With Men’s Rugby World Cup 2027 now on the horizon, the Pacific Nations Cup is giving several teams an early opportunity to measure themselves against future World Cup opponents.

The USA and Japan will meet in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup 2026 semi-final in Osaka, less than 400 days before they are scheduled to face each other again at Adelaide Oval during the Rugby World Cup in Australia.

The other semi-final carries a similar significance.

Defending Pacific Nations Cup champions Fiji will face Canada, with the sides also set to meet at the 2027 World Cup.

While neither Pacific Nations Cup match will serve as a direct rehearsal for the World Cup, the fixtures provide valuable competitive experience as teams continue preparing for the global tournament.

For the USA, the semi-final is another step in rebuilding its squad after missing the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Coach Scott Lawrence has named a 23-man team featuring experienced players including captain Jason Daam and scrum-half Ruben de Haas, while former World Rugby Player of the Year Joe Taufete’e returns to Test rugby from the bench.

At the same time, Lawrence has an opportunity to assess players who are still establishing themselves at international level as the Eagles work towards their return to the Rugby World Cup.

Lawrence said both the USA and Japan appeared to be using the Pacific Nations Cup to develop players ahead of the 2027 tournament.

“I think it means that both teams, if you look at the selections of the teams, they’re both developing players towards that World Cup,” Lawrence told reporters on Friday.

Rather than placing too much emphasis on the result, Lawrence said the USA would focus on individual performances and the development of its playing group.

“In terms of the result, we’re not looking too much into the result, we’re more looking at the playing base,” he said, adding that Japan appeared to be taking a similar approach.

With both nations already looking towards their meeting in Adelaide in 2027, Lawrence suggested teams were unlikely to reveal everything they have planned this far ahead of the World Cup.

“We’ll be looking really at individual performances. Neither team will show too much now because there will be some surprises in store for everyone I’m sure during the World Cup.”

The Pacific Nations Cup therefore provides more than a chance to compete for silverware.

For the USA, Japan, Fiji and Canada, it is also an early checkpoint on the road to Rugby World Cup 2027.