Tahiti Championship

The Tahiti Championship (French: Championnat de Tahiti) is a domestic rugby union club competition that is played in Tahiti. Created in 1971, the Tahiti Championship is at the top of the national league system operated by the Polynesian Rugby Federation (Tahiti),^[5] also known by its French initialism of FPR. There is promotion and relegation between the Tahiti Championship and the next level down, the Tahiti Championship D2. The seven best rugby teams in Tahiti participate in the competition, hence the name Championnat de Tahiti. The competition previously had more teams, but the league was split into two divisions.

Tahiti Championship

Current season, competition or edition: 2020 Tahiti Championship season
Sport	Rugby union
Founded	1971[1]
No. of teams	5[2][3]
Country	Tahiti
Most recent champion(s)	Pirae (7th title) (2019)[4]
Most titles	Paea (18 titles)[3] Paea Manu Ura (13 titles) AS Manu Ura (5 titles)
Relegation to	Tahiti Championship D2
Official website	www.federationpolynesiennederugby.com/
Notes
Official Source: https://www.federationpolynesiennederugby.com/

Many local French Polynesian players began their careers here in this league before moving to France to compete in the divisions of Ligue Nationale de Rugby.

The first ever final took place in 1971, Paea won the inaugural season. The competition has been held on an annual basis since, except in 1995 and 1997. Paea is the most successful club in the competition with 18 titles.^[1] Rugby is a hit in French Polynesia, especially in Tahiti, it is a great place to play rugby in paradise.^[6]

2020 season

This section is transcluded from 2020 Tahiti Championship season. (edit | history)

Club	City (commune)	Stadium	Capacity	Previous season
Arue	Papeete, Arue	Stade Fautaua	10,000	Vice Champions (1st in league)
Faʻaʻā	Papeete, Faʻaʻā	Stade Fautaua	10,000	6th
Papeete	Papeete	Stade Fautaua	10,000	Semi-finalists (4th in league)
Pirae	Papeete, Pirae	Stade Fautaua	10,000	Champions (2nd in league)
Punaauia	Papeete, Punaauia	Stade Fautaua	10,000	Semi-finalists (3rd in league)

2020 Tahiti Championship table

Pos	Team	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	TB	LB	Pts	Qualification
1	Faʻaʻā	3	2	1	0	67	43	+24	5	2	1	1	12	Semi-finals
2	Punaauia	3	2	0	1	50	39	+11	2	0	1	1	10
3	Pirae	3	1	1	1	77	45	+32	2	1	1	1	8
4	Arue	3	0	1	2	34	82	−48	2	0	0	0	2
5	Papeete	2	0	1	1	23	42	−19	0	1	0	0	2

Source:
Rules for classification: If teams are level at any stage, tiebreakers are applied in the following order:

1. Competition points earned in head-to-head matches
2. Points difference in head-to-head matches
3. Try differential in head-to-head matches
4. Points difference in all matches
5. Try differential in all matches
6. Points scored in all matches
7. Tries scored in all matches
8. Fewer matches forfeited
9. Classification in the previous Tahiti Championship season

Due to the COVID-19 pandemic in Tahiti and the suspension of the season, teams may end up not having to be relegated to Tahiti Championship D2.

^{[7][unreliable source?]}