KEY POINTS:
The Junior All Blacks will kick off the IRB Pacific National Cup rugby competition against Samoa in Apia on May 26.
Australia A have eventually joined the Cup that started last year to provide second tier test nations a more regular and meaningful competition.
Australia A, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks make up the Cup teams.
"The inaugural tournament in 2006 proved to be resounding success as the competition provided the platform for the Pacific Island nations and Japan to gain valuable exposure to an expanded test calendar against high-level opposition," International Rugby Board head of rugby services Mark Egan said.
"The introduction of Australia A adds a further competitive edge to the round-robin tournament, importantly guaranteeing an unprecedented number of top-level matches for Fiji, Japan, Samoa and Tonga as they step up their preparations for World Cup 2007 in France."
The Cup kicks off on May 19 when Samoa host Fiji in Apia.
Australia A meet Tonga at the Aussie Stadium in Sydney on May 25 and the Junior All Blacks begin their title defence against Samoa in Apia the next day, while Japan travel to Suva to take on Fiji.
Four more rounds follow on consecutive weekends.
Round 1 (all local times)
May 19: Samoa v Fiji, Apia Park, Apia, 3pm
May 25: Tonga v Australia A, Aussie Stadium, Sydney, 7.30pm
May 26
Samoa v Junior All Blacks, Apia Park, Apia, 3pm
Fiji v Japan, Churchill Park, Lautoka, 1pm
Round 2
June 2
Tonga v Japan, Coffs Harbour, 1.30pm
Australia A v Samoa, Coffs Harbour, 3.30pm
Fiji v Junior All Blacks, National Stadium, Suva, 1.30pm
Round 3
June 9
Tonga v Junior All Blacks, Nuku'alofa, 1pm
Australia A v Japan, Townsville, 6pm
Round 4
June 16
Japan v Samoa, Yurtec Stadium, Sendai City, 2pm
Fiji v Tonga, Churchill Park, Lautoka, 2.30pm
Junior All Blacks v Australia A, Dunedin, 4.30pm
Round 5
June 23
Samoa v Tonga, Apia Park, Apia 3pm
Fiji v Australia A, National Stadium, Suva, 3pm
June 24: Japan v Junior All Blacks, Prince Chichibu, Tokyo, 2pm
- NZPA
