Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 5 August
Photo:
Nathan Mckinnon / RNZ
Fiji-born utility backline player Timoci Tavatavanawai has been retained in the All Blacks squad for the upcoming Rugby Championship series.
Tavatavanawai, first selected for the series against France in July, has been named by head coach Scott Robertson alongside fellow Queen Victoria School alumni Sevu Reece and Emoni Narawa.
He is one of 16 players of Pasifika heritage named in the squad to face Argentina, Australia and South Africa in the series, which kicks off on 17 August.
Two more players of Pasifika originals are named as injury covers, in George Bower and Tevita Mafileo.
The All Blacks face the Pumas in their first game.
Three Fijian players tested positive for illegal drugs during the Fiji Football Association-organised Battle of the Giants tournament in Labasa at the weekend.
Fiji Football Association chief executive Mohammed Yusuf said 48 tests were done on Friday and Saturday.
The
Fiji Sun
reported disciplinary actions range from a fine and a three-month suspension for first offenders, to harsher penalties if that's warranted.
Yusuf said the Fiji FA is teaming up with a non-governmental organisation to take drug awareness into districts around the country.
The Fiji men's netball team has recorded a narrow 43-42 win over New Zealand on day one of an invitational tournament in Suva.
It was the first time the two teams met in men's netball.
FBC reported the high-intensity match lived up to the hype.
Meanwhile, Fiji A also defeated Tonga 60-37 in the opening match.
The action continues on Tuesday with Fiji A taking on New Zealand while Tonga squares off against the main Fiji team.
World Rugby chairman Brett Robinson says "rugby is the game of the Pacific".
The former Wallaby, now at the helm of world rugby, made the comments after Pacific rugby chiefs recently raised concern over the NRL's investment into the region.
The NRL's multi-million-dollar deal between the Australian and PNG governments has raised concerns on how that might affect rugby union.
Speaking at the launch of the ticketing programme for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, Robinson said he's confident of rugby's status in the Pacific.
Northern Marianas Sports Association President Jerry Tan says he wants the CNMI to send their largest-ever delegation to the 2027 Pacific Games in Tahiti.
Marianas Variety
reported Tan made the statement at a celebration ceremony for NMI athletes who competed at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
Tan said the goal is to send 259 athletes to Tahiti, representing sports such as football, swimming, va'a, baseball, sailing, taekwondo and power lifting.
He said work on the process of securing a charter flight with Air Tahiti will begin soon, with fundraising activities to fund Team NMI also expected to roll out in the next few months.
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