Samoa rugby union

Fiji, Samoa take part in first World Rugby Council meeting

The Pacific Islands neighbours were elected onto the Council, which now comprises 51 members, after successfully meeting new governance criteria, following reforms launched in 2015.

World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont hailed the the landmark meeting and praised "the enormous contribution" Pacific Islands countries have made to the global game.

"This is an historic day for World Rugby and the Pacific Islands, and a reflection of the importance and success of the transformational governance reforms made by this organisation and the unions," he said.