Rugby: England announce 2002 tour of Pacific

9:00 AM

English rugby officials confirmed yesterday that England will undertake their first major tour of the Pacific islands in 2002.

England have played in Fiji before – there were tests between the two countries in Suva in 1988 and 1991 – but Samoa and Tonga will be virgin territory for Clive Woodward's team.

Tour details are yet to be finalised, but a great swathe of natural players from Apia to Nuku'alofa will see the trip as a highly significant breakthrough in their campaign to establish their countries as senior rugby nations.

That campaign has been undermined at every turn by the international community, particularly the New Zealanders, who, of all people on the planet, have only to roll out of bed to pitch up amid the palm trees of the Pacific.

The All Blacks have never played a Test in Fiji, let alone Samoa or Tonga, despite capping players like Joeli Vidiri, Michael Jones and Frank Bunce, all of whom made their initial international appearances in island colours.

Likewise, the Springboks have never visited the region.

Of the home nations, only Wales have made a full tour there, winning all three Tests in 1986.

Former Samoan captain Pat Lam has frequently warned that his country, one of the richest reservoirs of rugby talent on earth, will dry up without regular visits from the elite of the world game.

Like many of his brethren, he was shocked when New Zealand, Australia and South Africa slammed the Super 12 and Tri-Nations doors on the Pacific countries, let alone a combined island side.

England's visit will not right the entire catalogue of wrongs, but it will at least send out a signal to the islanders that someone cares.

- INDEPENDENT