Latest news with #Fijiana
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
04-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Fiji sevens teams miss cup semis in Los Angeles
Fijian Sevens team at training as they prepare for the upcoming HSBC Hong Kong 7s. 18 March 2025 Photo: Fiji Rugby Fiji's two national sevens rugby teams are out of the running for the main titles at the Sevens World Championship in Los Angeles this weekend, following pool losses on Sunday. In the men's competition, the Fijians were a major disappointment, losing all their three matches on the day. They were beaten 17-12 by New Zealand in their opening game on Sunday morning. The Fijians also lost their second game, pipped at the final whistle by Australia 15-14 before they then slumped to their third defeat, going down 24-12 to Spain. That meant the Singapore 7s champions have not made the Cup semifinals, where New Zealand will now feature against South Africa. The semifinals are scheduled for Monday morning. The other semifinal in the men's competition will see Argentina take on Spain. Meanwhile, the Fijiana women's sevens team had one win to their name but they also lost out of a spot in the final four following two losses. Fijiana were dumped 26-5 by Australia in their first game, but defeated France 26-22 in their second game, with a chance to get into the top four if they won their last game against the US. However, the Americans had too much power in the end to claim victory and shut Fiji out, running to a 31-19 win in the deciding pool match. The women's semifinal will feature Australia against Canada while New Zealand will battle the US. In the Play-off Championship, Samoa needs to win their last pool match on Monday morning to secure their semifinal spot. The side defeated Kenya 19-12 in their opening pool game but lost to the US 25-19. They will meet Portugal in their decider on Monday morning, a win could see them into the last four. If the Samoans win a top-four spot they will return to the core World Sevens series in the 2025/2026 series, which will kick off in Dubai at the end of the year. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
04-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Wallaroos beat Fijiana 43-7 at the National Stadium in Suva
Fijiana centre Josivini Naihamu tries to run away from the Wallaroos defence on Saturday. Photo: FRU Media It was a hiding. The Australian Wallaroos just had too much power, initiative and skills as they pounded the Fijiana women's rugby team into submission in a 43-7 win at the National Stadium in Suva on Saturday. The rising Wallaroos led 31-7 at halftime, in the team's first-ever test played on Fijian soil. Fans who decided to stay back after watching the earlier Fijian Drua win over the Reds in the Super Rugby Pacific clash rooted for the team from the grandstand, as the locals scored first through captain Alfreda Fisher. But that was the only time they saw their national reps cross the Australian line. New head coach Ioan Cunningham said at the post-match conference he was happy with what some phases of the Fijiana play, as he looked forward to the Rugby World Cup later this year. "The performance showed real promise, determination, and resilience," he told the media in Suva. "Our strength today was how we carried the ball with purpose. We just need to sharpen our execution and decision-making." The Wallaroos, on the other hand, showed why they are going to be a threat at the world meet. Wallaroos captain Sikapesi Palu (second from left) and Fijiana captain Alfreda Smith, with the Vuvale Trophy flanker by Fiji Rugby board chairman John Sanday (left) and Australia Rugby chief Phil Waugh at the National Stadium in Suva. Photo: FRU Media Ranked sixth in the world, the Australians showcased their superior skill, structure, and fitness to cruise past a Fijiana side that, while physically committed, struggled with execution and pace over 80 minutes. Fijiana drew first blood by capitalising on an early Wallaroos yellow card, with Fisher crashing over on the 7th minute. But the Wallaroos responded swiftly through Caitlyn Haise, and from there, the momentum swung decisively in favour of the visitors. Two Bienne Terita tries, one from captain Siokapesi Palu, and Desiree Miller had the visitors up in the lead at halftime. The Wallaroos continued to control the second half with clinical efficiency, with Layne Morgan and replacement prop Tania Naden scoring tries in the second 40 to seal the game. Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu said her players were confident. "It was a slow start for us, but I think we grew into it," she said. "We wanted to play on our terms, fast and aggressive, and in some moments, we achieved that." Fijiana prop Ana Korovata battles on against the Wallaroos at the National Stadium, in the team's Test match on Saturday. Photo: FRU Media Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp praised his new players who featured in the test match. "We had a lot of new players and combinations, and it took a while to find our rhythm," he said. "The scrum was a real highlight for us today. Our debutants stood tall. "We were really pleased with the scrum, all the props did really well and we had some debutants there, and they stepped up and did a really good job. "I think for us the positive was the opportunity to give six new players in the set up with the Wallaroos, we've seen them perform really well at Super W so we need to see whether they can make that next step up and so it was great to see. We were a bit frustrated in parts of our game, but it was our first hit out, and on the whole, the girls stepped up well." He praised Tabua Tuinakauvadra, who had blood ties to Nadroga, for an outstanding performance in front of the local crowd and some relatives who were in the crowd. The 22-year-old was at number eight and proved to be a handful for the Fijiana players to handle. "One of our players had her homecoming tonight," he said of Tuinakauvadra. "She's not only inspiring future Wallaroos, but also the next generation of Fijian talent." The Wallaroos have won all four tests between them so far. However, the win was marred by injuries to two players heading into the Pacific Four series. Maya Stewart went off early with a non-contact knee injury, quickly followed by Bienne Terita after hurting her hamstring scoring her second try of the game. Both will head for scans when the side returns to Sydney, and could miss the team's test against New Zealand in Newcastle, Australia next week.
ABC News
03-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
Australia Wallaroos defeat Fiji in women's rugby union Test match but lose key players to injury
A comprehensive Test win for the Wallaroos over Fijiana has come at a cost, with star winger Maya Stewart going down with a knee injury. Saturday's battle for the inaugural Vuvale Bowl trophy was effectively over by half-time after the Wallaroos ran in five tries to one to power to a 31-7 lead by the break. The visitors extended their advantage further in the second half to run out 43-7 winners in Suva. ABC Sport Daily is your daily sports conversation. We dive into the biggest story of the day and get you up to speed with everything else that's making headlines. Also injured in the contest was outside centre Bienne Terita, who was hurt while diving in the corner for her second try of the match in the 27th minute. Terita lay on the turf in pain for a couple of minutes before being piggy-backed off the pitch. Her exit brought star recruit Charlotte Caslick into the game for her Wallaroos debut. Australia led 19-7 at the time, and continued the momentum on the way to the seven-tries-to-one victory. But the win was soured by the loss of Stewart, the team's 2024 player of the year, who injured her right knee and limped off the field. "We talk about growth, and super proud of our girls. There were a few debutants, opportunities out there," Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu told Stan. "But we've got to give credit to Fiji. They're a physical team, and in that second half you could see that." Fiji took a surprise 7-0 lead in the seventh minute after Alfreda Fisher barged through for the opening try. It was all one-way traffic from that point on as the visitors took control of the contest. Full-back Caitlyn Halse managed to keep control of the ball while falling backwards to score the Wallaroos' first try in the 10th minute. A double strike from Terita, which was followed by a try to captain Siokapesi Palu gave the Wallaroos breathing space. And when winger Desiree Miller crossed on the stroke of half-time, the Wallaroos already boasted a match-winning lead. They scored another two tries in the second half — via Layne Morgan and Tania Naden — to run out comprehensive winners. The Wallaroos will be back in action next Saturday when they take on the Black Ferns in Newcastle. AAP The ABC of SPORT Sports content to make you think... or allow you not to. A newsletter delivered each Saturday. Your information is being handled in accordance with the Email address Subscribe
West Australian
03-05-2025
- Sport
- West Australian
Caslick debuts but Stewart injured as Wallaroos win big
A comprehensive Test win for the Wallaroos over Fijiana has come at a cost, with star winger Maya Stewart going down with a knee injury. Saturday's battle for the inaugural Vuvale Bowl trophy was effectively over by half-time after the Wallaroos ran in five tries to one to power to a 31-7 lead by the break. The visitors extended their advantage further in the second half to run out 43-7 winners in Suva. Also injured in the contest was outside centre Bienne Terita who was hurt while diving in the corner for her second try of the match in the 27th minute. Terita lay on the turf in pain for a couple of minutes before being piggy-backed off the pitch. Her exit brought Sevens star Charlotte Caslick into the game for her Wallaroos debut. Australia led 19-7 at the time, and they continued the momentum on the way to the seven-tries-to-one victory. But the win was soured by the loss of Stewart, the team's 2024 player of the year injuring her right knee and limping from the field. "We talk about growth, and super proud of our girls. There were a few debutants, opportunities out there," Wallaroos captain Siokapesi Palu told Stan. "But we've got to give credit to Fiji. They're a physical team, and in that second half you could see that." Fiji took a surprise 7-0 lead in the seventh minute after Alfreda Fisher barged through for the opening try. It was all one-way traffic from that point on as the visitors took control of the contest. Fullback Caitlyn Halse managed to keep control of the ball while falling backwards to score the Wallaroos' first try in the 10th minute. A double strike from Terita which was followed by a try to captain Siokapesi Palu gave the Wallaroos breathing space. And when winger Desiree Miller crossed on the stroke of half-time, the Wallaroos already boasted a match-winning lead. They scored another two tries in the second half - via Layne Morgan and Tania Naden - to run out comprehensive winners. The Wallaroos will be back in action next Saturday when they take on the Black Ferns in Newcastle.
