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The 42
a day ago
- Sport
- The 42
'My dream would be to go back at some point and play for Ulster'
HAVING FINISHED UP with the Ulster academy at the end of the season, Jack Boal was in a confusing sort of situation as he tried to figure out his next step in rugby. Ever since the age of 14, the loosehead prop had a pre-season to report for with his team but he was facing the odd scenario of launching into one by himself. He had spoken to a couple of English Championship clubs, but nothing had been agreed. And then at the end of June, Boal got a call from his agent, former Ireland and Ulster lock Dan Tuohy, asking if he was up for an adventure in Australia. 22-year-old Boal jumped at the chance. So it is that he finds himself in a key role for the University of Queensland club, playing alongside Tim Nanai-Williams – still 'a baller' at the age of 36 – Fijian out-half Teti Tela, and lots of Super Rugby players. Boal hopes to get a deal over the line with a Championship club in England before their season starts in October, but Brisbane is a beautiful place for him to be kicking on with life after Ulster. He has been impressing Down Under in recent weeks, catching the eye with his dynamic performances in the front row. Sitting outside a nice neighbourhood café in the suburb of St Lucia, where he's based, Boal said it's the perfect spot to move on from the disappointment of leaving Ulster. 'It was tough,' said Boal. 'I think I struggled more after the fact. A few weeks had gone by and you're still in the building, we had Ulster A games to prep for, and I was still training with the seniors. 'I was trying to wrap my head around it and even thinking, 'If I go really well here, I might change their decision.' Even now, leaving group chats and whatever, that sort of aspect of it is tough.' Boal has started to look ahead with excitement, though. He knows lots of Irish players have gone abroad and done very well. Boal in action for Ulster A against Munster A. Ben Brady / INPHO Ben Brady / INPHO / INPHO And he spoke to Ulster players like Andrew Warwick, Alan O'Connor, and Corrie Barrett about how they didn't have the most linear journeys in rugby but made it as pros. 'I think my dream would obviously be to go back at some point and play for Ulster,' said Boal. 'I've got so much time to develop and hopefully gain a lot of experience. It's an exciting journey as well. I get to come out here and experience Brisbane and I think my girlfriend's going to come over and we might do a few weeks travelling at the end of the season, exploring down to Sydney or up north a wee bit.' Advertisement Boal is a Bangor boy who started playing with his local club before making an impression at Campbell College, where he says the coaching of former Ireland internationals Brian Robinson and Neil Doak was a major influence on him. Boal joined Belfast Harlequins after school and had to prove himself during two seasons with the Ulster sub-academy before he got a full academy deal in 2023. The sub-academy was a real 'grind,' explained Boal, who can also play tighthead. Gym sessions early in the morning meant long days, but he loved proving himself. He credits 'class act' Doak with showing him a professional approach to things like analysis, while Boal says that the Ulster academy coach and current Ireland U20s boss' straight-to-the-point communication helped get the best out of him. The All-Ireland League was an ideal place for a young loosehead to learn, with ex-Ulster prop Paddy McAllister another positive influence on Boal in Belfast Harlequins. 'Even just the amount of reset challenges that you can have as a prop, because even at pro level, boys get turned over, they get flipped. 'Paddy would just be like, 'Next job, you know what to do and just believe in what you've been doing before.' I think I progressed quite well. Jack Boal training with the Ireland U19s. Laszlo Geczo / INPHO Laszlo Geczo / INPHO / INPHO 'I think I got milled a few times in those first few games but no, it was really good.' Boal played for the Ireland U19s in 2022, winning two caps against France and impressing a few people he reckons might not have seen him as much of a prospect before that. Frustratingly, he suffered a hamstring injury at the end of that season and was playing catch-up when it came to the Ireland U20s in 2023. He was part of Richie Murphy's group, but Paddy McCarthy and George Hadden established themselves as the two looseheads. 'I was worried after not playing 20s that I wouldn't then be contracted because that's normally the benchmark,' said Boal, but he was thrilled that Doak, Gavin Hogg, and Willie Faloon in the Ulster academy saw enough in him to give him a deal. Boal had two seasons with Ulster and loved being part of the environment. He got close to a senior appearance a couple of times when he was 24th man, including for the clash with Leinster back in April. Warwick hurt his neck in the warm-up and head coach Murphy asked Boal to get ready because he might be on the bench. He told the young prop that the Ulster coaches believed in him and to give it a crack. In the end, Warwick played but was forced off with his injury just before half time. Ultimately, the Ulster set-up decided not to keep Boal on board beyond the end of the season. 'That's the way it is in pro sports sometimes,' said Boal. 'Richie's got a certain view of what he wants to do and it's a rebuild in Ulster at the minute, so that's fine. 'It's pro sports and you have to respect the decision, really.' He certainly didn't expect to end up in Australia so soon after exiting Ulster but it has been hugely enjoyable on and off the pitch. Boal in Queen's University colours. Tom Maher / INPHO Tom Maher / INPHO / INPHO Just before he was due to leave Ireland, Boal got a call from the University of Queensland club to let him know his flight through Doha had been cancelled because of the trouble in Qatar. He was redirected through Canada, with a 14-hour stopover in Vancouver, but got to Australia in one piece. All has been smooth since. The rugby has been high-paced and high-quality with the 'Red Heavies,' as the University of Queensland are known. Michael Lynagh came through the club, as did the likes of Drew Mitchell, James Horwill, Stephen Moore, Tate McDermott, and a host of other Wallabies. The Lions tour coming to Brisbane twice in the last few weeks has been welcome, meaning this has been a happy move for Boal. He is open-minded about what comes next for him in rugby, but the young Ulsterman is determined to show people what he's all about. 'I'm keen to, you know, prove people wrong because I feel like I can definitely do a job,' said Boal. 'I think I've done quite well in proving people wrong in my build-up to now. 'So, I'll continue that way and try to keep pushing on with my career.'
Scoop
6 days ago
- Politics
- Scoop
Feminist Leaders Challenge GBV Policy Paper That Recentres Patriarchy And Undermines Survivor-Centred Approaches
Fijian feminist leaders from the Fiji Women's Crisis Centre (FWCC) and Fiji Women's Rights Movement (FWRM) are raising strong concerns over a recent policy paper titled 'Masculinities and Gender-based Violence in Fiji: The Perceptions of iTaukei Men' by Avelina Rokoduru. The paper, published under the New Zealand Pacific Gender Research Portal, has prompted concerns for recentering patriarchal narratives, minimising survivors' voices, and misrepresenting feminism as incompatible with Pacific contexts. While it is important to engage men in efforts to end gender-based violence (GBV), feminist advocates argue that this paper, which contains perspectives of only 31 men, dangerously prioritises male discomfort over survivor safety and accountability. It positions feminist approaches as ineffective and even obstructive—despite decades of proven leadership by women's rights organisations in Fiji and the Pacific. 'Feminism is not an external import—it is deeply rooted in the Pacific and led by women who have long worked within our cultures, faiths, and values to end violence,' said Nalini Singh, Executive Director of FWRM. 'To frame feminist work as a barrier to national policy is not only misleading—it is dangerous.' The paper argues that Fiji's GBV response has been hindered by a feminist lens that centres survivors, and suggests policy should be reshaped to reflect men's perspectives and their resistance to current gender discourses. We argue this is a regressive move that reinscribes patriarchy—a system where male dominance is normalised, and women's experiences are devalued. In reality, feminist-led organisations such as the FWCC, FWRM and DIVA for Equality, and others have driven the most robust national data collection and service delivery on GBV, including the landmark prevalence studies by FWCC (Somebody's Life, Everybody's Business: National Research on Women's Health and Life Experiences in Fiji (2010/2011)) and DIVA for Equality ('Unjust, Unequal, Unstoppable: Fiji LBT women and gender non-conforming people tipping the scales toward justice' (2022)). Yet the paper falsely implies that feminists have prevented data collection on perpetrators, deflecting attention away from state institutions that remain underfunded or uncoordinated. The paper also frames gender equality as a 'Western' concept, ignoring the long history of Pacific women who have embedded gender justice within cultural, Indigenous, and spiritual frameworks. Feminists caution that such framing can serve to reinforce patriarchal power under the guise of cultural authenticity. Critically, the paper fails to apply an intersectional lens, excluding voices of LGBTQI+ individuals, women with disabilities, rural and young women—those most affected by GBV and most neglected in state responses. The paper also uses terms like "incompatibility" and "communication breakdown" to explain GBV, rather than clearly naming power and patriarchy as root causes of violence. 'Gender-based violence is about power, not culture,' said Shamima Ali, Coordinator of FWCC. 'Culture can be a tool of healing or harm—what matters is whether it protects rights and promotes safety. This paper sadly reinforces the idea that addressing GBV means making men feel comfortable, rather than making women and survivors feel safe.' Feminist networks across the Pacific are calling for renewed focus on survivor-centred, intersectional, and anti-patriarchal policies that address the root causes of violence. They stress the need for stronger investment in feminist research, movement-building, and structural reform—not a return to systems that normalise male control. 'We cannot end GBV by reinforcing the same patriarchal logic that created it,' said Nalini Singh. 'We need political courage to move forward—not policy dressed up in gendered neutrality that quietly protects the status quo.' The one useful contribution the paper makes is that it reinforces what has been said by Fijian and Pacific feminists, but purely anecdotally, and makes no new findings. Feminist advocates are urging everyone to: • Recognise and respect the leadership of Pacific feminist and survivor-led organisations; • Ensure future research on GBV is grounded in intersectional and rights-based frameworks; • Reject narratives that pit masculinities against feminism; and • Name and dismantle patriarchy in both policy and practice.
RNZ News
6 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
'I just let it flow': Meet 16-year-old James Kusitino, Fiji's first pro surfer
@kanebrownphoto. James Kusitino riding the wave. Photo: Kane Brown At just 16 years old, Fijian surfer James Kusitino is already making waves in the international surf scene. With a natural talent and effortless appearance on the water, Kusitino has quickly captivated surfing communities around the world. Now, the youngster has become Fiji's first sponsored professional surfer, having recently been backed by renowned surf and skate brand FORMER. Photo by Guy Mac. James Kusitino, pictured, now sponsored by FORMER. Photo: Guy Mac, @guy__mac Kusitino was only five years old when he caught a wave, pushed into the whitewash by his uncle. "I don't remember much," he laughed. "Just that I was scared but also didn't want to get off the board." But any initial fears, even at that age, did not last long. By the time he was eight, Kusitino was already surfing Cloudbreak, one of the world's most iconic and formerly exclusive surf spots. It is the kind of break most surfers only dream of, once called "the best wave on Earth" by 11-time world champion Kelly Slater. But Cloudbreak has a complicated history, something that was recently explored by Stab Magazine writer Christian Bowcutt. For years, access to the wave was tightly controlled by the nearby luxury Tavarua Island Resort, which held a private lease over the surrounding reef, effectively barring local surfers. That all changed in 2010, a year after Kusitino was born, when Fiji's then-Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama ended exclusive surf rights following mounting pressure to open the country's waves to everyone - locals included. "My first time surfing Cloudbreak was actually part of a competition…I was surfing alongside Jake Maki," Kusitino said. It is a lucky thing it all changed, because Cloudbreak is Kusitino's main hunting ground, the place he thrives, and where he believes "all the mana is." "Everyone from all around the world, all the good surfers come out here. I would just watch them, and get better as a surfer by just watching," he said. "There weren't any other people my age out there," he added. "...and it just felt right. I started getting good waves, and I was like, wow. I should just keep doing this and see where it takes me." His free-flowing, instinctive attitude has drawn praise from surf watchers around the world, setting him apart. There's a lot of eyes on him - but one of Kusitino's keys to success is that he "doesn't overthink it." "I just go with what feels good, I don't like to force things," he said. "I just do what feels good. Just what feels nice. If you force a style, it looks bad. I just let it flow." Photo by Guy Mac. James Kusitino, pictured, now sponsored by FORMER. Photo: Guy Mac, @guy__mac Committing to the surf, especially as his talent continues to grow, meant stepping away from school as he began missing too much class. Both Kusitino's parents have supported the decision, though his mum is "a little more hesitant." "I'm not at school anymore. It was my parents idea for me to drop out of school, they believe in chasing the dream…and doing what I love. My dad had so much trust - my mum, not as much as my dad," Kusitino laughed. "Even when I was in school, the teacher would go around, asking, what are you trying to be when you grow up? It was the same…doctor, pilot, doctor. Then they come to me, and I'm like, I want to be a professional surfer." Kusitino currently splits his time between his family home in Kulukulu and a yacht he works on, which is anchored in Nadi for the moment. "We just work on the boat…clean it up, keep it clean for the boss when he comes. When he's here, we do jobs, cleaning, things like that. "But most of the time, I just surf. That's my job…and that is a good job to have." Kusitino agreed that his reality seems like fantasy for other young surfers. However, he added that the water is simply his "real home." "I drop everything on land, I'm very clumsy," Kusitino said. "But in the water, I'm like a fish. The water is healing for me. When I'm sick, I just go swimming. I get in the water. I feel better straight away." After perusing a few sponsorship deals, Kusitino signed with iconic surfer Craig Anderson's label, FORMER. "Craig's the best person on earth. Just being around him is all I need," Kusitino said. "I don't even want to look for more." Shot by @jakefissendencreative. 16-year-old James Kusitino riding the wave. Photo: Jake Fissenden He's inspired by the likes of Anderson, and other legends like Mason Ho. Kusitino added that his mentor, local surf legend Che Slatter, has also been a pivotal part of his journey, encouraging his capability since day dot. Looking forward, Kusitino's biggest dreams are to take on the world's most massive waves. "I want to surf Waimea, Chopes, and the Eddie. And I want to win Cloudbreak as a wildcard. No wildcard has won it yet - maybe I can be the first." For now, though, he keeps it simple. He wakes up, checks the waves, and "breathes deep" before paddling out. "When the first set comes, I let it go. I just see where it breaks and how it looks," he said. "No pressure. I just go with the flow." Kusitino added that he is thrilled to be representing the Pacific, especially Fiji, and his family. His advice for other young surfers, especially other youngsters around the Pacific: "Just keep surfing. Do what you love with your heart. The more you surf, the more special things will happen."
Yahoo
6 days ago
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Singer George ‘Fiji' Veikoso Passes Away at 55
The music world is mourning the death of , the legendary Hawaiian singer. Veikoso captivated audiences as a reggae pioneer, songwriter, and producer who defined contemporary Pacific music. Since his debut in the 80s, Fiji's infectious rhythms and soulful voice have created an irreplaceable legacy. He gained popularity for 'Let Me Be the One,' the theme song of Baywatch Season 11. So, what happened to Veikoso? Here are all the details fans need to know regarding the same. George 'Fiji' Veikoso's cause of death explained As per reports, George Brooks Veikoso, better known by his stage name 'Fiji,' passed away at 55. According to Hawaii News Now, the artist was surrounded by family at the time of his demise. While there aren't many details regarding his untimely passing, reports claim the musician took his last breath in his home nation, Fiji. Many of Veikoso's colleagues came forward to pay tribute to his life and work. Singer Kimie Miner, who considered him her mentor, told the outlet, '(His passing) really hurt me because it just felt like I couldn't call on my mentor anymore, and he's not there anymore. It made me so sad to know that he's gone, but his legacy is so big that I know his legacy will carry on forever.' Meanwhile, musician Kelly Boy DeLima called Veikoso his 'Boso', which means brother in Fijian. In an emotional Instagram post, he wrote, 'I have always been your biggest fan. You will be so missed. Love you, Boso. Til we meet again.' George 'Fiji' Veikoso began his music journey as a child and entered the industry in 1987 with the Fijian band Rootstrata. Political unrest forced him to move to Hawaii the same year. There, Veikoso had a new beginning as he released his debut album, Evolution, in 1994. It featured several hit tracks like 'Lia,' 'Good Thang,' and 'Symphony of Love.' Within two years of his first album, Veikoso earned the chart-topper status when he released the album Born & Raised in 1996. His impact as a true pioneer of the Pacific reggae scene got its true recognition through several awards. Veikoso received a Na Hoku Hanohano Award (1998), a Pacific Music Award (2014), and a Lifetime Achievement Award (2021). In 2024, he hosted the FIJI HOMECOMING concert, drawing thousands and featuring major Hawaiian artists. Originally reported by Arpita Adhya on The post Singer George 'Fiji' Veikoso Passes Away at 55 appeared first on Mandatory. Solve the daily Crossword
Sydney Morning Herald
6 days ago
- Sydney Morning Herald
A feared crime family ruled Sydney's underworld. Now it's at war with itself
The first cracks in the facade of the Alameddine crime network started to show just over six months ago. On a February afternoon, one of the network's long-time members, Samimjan Azari, and two associates were shot at in the car park of a Brighton-Le-Sands restaurant, where gunmen ambushed them in a brazen assassination attempt. From the outside, it appeared the Alameddine network, which has for several years controlled Sydney's illicit drug market, was again at war with rivals staking their own claim on the lucrative trade. But rather than fighting off cross-town enemies making a play for its turf, police say the Alameddine network was entrenched in a conflict within its own ranks. In the months before, the feared network was fractured when one of its senior members defected to form his own criminal organisation, sparking a gangland war that spilt onto Sydney's streets that February day. By the time the first shots were fired, a chasm had long opened up within the powerful organisation, splitting it in two as once-loyal members defected to join the new organised crime network founded by the senior Alameddine figure. Since defecting, the former member, who the Herald cannot name for legal reasons, has bolstered his new network, turning other senior Alameddine figures against their long-time allies as shootings have plagued both sides of the conflict. This masthead does not suggest any of the individuals identified in this article are responsible for any of the shootings. 'There's been a division and that's the problem,' Detective Superintendent Jason Box said. 'It was one organised crime network working as a collective – there's now a division and that hasn't been accepted internally, hence the conflict.' At the centre of the conflict, Azari has become Sydney's most marked man after taking up a senior role in the new network alongside Joseph Vokai, the alleged head of KVT. A street gang with a membership of predominantly Fijian men, the KVT long acted as muscle for the Alameddine network in its multimillion-dollar drug-trafficking operations. But when the network fractured, Vokai turned his back on the gang's long-time employer, aligning himself with Azari. 'There's been a significant divide at the highest level of this organised crime network, resulting in, we believe, the Alameddine and KVT split,' Box said. Since he was targeted at Brighton-Le-Sands, Azari has survived three separate attempts on his life, the most recent last month when masked gunmen cornered him inside a Turkish restaurant in Auburn. Azari was shot twice, in the arm and the shoulder, but survived. An associate of Azari, a 25-year-old man, was shot in the face, while an innocent restaurant employee, a 47-year-old woman, was shot twice in the torso during the attack. Three weeks earlier, Azari survived an assassination attempt that killed his associate, Dawood Zakaria, when assailants opened fire on a Toyota HiLux the pair was travelling in with two other men in Granville. Zakaria, 32, who was with Azari when he was targeted in Brighton-Le-Sands and had been acting as a bodyguard for the 26-year-old since he took up his role at the head of the new network, was shot in the head and died in hospital several days later. Days after Zakaria was shot, police established Taskforce Falcon, made up of 100 detectives from various squads and 50 uniformed officers, to quell the violence linked to the conflict. Azari has dismissed repeated warnings from police to alter his movements, choosing instead to frequent public places, where he continues to be targeted. 'He's been told numerous times that he's at risk, and I think surely that he would be aware of that after four attempts on his life, and the movements for him is a matter for him to determine, but I hope that he makes the right decisions for his welfare,' said Box, the commander of Taskforce Falcon. Expanding on the Alameddine network's historic control of the drug trade, the new network has infiltrated Sydney's illicit tobacco market, with several members and associates allegedly involved in a number of thefts, or 'rips' of tobacco worth millions of dollars since last year. Several have been charged and remain before the courts. Police insist illicit tobacco is not the cause of the conflict, but rather the commodity of choice for the new network, which is largely comprised of defected Alameddine and KVT members. On the other side of the conflict, some members remain loyal to the Alameddine network and its patriarch, Rafat Alameddine, as they grapple to retain control of Sydney's underworld. Alameddine fled Australia for the safety of Lebanon, where he is a citizen, in November 2022. He remains wanted alongside fellow gangland figure John Ray Bayssari over an alleged criminal conspiracy to murder their underworld enemy Ibrahem Hamze in 2021. 'The Alameddine organised crime network is obviously still functioning and there are still representatives here and people are active; whether they're onshore or offshore, they're still active and still part of that network,' Box said. Alameddine's former bodyguard, Ali Elmoubayed, who police believe runs the crime family's operations in Australia, remains aligned with the kingpin, as does rapper Ay Huncho, whose real name is Ali Younes. In May, Younes posted a photo of himself alongside Alameddine to his Instagram. 'What's understood don't need to be explained,' the caption read. As shootings on both sides of the conflict continue, Younes' loyalty to Elmoubayed and Alameddine has sparked concerns he may be targeted. Last month, Younes successfully applied to vary his bail conditions, which now allow him to report to police by phone, in an attempt to make his movements less predictable for would-be assassins. A week after Younes varied his bail conditions, Elmoubayed himself narrowly escaped a shooting at his Merrylands home, which was peppered with bullets minutes after he left to front Parramatta Local Court. Hours later, a magistrate allowed Elmoubayed and his young family to relocate to an inner-city high-rise apartment building with security features that his lawyers argued would safeguard him from future attacks. Police say it is unclear exactly what led to the divide within the Alameddine network, with petty grievances between former allies likely to have added fuel to the conflict. 'There's a lot of reasons this could have happened, from the leadership down, to decisions that are being made, to who holds a certain amount of power, and if people aren't adhering to leaders' instructions,' Box said. Despite the targeting of leaders on each side of the divide, police have warned members of each network that they are in the firing line as the conflict continues. 'The reality is: anyone connected with this conflict is a potential target for retribution,' Box said.
