Islanders vow to fight for their future

The Pacific Islanders wrapped up their first foray into Test rugby by declaring their intention to press for a permanent berth on the world stage.

The Islanders - comprising players from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji - captured the imagination of rugby fans everywhere during their inaugural three-Test tour, and are keen to nail down more fixtures.

Despite suffering losses to Australia (29-14), New Zealand (41-26) and South Africa (38-24), the composite side showed immense potential and played some spectacular rugby.

Pacific Islanders Rugby Alliance (PIRA) boss, Charlie Charters, said he had lobbied officials from the three southern hemisphere powers in a bid to have the Islanders considered for involvement in the Super 12 and the Tri-Nations.

"We've taken the opportunity over the last two weeks to try to engage the SANZAR unions individually to try to work out whether or not they are willing to offer a regular series of matches," Charters told a news conference on Sunday.

"What we've asked them was whether we could join as a fourth leg of their stool as it were, so we could have a Test team and Super 12 team within the structure.

"We are trying to push our agenda as hard as possible but they are also worried about the dollars and cents of the deal that is going to support the structure from 2006 onwards."

With no future plans in place, the concept of an established Pacific side is now in danger of being shelved - but Islanders coach John Boe believes that his side had proved that they deserve a competitive fixture list.

"We haven't been together long but we have played some attractive rugby," said Boe.

"We have different faces, we have a unique flair which people like and I definitely believe that there is a place in the world for us."

"I would love to see this team together again next year, be it in the northern hemisphere at Twickenham or back here again.

"A lot of people in New Zealand didn't give this team a hope. They didn't think they would gel because of the cultures.

"They thought they would get thrashed and certainly we've shown that's just not the case."