Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 30 July
Photo:
Kerry Marshall / www.photosport.nz
A number of All Blacks with Pasifika heritage will be in action for their provincial teams when the National Provincial Championship (NPC) kicks off this week.
Queen Victoria School alumni from Fiji, Emoni Narawa and Timoci Tavatavanawai, will be on opposite ends when Bay of Plenty meets Tasman in Tauranga on Sunday.
Narawa joins fellow All Black and Samoan heritage player Pasilio Tosi in the Bay of Plenty squad, while Tavatavanawai is contracted to Tasman.
A number of Manu Samoa and 'Ikale Tahi reps are also expected to be in action during the NPC.
Samoan-Tongan Phillip Fatialofa is set to play for New Zealand's Futsal Whites at the Continental Futsal Championship in Thailand.
Oceania Football says the player is set to make his debut for Aotearoa, with the team scheduled to meet Chinese Taipei on Thursday in their first game.
Fatialofa says his selection is a dream come true.
With a Samoan dad and a part-Tongan mother, the 21-year-old grew up playing football in Wellington and represented Samoa at the OFC Under-19 Men's Championship in 2023.
The Futsal Whites meet Thailand on Friday in their second pool game.
The 'Ikale Tahi rugby squad started their preparation for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup in Auckland at the weekend.
Head coach Tevita Tuifua said the camp brought players together for the first time this year.
Missing were some players who are currently committed to the NPC in New Zealand.
Former All Black Salesi Piutau and France-based Ben Tameifuna are two of the senior players in the squad who were present at the camp.
Around 400 RSE workers in the Bay of Plenty area will compete at the second annual RSE Sports Festival in Mount Manganui on 23 August.
Led by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, with support from BOP Volleyball and BOP Football, the day is a collaboration between the kiwifruit industry and the local sporting groups to provide a day off the tools for hard working RSE workers.
Bay of Plenty Rugby manager Ati Aaifou-Olive said the RSE Sports Festival is a new way in which the sport can give RSE workers a positive experience while in New Zealand.
In 2024, 11 packhouses entered 39 teams, featuring 350 RSE workers from Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga at the event.
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Otago Daily Times
10 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Sides eager to knock Wellington off perch
The NPC gets under way tonight when Auckland host Waikato. Adrian Seconi takes a look at the teams. WELLINGTON Last year: Champions. The oil: The Lions set the benchmark with eight wins from 10 in the regular season. They were pushed hard in the semifinals by Waikato (29-24) and in the final by Bay of Plenty (23-20). But they held their composure and have most of the same crew back for 2025. Midfielder Riley Higgins and loose forward Peter Lakai had standout seasons and shape as threats again. Halfback Kyle Preston is another key figure. BAY OF PLENTY Last year: Runners-up. The oil: Steamers loose forward Joe Johnston (184) and Nikora Broughton (183) led the tackle count last year, and first five Kaleb Trask kept them in the right part of the park. Naitoa Ah Kuoi was a key figure in the lineout, while former Taieri fullback Taine Craig-Ranga made two appearances for the Steamers in 2024 and has made the squad again. CANTERBURY Last year: Beaten semifinalists. The oil: Unrivalled depth if they could get their All Blacks on the paddock. Even without them, Canterbury still have some game-breakers, particularly in the backs, where Braydon Ennor, Dallas McLeod and Chay Fihaki will loiter waiting for opportunities. They will be fielding relatively fresh combinations at first five and halfback that could take some time to establish. WAIKATO Last year: Beaten semifinalists. The oil: The Mooloos have a settled look and will lean on Aaron Cruden to get them one game further this season. They have also secured the services of former All Black Lima Sopoaga. Young loose forward Oli Mathis was one of the most exciting players to emerge last season and he showed astonishing versatility. Waikato were so ravaged by injury that he stepped up and played the last three games on the wing. TARANAKI Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: The 2023 champions had a strong campaign but were narrowly tipped out in the quarterfinals by Waikato. They have the Ranfurly Shield, though, and a team list chock-full of talent again. Hooker Ricky Riccitelli is one of the more effective players for the Bulls and nabbed a team-high eight tries. And watch out for Highlanders fullback Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens. TASMAN Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: Blockbusting outside back Leicester Fainga'anuku is returning for the Mako and he will make their backline infinitely more dangerous. They have also signed promising first five Harry Inch, powerful Australian utility forward Lopeti Faifua and Moana Pasifika hooker Tomasi Maka. Canterbury halfback Mitchell Drummond has made the move as well. HAWKE'S BAY Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: Moana Pasifika blindside Miracle Fai'ilagi and Māori All Black utility back Zarn Sullivan will play for the Magpies. Sullivan is on loan from Auckland and Fai'ilagi's bruising game will be a welcome addition. The Magpies were edged 19-17 in the quarterfinals by rival Bay of Plenty. COUNTIES-MANUKAU Last year: Eliminated in quarterfinals. The oil: No-one wanted to play the Steelers towards the end of the season. They started with four consecutive losses but charged up the ladder and into the playoffs, where they were beaten 29-14 by the eventual champions. Powerhouse No8 Hoskins Sotutu shapes as a key figure again. OTAGO Last year: Ninth. The oil: Missed the playoffs by a couple of bonus points. But it was the costly 45-17 loss to Counties-Manukau that sank their prospects. Looked good in a warm-up game against Southland. Winger Jona Nareki has recovered from a knee injury but Oliver Haig will miss the first month of the competition, and exciting fullback Finn Hurley is out for up to two months. Halfback Dylan Pledger is a very promising player. NORTH HARBOUR Last year: 10th. The oil: Former Steelers coach Jimmy Maher has taken over the reins and his first job is to sort out their lineout troubles and defensive leaks. They can score, though. Winger Mark Tele'a appears set for a full campaign unless he gets a call back from the All Blacks. Outside back Kade Banks was the competition's leading try-scorer, bagging 10. All Blacks loose forward Wallace Sititi might pop up late in the season if he is fully fit. AUCKLAND Last year: 11th. The oil: Auckland started with four consecutive losses and rounded out their campaign with three more losses. There was not much to celebrate. They have signed former Otago halfback James Arscott, Stephen Perofeta has transferred from Taranaki, and former New Zealand under-20 player Leo Gordon and Highlanders back-up lock Tai Cribb have joined the squad. SOUTHLAND Last year: 12th. The oil: Former Canterbury halfback Nic Shearer has made the move south and the Stags will be captained by Sean Withy again. Burly No 8 Semisi Tupou-Ta'eiloa is a strong ball-carrier. The Stags will struggle to make the playoffs. But as long as they beat Otago in round one, all will be well in Invercargill. Look out for development player Mika Muliaina. The Southlander has impressed in Dunedin club rugby this season and the young first five has all the skills to take his game to the next level. NORTHLAND Last year: 13th. The oil: They challenge Taranaki for the Ranfurly Shield in the opening round and they have not held it aloft since 1978. The Taniwha have a light splattering of talent, but the playoffs seem unlikely. That makes game one all or nothing. First five Rivez Reihana will lead the team around. MANAWATŪ Last year: Last. The oil: The Turbos have the silliest nickname in the competition. They are also based in Palmerston North. That's two strikes. Loose forwards TK Howden and Brayden Iose will give the pack some go-forward and Brett Cameron is an experienced first five. Highlanders fill-in Taniela Filimone is a strong runner.


Otago Daily Times
16 hours ago
- Otago Daily Times
Stag Day tipped to draw 10,000
The stage is set for a big day out at Rugby Park on Saturday. Otago will journey south to take on Southland in a battle for the Donald Stuart Memorial Trophy. And it is hoped there will be 10,000 in the ground to watch what will be the opening game for both teams in this year's national provincial championship. Last year, the game was played as the first match of the NPC season, also in Invercargill, and Southland came out on top 22-13. The crowd of 7300 led to Rugby Southland's hopes of getting a 10,000-strong crowd for this Saturday's game. Southland have termed the day "Stag Day" and has been heavily promoting the day, hoping to build a big rivalry which will get the pulses going. The union has sold out corporate marquees and tents at both ends of Rugby Park. It had usually sold the southern end of the ground out but has decided to sell corporate hospitality on the Southland Girls' High School end of the ground. It has been met with wide support and plenty of tents have been sold. Rugby Southland commercial and marketing manager Jack King said with all the corporate hospitality and tents there would be more than 1000 tickets sold to this sector. There was also some interest from those supporting the blue and gold. It will not be quite like 2010 when a train was chartered to take Otago supporters to the big match in Invercargill — which also doubled as a Ranfurly Shield challenge — but King said there appeared to be plenty of Otago supporters heading south. He said they would be heading to a special day. "Rugby Park is looking a picture. It has had something like 40 games on it this year which is the most for a long time. But it has been given a breather of late and is in top condition." The gates open at 1.30pm and there will be a curtain-raiser at 2pm with Southland Country taking on Dunedin Metro North. These teams are in the new Tuppy Diack shield competition, named after the late All Black and consisting of teams from Otago and Southland, with players who are looking to break into NPC teams. Immediately after this game, the men from Tokanui, Brenny & the Bushwhackers, will launch into song and burst out a few numbers. That should get everyone excited about the big game which kicks off at 4.35pm. Due to the large crowd expected, there will be extra security staff in the main stand. King said the large crowd should then disperse throughout the city after the match, which would be good for the city and the economy. "I think last year when the teams played it was one of the biggest days in terms of turnover for the ILT. So that is good for the city and the economy." The Southland side did not have a great preseason, losing to both Otago and Tasman away, but the season is not won before the season actually starts.

RNZ News
a day ago
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 30 July
Timoci Tavatavanawai and Emoni Narawa. Photo: Kerry Marshall / A number of All Blacks with Pasifika heritage will be in action for their provincial teams when the National Provincial Championship (NPC) kicks off this week. Queen Victoria School alumni from Fiji, Emoni Narawa and Timoci Tavatavanawai, will be on opposite ends when Bay of Plenty meets Tasman in Tauranga on Sunday. Narawa joins fellow All Black and Samoan heritage player Pasilio Tosi in the Bay of Plenty squad, while Tavatavanawai is contracted to Tasman. A number of Manu Samoa and 'Ikale Tahi reps are also expected to be in action during the NPC. Samoan-Tongan Phillip Fatialofa is set to play for New Zealand's Futsal Whites at the Continental Futsal Championship in Thailand. Oceania Football says the player is set to make his debut for Aotearoa, with the team scheduled to meet Chinese Taipei on Thursday in their first game. Fatialofa says his selection is a dream come true. With a Samoan dad and a part-Tongan mother, the 21-year-old grew up playing football in Wellington and represented Samoa at the OFC Under-19 Men's Championship in 2023. The Futsal Whites meet Thailand on Friday in their second pool game. The 'Ikale Tahi rugby squad started their preparation for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup in Auckland at the weekend. Head coach Tevita Tuifua said the camp brought players together for the first time this year. Missing were some players who are currently committed to the NPC in New Zealand. Former All Black Salesi Piutau and France-based Ben Tameifuna are two of the senior players in the squad who were present at the camp. Around 400 RSE workers in the Bay of Plenty area will compete at the second annual RSE Sports Festival in Mount Manganui on 23 August. Led by the Bay of Plenty Rugby Union, with support from BOP Volleyball and BOP Football, the day is a collaboration between the kiwifruit industry and the local sporting groups to provide a day off the tools for hard working RSE workers. Bay of Plenty Rugby manager Ati Aaifou-Olive said the RSE Sports Festival is a new way in which the sport can give RSE workers a positive experience while in New Zealand. In 2024, 11 packhouses entered 39 teams, featuring 350 RSE workers from Fiji, Samoa, Vanuatu and Tonga at the event.