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RNZ News
3 days ago
- General
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 3 June
The Fijiana opened their 2025 season with a game against the Wallaroos. Photo: FRU Media Fiji rugby veterans are returning to the Fijiana 15s team for the 2025 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship. The Fijiana 15s enter this year's tournament as defending champions. FBC reported the returnees include Bitila Tawake, Rusila Nagasau, Asinate Serevi, Iris Verebalavu, and Jade Coates. The tournament will again see Fiji face off against traditional Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa, serving as a build-up to the women's Rugby World Cup. The first Rugby World Club Cup will be held in 2028. The competition will see 16 teams taking part, with eight qualifying through the Investec Champions Cup and the remainder from Super Rugby and Japan. The BBC reported European Professional Club Rugby chairman Dominic McKay has confirmed the plans. The existing Champions Cup, with teams from England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa and Italy, will continue. The Fiji Rakavi Football Union Ltd, the company that now manages Fiji Rugby, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Rugby Football Association (CRFA). FRU board chairman John Sanday said the MOU was signed in Beijing between FRU trustees board representative Jenny Seeto and the CRFA president Wang Yun. Sanday said the agreement will help boost rugby in both countries, with focus on rugby academies, youth exchanges and high-performance programs. Australia and New Zealand have confirmed their teams for the Pacific Mini Games in Palau. Twenty athletes have been selected to represent Australia in the athletics competition, which is set down for 4-9 July in Koror. Nine weighlifters will represent New Zealand, led by Olympian David Liti. The Games, which will feature athletes from 24 Pacific nations across 12 sports, will officially open on 29 June. Meanwhile, the chairman of the organising commitee said the event will be declared 'drug, alcohol and tobacco free'. Vanuatu's women's beach volleyball players, Majabelle Lawac and Shersyn Toko, have returned home with a bronze medal from the FIVB Volleyball Pro Tour Challenge in China, held last month. The duo defeated China 2-1 in the play-off for third position at the event. That win came after earlier competition in other international beach volleyball events in Vietnam and the Phillipines.
RNZ News
02-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fijiana set for first-ever home Test against Wallaroos
The Wallaroos Carys Dallinger (L) avoids a tackle from Fijiana's Bitila Tawake during the Women's Rugby match between the Australia's Wallaroos and Fiji's Fijiana at the Allianz Stadium in Sydney on May 20, 2023. Photo: AFP / Saeed Khan The Fijian women's 15s team will have a tough one to handle when they host the Wallaroos for the first-ever Test match on Fijian soil in Suva on Saturday. The visitors, who arrived in Fiji on Wednesday, have named a strong lineup, which includes Fijian heritage player Tabua Tuinakauvadra. Fijiana have also named their strongest match-day 23 and a new captain in Fijiana Drua player, 20-year-old Alfreda Fisher, who becomes the youngest player to captain the national women's 15s team. The two teams will battle at the National Stadium following the Super Rugby Pacific match between the Fijian Drua and Reds. While new Fijiana head coach Ioan Cunnigham has been off the field because of sickness, Flying Fijians head coach Mick Byrne has been helping Ifereimi Rawaqa to prepare for the match. Rawaqa told reporters in Suva this week that they expect the Wallaroos to be tough but they have worked on their set-pieces and game plan to counter the experienced visitors. "It's all about execution," the former Flying Fijian and current Fijiana Drua head coach said. "We worked on our lineouts and other details. In terms of our preparations, everyone is okay, everyone is on the same page, and we're looking forward to Saturday." Cunningham, who has joined the team after recovering from his sickness, said his selection of Fisher as captain may be surprising to some but the player has proven herself. "Firstly, we're really excited and looking forward to this historic fixture," he said. "Fisher being named captain is fantastic for her - she's been a standout individual in our group, leading by example. She's performed really well, especially with the Fijiana Drua in recent weeks, and we're incredibly proud of this opportunity for her." Assisting Fisher as vice captain will be Vani Arei, who has recovered from her injury sustained during last year's World Cup Qualifier in Brisbane. Former captain Bitila Tawake has been named on the bench but Olympic bronze medallist Rusila Nagasau packs down at number 8. Cunnigham said they are happy with the match-day 23 selected. The selected match day 23 blends youth with experience. "We're really pleased with the team we've selected," Cunnigham said. "We've spoken a lot about this opportunity to inspire, to go out there, enjoy the moment, and express themselves. This is still a key part of our journey towards the Rugby World Cup." Fiji Rugby Union's operations and development general manager Sale Sorovaki said the Test clash is an important one for the Fijians, ahead of the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. "It's the first time the Wallaroos are on Fijian soil and as a rugby nation, we've had a lot of Test matches for the men, but having the Women's World Cup this year in England, it's great to see the Wallaroos coming to Fiji and taking on the Fijiana," Sorovaki told The Fiji Times in Suva this week. "It's part of the build-up to the 2025 Rugby World Cup preparations for women, which will be held in England and these two teams have met on probably three occasions before." When the two teams last met in Sydney on July 6, 2024, the Wallaroos thrashed Fijiana 64-5. Two previous matches also went the Wallaroos way, a 22-5 win in 2023 and a 36-19 victory a year earlier. Wallaroos at a training session in Suva. 30 April 2025 Photo: Facebook / Wallaroos Meanwhile, former Australian sevens star Charlotte Caslick is in line for her Wallaroos debut. Coach Jo Yapp has named the player on the bench in his match-day 23, alongside fellow sevens star Tia Hinds. The team have six potential debutantes in the team with Brumbies hooker Katalina Amosa - the sister of current Wallaby hooker Brandon Paenga-Amosa - and Waratahs prop Faliki Pohiva named in the starting side. Amosa's call-up will see her and Brandon become the latest brother-sister duo to play for Australia in 15s. The Wallaroos will feature a number of players with Pasifika heritage, like Pohiva, who has been rewarded for a breakout season for New South Wales. "Every player in line for a debut is deserving of their opportunity and this Test match will allow us to see some new combinations," Yapp said. "There are plenty of inspiring stories with the new players coming in, as well as some who are returning from long term injury." Siokapesi Palu, who has Tongan heritage, will skipper the side for this Test and the Pacific Four series. "Siokapesi will lead us for this match and the Pacific Four series and the leadership group and players will support her," Yapp added. "Fijiana will provide us with a huge challenge in their own country. The fan support will be on their side and we look forward to playing them here in Suva for the first time." Fijiana v Wallaroos Kick-off: 5pm Satruday 3 May National Stadium, Suva Fijiana: 1. Salanieta Nabuli, 2. Keleni Marawa, 3. Anasimeci Korovata, 4. Jade Coates, 5. Mereoni Nakesa, 6. Alfreda Fisher (Captain), 7. Adi Salaseini Railumu, 8. Rusila Nagasau, 9. Kolora Lomani, 10. Salanieta Kinita, 11. Aloesi Nakoci, 12. Josivini Naihamu, 13. Vani Arei (Vice captain), 14. Repeka Tove, 15. Luisa Tisolo Bench: 16. Bitila Tawake, 17. Lavenia Gray, 18. Tiana Robanakadavu, 19. Merevesi Ofakimalino, 20. Karalaini Naisewa, 21. Setaita Railumu, 22. Ema Adivitaloga, 23. Atelaite Buna Wallaroos: 1. Bree-Anna Browne, 2. Katalina Amosa, 3. Faliki Pohiva, 4. Michaela Leonard, 5. Tiarah Minns, 6. Siokapesi Palu (Captain), 7. Ashley Marsters, 8. Tabua Tuinakauvadra, 9. Layne Morgan, 10. Faitala Moleka, 11. Desiree Miller, 12. Cecilia Smith, 13. Bienne Terita, 14. Maya Stewart, 15. Caitlyn Halse Bench: 16. Tania Naden, 17. Martha Fua, 18. Eva Karpani, 19. Ashley Fernandez, 20. Emily Chancellor, 21. Tia Hinds, 22. Trilleen Pomare, 23. Charlotte Caslick
