Samoa's historic home Test against the All Blacks proved to be an overwhelming success; the key now is to ensure it isn't confined to history as "the day the All Blacks visited Samoa".

That is in no way a shot at the world's No.1 rugby nation, nor the people who worked so hard behind the scenes to make this event happen. Everyone involved can take pride in what was a glorious, if long overdue, day for the game.

No, the onus now falls to the other Tier 1 nations and, perhaps more importantly, the game's governing body, World Rugby. Wednesday's Test in Apia should mark a shift in the attitude that surrounds Test-match fixturing, and the recognition that the Pacific Islands have been overlooked for far too long.

World-class Test rugby needs to be a regular fixture in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga; and World Rugby can play a part in helping to get more Tier 1 nations to the Pacific.

The lack of commercial value of games staged in the Pacific will always be the biggest issue. But this is where the administrators of the game can step in to use just a little of the whopping profit they'll receive from the coming Rugby World Cup to front up for some of the costs incurred by staging a Tier 1 Test in the Pacific.

Each non World-Cup year, the European nations head to New Zealand, Australia, South Africa and Argentina for the June Test window. Now, asking the nation touring South Africa to include the Pacific on their schedule isn't feasible, and the lack of direct flights from Buenos Aires reduces the likelihood of a post-Argentina stop; so the onus is on the countries heading either side of the Tasman. Next year, that's England and Wales, who'll play three-Test series against Australia and New Zealand respectively. World Rugby should be leading the way for these two giants of the game to include a Pacific stop.

Kahn Fotualii and Tusi Pisi performed Siva Tau with pride © Getty Images

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The Wallabies and All Blacks routinely play four Tests, and sometimes even five matches if the Barbarians are slated, on their journeys north at the end of the year; so an extra match in the Pacific wouldn't be asking anything more of Europe's elite. They should not be expected to pick up any costs, however; and this is where World Rugby must take on some financial responsibility and play its part.

The governing body could potentially cover the extra flights and the costs of staging the Test; including the necessary infrastructure around the stadium, transport and general facilities needed to for such an event. Samoa proved they were capable of hosting the All Blacks and, with the right leadership and assistance, there is no reason why Fiji and Tonga can't do the same.

While there would undoubtedly be some resistance from the powerful European clubs, as already seen by news of Toulon's displeasure with Samoan prop Census Johnston, World Rugby has the power to put those objections to one side in support of the Pacific region.

But is shouldn't stop there, either.

Samoa stunned Australia in Sydney in 2011 © Getty Images

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There is a perfect space in the calendar every four years when the British & Irish Lions head to Australia, South Africa or New Zealand, and this is when the two nations not hosting the Lions need to step up considerably. The Wallabies, in particular, could stage a three-Test series against ether Samoa, Tonga or Fiji, and take one of the games to the Pacific. Argentina, France and Italy are also free during this period, so there are further opportunities there, too.

Remember it wasn't that long ago that Samoa defeated the Wallabies in Sydney; Matt Giteau has departed and returned to the Test scene since then, yet still Australia hasn't stepped up to the Pacific table. They should be inspired to do so by what was on show in Apia, for, just like the All Blacks, the Islands have made significant playing contributions to the Wallabies for quite some time.

Again, World Rugby would need to play its part. The Australian Rugby Union struggles for cash as it is; and those at the union will be justifiably loath to head to the Pacific without a fair slice of help from the global body.

Put simply, rugby's international administrators, if they are serious about being a genuine world game and thus delivering on their naming premise, must recognise it's high time they invested in the Pacific. Expansion into Asia and the Americas is all well and good, but to continue to overlook the Islands - a traditional rugby region - is inexcusable.

Samoa are clearly capable of mixing it with the game's best, while Tonga and Fiji have the potential to be much more than just nuisance value at this year's World Cup. (Remember who defeated France in New Zealand four years ago.) As ESPN columnist and former All Blacks prop Craig Dowd wrote: "If Samoa had some financial backing, the rest of the world should watch out; that goes for Tonga and Fiji as well. We have got the best rugby players in the world in the Pacific - including New Zealand - and the mind boggles if the island nations could be involved in one of these competitions where they could generate some cash. Read more at

Rugby took a huge step forward in Samoa on Wednesday; let's hope we never hear it described as "that day the All Blacks visited Samoa".