality players do not come cheap and success on the field is craved by the fans. It's a balancing act to get the best team assembled you can within an acceptable cost. I wish TO the best in their quest for success in SL. 

Picture source: loverugbyleague.com