Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup to inspire new tournament for teens plus 2024 action photo gallery

The successful Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup will inspire a new rugby event as early as 2025 while more interstaters and overseas teens could be added to the current titles. PHOTO GALLERY

Dennishely Taukafa for Tonga with the ball in the U16s comp. Picture: John Appleyard

The successful 2024 Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup will inspire a new tournament as early as 2025 while more interstaters and overseas teens could be added to the next edition of the current tournament.

With the third edition labelled a resounding success, organisers are already looking at how they can tinker with it to make it even better in 2025 while looking at a way a new tournament inspired by the Pasifika event held in Sydney’s west on the weekend can be added to the NSW rugby calendar.

Sydney Juniors rugby union general manager Ben Gregory said the event is now the biggest junior rugby event in Australia with little room for more growth.

“I don’t know if I can make it bigger because we have eight fields at Whalan Park and are already having six teams run out on one oval to warm up.

“We are also using every second of daylight to get the games in.’’

But Gregory said a reshuffle of the format could allow a team from interstate or overseas to also play in the different age groups.

Ve'a Tavita proudly wears the Samoan flag. Pictures: John Appleyard

Gregory also revealed there is potential for the introduction of a new event - a Nations Youth Cup - for Rugby Sevens being introduced in 2025 or further down the track.

“We want to run a Sevens version of this (the Pasifika Youth Cup) to give everyone more rugby,’’ he said.

Amanaki Tangi joins his NSW Maori teammates performing the haka before the game.

“But more a Nations Cup where we would potentially get South Africians, Scottish and English teams representing their heritage.’’

Gregory said such an event could run at the start of the season, at the end of it or even as a lead into the Pasifika Youth Cup.

“Nothing is confirmed. These are just things we are looking at,’’ he said

Barbarians' Lachlan Connolly escapes Tonga's Dennishely Taukafa in the U16s.

Top Sydney photographer John Appleyard captured some fabulous images at the 2024 Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup on the weekend.

See below for more photos.

Anthony Time for NSW Samoa in the U16 grand final.

Dennishely Taukafa for Tonga

Jane Latu for Tonga in the U14s

Koa Fuimaono for NSW Samoa.

Cook Islands celebrate a try in the U18s

Brody Reynolds for the Barbarians in the U15s

Hunter Wiki-Sullivan playing for NSW Maori.

Tenisi Rickus for the NSW Maori U16s.

Mariah Kolopa Fasavalu-Faamausili with the ball for Cook Islands.

Cook Islands singing before their game in the U15s comp.

Action in the U18 Girls 3rd place playoff.

NSW Maori v NSW Samoa action at the 2024 Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup.

NSW Maori perform the haka before their U16s game.

Tyrell Meredith for the Cook Islands.

NSW Maori are cheered on

Mariah Kolopa Fasavalu-Faamausili for Cook Islands.

Jayden Cook for the Cook Islands.

Alexander Motuliki for Tonga.

Payton Tarau from NSW Samoa.

Robert Elama for Tonga U15s.

Millie Parker for the Cook Islands in the U18s grand final.

NSW Maori perform the haka before the game.

The U16 grand final between NSW Maori and Samoa.

Zarielle Jack for NSW Maori in the U12s.

NSW Maori are cheered on as they enter the field.

Taiaroa Lowe for NSW Maori.

Faith Masina for NSW Samoa.

Taiaroa Lowe for NSW Maori.

Mavrix Tauasa from NSW Samoa and Zane-Cheyze Latu at the end of the game.

Centre: Scarlett Mahutariki from Tonga celebrates victory with her teammates.

Originally published as Pasifika Youth Rugby Cup to inspire new tournament for teens plus 2024 action photo gallery