ANNAPOLIS, Md. - The Navy men's and women's rugby teams will begin a two-week journey (May 13-27) to travel to Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga to participate in the U.S. Naval Academy Rugby Diplomacy Pacific Islands Tour.
 
The Midshipmen will play multiple 7s exhibition matches in each country, and participate in community outreach programs and learn about rich and vibrant Fijian, Samoan and Tongan culture and history.
 
President Biden announced this rugby diplomacy initiative during the U.S.-Pacific Islands Forum (PIF) Summit at the White House on Sept. 25, 2023. At the U.S.-PIF Summit, President Biden renewed the United States' commitment to enhancing our partnership with the Pacific Islands and the respective governments to achieve our shared vision for a resilient Pacific Islands region of peace, harmony, security, social inclusion, and prosperity, where individuals can reach their potential, the environment can thrive, and democracy can flourish.
 
As a demonstration of the United States' commitment to elevating broader and deeper engagement with the region as a priority of our foreign policy as outlined in the first-ever U.S. Pacific Partnership Strategy, the U.S. Naval Academy is taking an active role in this whole-of-government commitment to the Pacific. Through the U.S. Naval Academy Rugby Diplomacy Pacific Islands Tour, our Midshipmen will continue to deepen our people-to-people ties with Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga through sports diplomacy, youth empowerment programming, and cross-cultural education. It aims to develop strong academic, sports, and diplomatic relationships in the Oceania region, building new connections between the future leaders of the U.S. Navy (USN) and U.S. Marine Corps (USMC) and those of our partners.
 
On April 22, 2024, Secretary of the Navy Carlos Del Toro welcomed the USNA varsity rugby teams to the Pentagon in April to help kickoff the initiative. Secretary Del Toro, a 1983 Naval Academy graduate, emphasized the importance of sports diplomacy between our nations: "Expanding sports ties between our countries and peoples will lead to greater understanding of one another's societies and build support for areas like health and youth development."
 
"We are very excited about our upcoming trip to the Pacific. We are very grateful to our host nations Tonga, Samoa and Fiji for welcoming us with open arms and for sharing their homes and cultures with us," said director of rugby Gavin Hickie. "It is incredibly special to be able to visit Midshipman Ratu Osea Melibua's home in Beqa Island, Fiji and to get a deeper understanding of his upbringing and experiences. Rugby has a unique way of taking you on amazing journeys that you never saw coming and we feel very fortunate and thankful to the White House and the Department of the Navy for entrusting us with this special opportunity."