Rugby union in the Marshall Islands of the playing population consists of Fijians and Tongans, along with some Americans. Rugby union in the Marshall Islands Rugby union in the Marshall Islands is a minor but growing sport. Rugby was introduced to the islands at some point in the twentieth century. Like many other Pacific nations, rugby is often not formally organised. Due to their small numbers, and scattered island population, they have often preferred rugby sevens to the XV game. However, rugby is less popular in the Marshall Islands, than some of the other Pacific islands. Rugby Sevens has been a sport in the South Pacific
History of the Marshall Islands History of the Marshall Islands Micronesians settled the Marshall Islands in the 2nd millennium BC, but there are no historical or oral records of that period. Over time, the Marshall Island people learned to navigate over long ocean distances by canoe using traditional stick charts. Spanish explorer Alonso de Salazar was the first European to see the islands in 1526, commanding the ship "Santa Maria de la Victoria", the only surviving vessel of the Loaísa Expedition. On August 21, he sighted an island (probably Taongi) at 14°N that he named "San Bartolome". On September 21, 1529, Álvaro de Saavedra Cerón