Penina Pasifika Samoa defeated Penina Pasifika Tonga 19–10 in the inaugural “Battle of the Pacific” women’s rugby match at Teufaiva Stadium in Tonga.

The historic fixture, as described in a statement by Lakapi Samoa, marked the first meeting between the two sides and showcased top female rugby talent from both nations. Samoa built its lead early through disciplined defence and effective attacking phases, taking a 19–5 advantage into halftime. Tonga scored the first try of the match and remained competitive in the second half but was unable to close the gap, while Samoa held firm to secure the win.

Lakapi Samoa chief executive officer Seamanu Douglas Ngau Chun said this performance shows the work being done across our pathways. 

“Congratulations to Penina Samoa on a well-earned win over Penina Tonga. To come away with a 19–10 result on the road in the first ‘Battle of the Pacific’ is a strong statement from this group.

"Penina Samoa is an important step toward Manusina, and today we saw the quality and depth coming through. Credit to the players and management for their discipline and composure, and appreciation to PacificAus Sports and our partners for supporting opportunities like this.

"This is a proud moment for Samoa. It sets the standard, and now the focus is on building forward.”

The Samoan squad featured 28 players selected from local clubs across Upolu and Savaiʻi, supported by a 10-member management team led by the head coach.

In an official post, Lakapi Samoa also described the occasion as “a proud day for women's rugby in the Pasefika.”

Penina Pasifika Rugby is a high-performance initiative that aims to strengthen development pathways for Pacific women in rugby. Funded by the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program in partnership with Rugby Australia, it provides elite training and competition opportunities for players in Samoa and Tonga.