Rugby World Cup

The 'Ikale Tahi take on Romania in Bucharest Sunday morning.

Coach Mana Otai has made nine changes to the starting fifteen, in an effort to give the full squad game-time ahead of the World Cup.

He says Romania is an ideal team to come up against before playing Georgia in two weeks time.

Cook Islands won the biennial event two years ago but will not defend their title, choosing to focus their limited resources on November's Olympic Sevens Qualifier.

Newcomers American Samoa open proceedings against Solomon Islands at Sir Hubert Murray Stadium, followed by hosts Papua New Guinea against Tahiti, in the first round of matches.

The General Manager of Rugby PNG, Frank Genia, says pride and silverware aren't the only things on up for grabs.

Manu Samoa coach Stephen Betham has made six changes to his starting side to face Canada in Toronto.

Viliamu Afatia, Iosefa Tekori and Faifili Levave get a start in the pack with local lad Faialaga Afamasaga getting a chance in the number 12 jersey.

The other two changes from the team that drew with Fiji is the return of Sinoti Sinoti and Ah See Tuala out wide.

Stephen Betham says this is the coaching team's final opportunity to test combinations and to give some players more game time.

A total of 40,000 tickets are currently on sale at tickets.rugbyworldcup.com and a further 100,000 additional tickets will go on sale Monday (July 27).

More than 2.15 million have already sold.

The additional tickets are a mixture of extra seats from the completion of venue configuration, handbacks from the Rugby World Cup Limited commercial programme, and tickets that have been registered for re-sale from fans who can no longer use their tickets.

He said rugby was a key national sport and united a nation.

Speaking at the opening of the FRU development workshop at the Outrigger on the Lagoon Fiji Monday,  Bainimarama said Fiji was blessed with a massive amount of local talent and resources.

He said provincial union leaders were the ones who would eventually take the Fijian brand of rugby to another level.