Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 13 August
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
Queensland Reds coach Les Kiss has named 10 potential debutants for Friday's clash against Tonga in Nuku'alofa.
The 26-member squad has a mix of seasoned Super Rugby players, standout Australian Under-20s players and high-performing club players.
The squad includes six uncapped players who featured for the Junior Wallabies at the recent World Rugby under-20s Championships in Italy, with veteran Fiji-born Seru Uru amongst the experienced hands named.
Friday's match at Te'ufaiva Stadium will be Tonga's only warm-up game before they face Samoa in their opening Pacific Nations Cup clash on 23 August.
Papua New Guinea will host the Pacific Bowl in this year's rugby league Pacific Championship series this October.
The Kumuls will meet the Fiji Bati and Cook Islands in Port Moresby in the men's competition.
NRL.com
reported the women's competition will feature PNG, Cook Islands and Tonga.
The Pacific Bowl tournaments will be played over three consecutive weekends at Santos Stadium, kicking off on 18 October.
The Pacific Cup competition, featuring Samoa, Tonga and New Zealand will be played in New Zealand and Australia.
Taranaki NPC winger Taniela Rakuro has extended his place at the Fijian Drua for another Super Rugby Pacific season.
The franchise said Rakuro, who made his debut in 2023, has signed a contract renewal for the 2026 competition.
The wing is currently with Taranaki in New Zealand's NPC, as an injury cover for Hurricanes winger Kini Naholo.
He scored five tries in their 97-nil victory over Thames Valley during a pre-season trial game.
Rakuro said he is grateful for the oppotunity to play Super Rugby again with the Drua in the new season.
Former double netball international, Kristiana Manu'a has announced her retirement from elite netball.
The New Zealand-born player of Samoan heritage played for the Australian Diamonds national team in 2016 and for Samoa's Tifa Moana in 2023, where she captained the team.
Her club Sunshine Coast Lightning says the player has had an illustrious 11-year career.
Manu'a, 30, has played 128 National League matches across the ANZ Championship, ANZ Premiership and Suncorp Super Netball in both New Zealand and Australia.
Tongan Tala women's netball team captain Hulita Veve is out of contract in Australia's Suncorp Super Netball competition, after the Queensland Firebirds announced she will not return to them in the new season.
Veve has been with the Firebirds from 2024, playing 32 games for the club.
She is one of three players that the club announced were not returning in 2026, the others being Tippah Dwan and Ashlee Barnett.
Veve has been Tongan netball team captain since 2022.
Fiji Bula Boys football coach Marika Rodu has named his 25-member extended squad for the King's Cup tournament in Thailand next month.
The squad will be trimmed to a final 21 players before the trip.
FBC
reported Rodu has named a number of young players, with a focus on the next FIFA World Cup qualification cycle.
The King's Cup will also feature host nation Thailand, Iraq, and Hong Kong.
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