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1975 (1975) Pacific Cup  ()
Number of teams	4
Host country	PNG
Winner	Māori (1st title)
Matches played	7
Tournaments1977 >

The 1975 Pacific Cup was the first edition of the Pacific Cup, a rugby league tournament held between Pacific teams. The tournament was hosted by Papua New Guinea and eventually won by the New Zealand Māori side, who defeated the hosts 38-13 in the final.

Background

The 1975 Pacific Cup was initiated by the New South Wales Rugby League. The tournament involved two Australian state sides as well as Papua New Guinea, who did not yet have Test match status, and the New Zealand Māori.

The Northern Territory were invited to participate, but had to drop out after Darwin was devastated by Cyclone Tracy.

Squads

• Coached by Tom Newton, the New Zealand Māori squad included Paul Matete, John Wilson, Fred Ah Kuoi, John Smith, Rick Muru, Dane Sorensen, Dennis Key, Ian Bell and captain Richard Bolton. The Māori side played a warm up game before the competition began, defeating Group 19 12-11 in Tweed Heads.

Results

	Team	Pld	W	D	L	Pts
1	Māori	3	3	0	0	6
2	Papua New Guinea	3	2	0	1	4
3	Western Australia	3	1	0	2	2
4	Victoria	3	0	0	3	0

Round 1

Western Australia	23 – 21	Victoria
Tries: Haris-Walker (2), Kelly Goals: Clarke (7)		Tries: King (2), Tehei, Smith, Hoyle Goals: Tehei (3)

Papua New Guinea	15 – 41	Māori
Tries: Bubol (2), Guere Goals: Heiler (3)		Tries: Ah Kuoi (2), Bolton, W. Sorensen, Chetham, Matete, Waikai, Wilson, Netzler Goals: Wilson (7)

Round 2

Māori	61 – 3	Victoria

Papua New Guinea	15 – 13	Western Australia

Round 3

Papua New Guinea	38 – 0	Victoria

Māori	38 – 15	Western Australia

Final

Māori	38 – 13	Papua New Guinea

References

1. ^ John Coffey, Bernie Wood (2008). 100 years: Māori rugby league, 1908-2008. Huia Publishers. pp. 191–193. ISBN 978-1-86969-331-2.
2. International Competitions 1975 The Vault
3. ^ Cepulis, Charles (5 May 1975). "Maoris Too Big And Strong For PNG". Post-Courier. Papua New Guinea. p. 24 – via Trove.

• 1975 in rugby league
• International rugby league competitions hosted by Papua New Guinea
• 1975 in Papua New Guinean sport
• Pacific Cup
• 1975 in Oceanian sport