Ireland to meet Pacific Islanders in 2006

Ireland will meet the intense physical challenge posed by the Pacific Islanders - the combined talents of Fiji, Samoa and Tonga - in 2006.

The Islanders have been granted permission by the International Rugby Board to build on their 21-14 loss to Australia last July with further internationals against New Zealand and Italy in June 2006 and Scotland, Wales and Ireland in November of the same year.

Pacific Islands International Rugby Alliance Chief Executive Sakopo Lolohea said: "We have proceeded according to our alliance agreement. The decisions we took at our Wellington meeting, are in line with our commitments of all three nations under the IRB International Test Matches and Tours Schedule".

Eddie O'Sullivan's Irish side have beaten all three Pacific nations individually over the past three years.

They defeated Fiji - with Sevens legend Waiseli Serevi included - 64-17 in Dublin in November 2002, while on the 2003 summer tour, both Tonga and Samoa were seen off 40-19 and 40-14 respectively, in bruising encounters.