Pacific Four Series

{{Short description|International women's rugby union competition}}

{{Infobox rugby league football competition

|current_season=2025 Pacific Four Series

|pixels=50px

|caption=

|sport=Rugby union

|founded=2021

|teams=4

|country={{ruw|AUS}}

|country2={{ruw|CAN}}

|country3={{ruw|NZL}}

|country4={{ruw|USA}}

|champion={{ruw|CAN}}

|season=2nd in 2024

|most_champs={{nowrap|{{ruw|CAN}} & {{ruw|NZL}}
(2 titles each)}}

}}

The Pacific Four Series is an international rugby union competition that is sanctioned by World Rugby. It is contested between four women's national teams — Australia, Canada, New Zealand, and the United States.{{cite news|url=https://www.world.rugby/tournaments/womens/pacific-four-series|title=Pacific Four Series.|work=World Rugby|date=29 September 2021|accessdate=12 November 2021}} It began in 2021 and was initially contested between Canada and the United States. They were later joined by Australia and New Zealand in 2022.

History

The Pacific Four Series was announced as a cross-regional tournament that will serve as a qualifier for Oceania Rugby and Rugby Americas North (RAN) to the WXV competition that will officially launch in 2023. Australia, Canada, New Zealand and the United States were announced as the competing teams for the tournament.{{Cite web |title=What is the Pacific Four Series? |url=https://w-rugby.com/club-house/pacific-four-series-rugby |access-date=23 December 2022 |website=W RUGBY |language=en-GB}}{{cite news |date=29 September 2021 |title=World Rugby confirms Pacific Four Series schedule, the new cross-regional women's 15s tournament. |work=World Rugby |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/665841/world-rugby-confirms-pacific-four-series-schedule-the-new-cross-regional-womens-15s-tournament |accessdate=21 October 2021}}

Australia and New Zealand were unable to join the inaugural competition in 2021 due to the COVID-19 pandemic. However, World Rugby decided to proceed with the soft launch with only Canada and the United States. Canada won the initial tournament after two rounds of play.{{Cite web |date=5 November 2021 |title=Canada captures Pacific Four Series title with 26-13 win over USA Rugby |url=https://rugby.ca/en/news/2021/11/canada-captures-pacific-four-series-title-with-26-13-win-over-usa-rugby |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=Rugby Canada |language=en}}{{Cite web |last= |title=Canada seal inaugural World Rugby Pacific Four Series title |url=https://www.women.rugby/news/669543/canada-seal-inaugural-world-rugby-pacific-four-series-title |access-date=8 May 2022 |website=www.women.rugby |language=en}}

New Zealand won the 2022 Pacific Four Series after defeating the United States 50–6 in the final match.{{Cite web |date=18 June 2022 |title=Black Ferns win Pacific Four |url=https://www.odt.co.nz/sport/rugby/black-ferns-win-pacific-four |access-date=18 June 2022 |website=Otago Daily Times |language=en}}{{Cite web |date=18 June 2022 |title=New Zealand win the Pacific Four Series 2022 |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/715306?lang=en |access-date=18 June 2022 |website=www.world.rugby}} New Zealand retained the series title in 2023.{{Cite web |date=14 July 2023 |title=Undefeated Black Ferns crowned World Rugby Pacific Four Series 2023 champions |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/824996?lang=en |access-date=15 July 2023 |website=www.world.rugby}}{{Cite news |date=15 July 2023 |title=Pacific Four Series: New Zealand claim title with 39-17 win against USA |url=https://www.bbc.com/sport/rugby-union/66209800 |access-date=26 May 2024 |work=BBC Sport |language=en-GB}} In 2024, Canada won their first-ever test against the Black Ferns and claimed their second title.{{Cite web |date=19 May 2024 |title=History-makers Canada claim Pacific Four Series with first-ever win over Black Ferns |url=https://www.world.rugby/news/929041?lang=en |access-date=19 May 2024 |website=www.world.rugby}}{{Cite web |date=19 May 2024 |title=Black Ferns fail to defend their Pacific Four title after three-point loss to Canada |url=https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/517232/black-ferns-fail-to-defend-their-pacific-four-title-after-three-point-loss-to-canada |access-date=19 May 2024 |website=RNZ }}