(Reuters) The cancellation has come about because the International Rugby Board (IRB) wants to stage a World Cup qualifying tournament involving Japan, the United States, China and Russia.
It is unclear whether the Pacific Rim tournament, which began in 1999, would be reinstated after the next World Cup, which will take place in Australia and New Zealand.
Fiji are the current Pacific Rim champions after overpowering Samoa 28-17 in the Tokyo final in July.
The 2002 Pacific Rim rugby tournament has been scrapped to make way for regional qualifiers for the 2003 World Cup, Japanese officials of the game have confirmed.
