Latest news with #Samoan
ABC News
5 hours ago
- Sport
- ABC News
Oneata Schwalger is wasting no time in transitioning from player to coach
The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is a statement that often rings true throughout the Pacific Islands, and it's no different for Samoan-Australian rugby talent Oneata Schwalger. Raised by a handful of strong Pasifika women who were athletes turned coaches, Schwalger is now travelling the world to make that same transition. However, when she began, she had to wear headgear to conceal that she was a girl. "The [competing] school complained that you can't have girls… [my] coaches were awesome, they said keep coming to training… so I ended up being their water girl and I'd still train with the boys," she said. But footy as a kid wasn't something that Oneata was going to give up on just because of her gender, and seeing her persistence, her father ended up getting in touch with their local women's rugby club at Northern United. "I was really lucky; my coaches were Black Ferns and Manusina players, so as a 15-year-old, I was learning the ways from top players when I was young… when I came to play against girls my age, so I knew what I was doing," Oneata said. Samoan-Australian rugby talent Oneata Schwalger. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) In her early 20s, Oneata moved to Perth to play rugby, but not too long after, she fell pregnant. Although this meant a considerable break, Oneata was still keen to get back in the game, and her next move took her and her two sons to Melbourne. Oneata Schwalger with her sons. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) It was a make-or-break moment in her life and footy career and she knew she just had to make it work. "I was a single parent at the time; everything I had to do was to work around their schedule and my schedule, so when I trained, they trained with me," she said. "So it was always something that we did together." The COVID-19 pandemic marked another shift. With team sports cancelled until further notice, to get out of the house, Oneata and her boys spent most of their days at the park training. People started noticing. "It was during lockdown time that kids wouldn't play at their clubs, and I was always at the park anyway with them. Some other parents asked me if I wanted to coach their kids". Oneata was clear with her kids: "When I coach, I always say I'm not your mum. I'm your coach." And so her coaching dream gathered a bit more steam. But the coaching path for females isn't as easy and well-trodden as it is for men. Oneata had to use the lessons learnt from life and the wisdom imparted on her to carve out a path not too many other female athletes end up on. "As athletes, you see that [female representation] now… but in the female space, I was actually like I don't know that many female coaches to reach out to… but I actually know a lot more male coaches… I reached out to them and they got back to me straight away." It's been one inspiring journey for coach Oneata Schwalger. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) One of the responses included Moana Pasifika's Tana Umaga, and he ended up taking her under his wing earlier this year. One big lesson from Umaga was the importance of listening to your players and adapting to the subconscious feedback from your players. Despite being coached by a line of hard-knock coaches where yelling was the norm, Umaga coached his team very differently. "[I asked] 'What changed for you?' Because he was coached that way, but he found that his delivery wasn't working anymore with this new generation of players… So I'm like, 'Ok, cool, he was coached like I was, but we just have to find ways to deliver our message so it lands with our athletes, whether it's boys or girls'."
Scotsman
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Scotsman
Darcy Graham injury overshadows Lions' scrappy win as Blair Kinghorn stakes claim despite brain fart
Tourists maintain winning run but poorest performance yet Sign up to our Rugby Union newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Darcy Graham scored a try but his injury curse struck again and his debut for the British and Irish Lions lasted only 16 minutes in Melbourne. The Scotland winger was unlucky not to be part of Andy Farrell's original tour squad but was called up last Monday and made his Lions debut in the scrappy win over the First Nations and Pasifika XV. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The sight of Graham hobbling off so early was gut-wrenching, particularly given how lively he had looked, scoring the tourists' second try in the 24-19 victory at Marvel Stadium. Pain is etched on the face of Darcy Graham as he receives treatment for an injury during the British and Irish Lions' win over the First Nations & Pasifika XV in Melbourne. | AFP via Getty Images 'It's so upsetting because he was so upset,' said head coach Andy Farrell. 'It shows how much it means to him. He hobbled off, but he's got a Lions cap, he played for the British and Irish Lions, he's scored a try and he'll remember that forever.' Winger wearing a protective boot Graham looked devastated as he came off and his damaged left ankle was in a protective boot by the end of the match. It's the latest setback for the Edinburgh winger who missed the Six Nations in 2023 and 2024 through injury. At least he has his try to look back on. The tourists were already 7-0 up through Jamie Osborne's converted score when Fin Smith found Graham in acres of space on the right wing and the Hawick man was never going to waste such an opportunity. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad He had already been involved in one of the game's more contentious moments, being on the receiving end of a high tackle from Triston Reilly which earned the Aussie sevens international a deserved yellow card. But it was a tackle in the 13th minute which did for Graham as he found himself trapped under a ruck of bodies. The injury was taped up and he tried to continue but eventually bowed to the inevitable and was replaced by Garry Ringrose. British and Irish Lions' Darcy Graham scores a try against the First Nations & Pasifika XV as Blair Kinghorn celebrates in the background. | AFP via Getty Images Graham was one of six Scots in the Lions starting side in Melbourne, with another three on the bench for a game against an invitational side representing indigenous First Nations peoples and Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Maori and Cook Island cultures. The Lions looked like they were going to blow the opposition away in the early stages, racing into a 14-0 lead after 11 minutes, but the departure of Graham seemed to signal a change in momentum and the hosts fought back to go in level at the turn thanks to tries from Reilly and Seru Uru. 'We lost the run of ourselves' Two more Lions tries in the second half through Osborne - his second - and Duhan van der Merwe made it 24-14 but the First Nations and Pasifika XV finished the stronger side. Rob Leota's try brought them to within a score but the Lions hung on for victory. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad The 100 per cent win rate in Australia has been maintained but this was their poorest performance of the tour and few players put their hands up for selection for Saturday's second Test against the Wallabies. 'We lost the run of ourselves after going 14-0 up, playing some fancy rugby that was never on,' lamented Andy Farrell. Blair Kinghorn is one who will give the head coach pause for thought. Returning to the team after suffering a knee strain against the ACT Brumbies, the full-back was one of the Lions' liveliest attackers, linking up well with his Scotland team-mates Graham and van der Merwe in the early stages. Kinghorn was finding pockets of space, particularly on the right, and using his long, galloping stride to pin back the hosts. He was good under the high ball, too, most notably in the second half when the First Nations and Pasifika XV were putting the Lions under pressure. Darcy Graham was wearing a protective medical boot after being injured in the British & Irish Lions' 24-19 win. | Getty Images It wasn't perfect from Kinghorn. He had one brain fart moment which gifted the hosts their first try, as his looped pass intended for Owen Farrell was intercepted by Reilly. There was another interception just half-time but van der Merwe got him out of jail on that occasion. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Kinghorn offers more in attack than the Irishman The good outweighed the bad, though, and he pushed his case to be part of the Test 23 at the MCG this weekend. Whether he can dislodge Hugo Keenan from the No 15 jersey remains to be seen but Kinghorn certainly offers more in attack than the Irishman. Ben White was another who shone on a night when few in red did. Unfortunately for the Scotland nine, the scrum-half roles looked to be locked in, with Jamison Gibson-Park certain to start on Saturday and Alex Mitchell likely to be on the bench. Van der Merwe started all three Tests in South Africa in 2021 but finds himself on the periphery this time, even though he is the Lions top try-scorer of the tour. He took his tally to five with a neat finish in the second half after good work by Fin Smith and Owen Farrell. Blair Kinghorn was a potent attacking threat for the British and Irish Lions in the win over the First Nations and Pasifika XV at Marvel Stadium. | Getty Images His great friend and Scotland team-mate Pierre Schoeman had a quiet game but his own standards, with few of his trademarks surges. The Lions scrum also struggled at times, with penalties conceded amid the flurry of errors in the first half in particular. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Cummings makes his mark Scott Cummings had a more satisfactory evening in the second row, stealing one First Nations lineout, claiming kick-offs with authority and proving himself a menace as he charged down opposition kicks. With a question mark around Joe McCarthy's fitness Cummings has an outside chance of making the bench on Saturday. There were Lions debuts for Gregor Brown and Ewan Ashman, who both came on in the second half along with Rory Sutherland who was a Test player in 2021. All three linked up with the squad this week after being part of the Scotland party in New Zealand. It is likely to be their only tour action in red but a proud moment nonetheless. Teams and scorers Scorers: First Nations & Pasifika XV: Tries: Reilly, Uru, Leota. Cons: Beale 2. Lions: Tries: Osborne 2, Graham, van der Merwe. Cons: F Smith 2. Yellow cards: T Reilly, (First Nations, 4min), J Ryan (Lions, 22min) Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad First Nations & Pasifika XV: A Muirhead; F Daugunu, L Foketi, D Feliuai, T Reilly; K Beale, K Thomas; L Ieli, B Paenga-Amosa, T Tupou, D Swain, L Salakaia-Loto, S Uru, C Gamble, TT Tualima. Replacements: R Asiata, M Pearce, M Doge, M Vocevoce, R Leota, H Goddard, J Debreczeni, J McLeod. Lions: B Kinghorn; D Graham (G Ringrose 16), J Osborne, O Farrell (capt), D van der Merwe; F Smith (M Smith 66-72), B White; P Schoeman (R Sutherland 74), J George (E Ashman 74), F Bealham (T Clarkson 54), J Ryan (G Brown 54), S Cummings, J Morgan (B Earl 50), J van der Flier, H Pollock. Replacement: A Mitchell.
The 42
13 hours ago
- Sport
- The 42
LIVE: First Nations & Pasifika XV v British & Irish Lions, Australia tour 2025
About your hosts The First Nations & Pasifika side, meanwhile, is a fairly hastily-arranged team composed of First Nations peoples, i.e. those who hail from the Samoan, Fijian, Tongan, Māori, and Cook Island cultures which contribute to the rugby union community across Australia. They were chosen as the Lions' final warm-up opponents due to the collapse last year of Super Rugby's Melbourne Rebels, who had been due to fill this slot in their home city. Today will be the invitational side's first ever game. The First Nations' head coach is Tongan-Australian great Toutai Kefu, who won a World Cup in 1999 and starred in the Wallabies' first ever series win over the Lions in 2001. Kefu's assistant coach is All Blacks legend Tana Umaga, whom you might recall played a key role in the Lions' 2005 tour of New Zealand… Toutai Kefu in action against Ireland in 2002. INPHO INPHO Tana Umaga (R) renewing acquaintances with Brian O'Driscoll for an advertising campaign in 2018. Dan Sheridan / INPHO Dan Sheridan / INPHO / INPHO
Scoop
19 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mana Moana Wellington Shows With Signature Choir And NZSO Now Sold Out
Press Release – NZSO Mana Moana celebrates two worlds of music, with the NZSO led by acclaimed conductor Brent Stewart, and each performance hosted by talented actor and comedian Tofiga Fepuleai. Wellington has again embraced the hit show Mana Moana and its spectacular fusion of symphony and songs of the Pacific. Both performances by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the 50-strong Wellington-based Signature Choir this Thursday and Friday at the Michael Fowler Centre are sold out. Mana Moana celebrates two worlds of music, with the NZSO led by acclaimed conductor Brent Stewart, and each performance hosted by talented actor and comedian Tofiga Fepulea'i. 'We are incredibly humbled and grateful to return home to two sold-out shows,' says Signature Choir Founder and Music Director Helen Tupai. 'After selling out back-to-back performances at the iconic Sydney Opera House in June, coming back to where our Mana Moana journey began and reuniting with the world-class NZSO is the perfect way to close our 2025 Mana Moana season. These sold-out shows are a testament to our communities' unwavering support, and we cannot wait to put on an unforgettable homecoming show!' Following 2022's sensational debut in Wellington and a hit performance with the NZSO in Auckland in 2023, Mana Moana reached new heights this year with a second show at Auckland's Spark Arena in May. Sydney audiences loved every minute of the choir's historic performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra last month. 'What an incredible performance! The energy in the room was electric. So privileged to experience this iconic moment,' an audience member told ABC Pacific. Wellington audiences on 24 and 25 July will again experience an energetic, unique, and emotional celebration, bringing traditional and contemporary songs from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. The exciting music selection blends beloved favourites from the previous shows with fresh new arrangements, offering an even richer experience for audiences. The stunning mix of traditional and contemporary songs includes the Samoan classic Manu o le Vaveao, Nepituno —written by Queen Salote Tupou III to commemorate the 1953 Royal Tour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's visit to Tonga—and an exhilarating medley featuring some of the most iconic Fijian songs, and much more. In 2022 a collaborative journey between the NZSO and Signature Choir to celebrate and promote the languages and stories of Pasifika. Their aim was to create high-quality audio recordings and videos of Pasifika songs in partnership with RNZ. This was then followed by a live performance at the Michael Fowler Centre where audience-recorded videos from the show have accumulated in over 1 million views on social media, highlighting the massive impact Mana Moana had and resulted in an incredible musical experience in 2023 and 2025 at Spark Arena.
Scoop
20 hours ago
- Entertainment
- Scoop
Mana Moana Wellington Shows With Signature Choir And NZSO Now Sold Out
Wellington has again embraced the hit show Mana Moana and its spectacular fusion of symphony and songs of the Pacific. Both performances by the New Zealand Symphony Orchestra and the 50-strong Wellington-based Signature Choir this Thursday and Friday at the Michael Fowler Centre are sold out. Mana Moana celebrates two worlds of music, with the NZSO led by acclaimed conductor Brent Stewart, and each performance hosted by talented actor and comedian Tofiga Fepulea'i. 'We are incredibly humbled and grateful to return home to two sold-out shows,' says Signature Choir Founder and Music Director Helen Tupai. 'After selling out back-to-back performances at the iconic Sydney Opera House in June, coming back to where our Mana Moana journey began and reuniting with the world-class NZSO is the perfect way to close our 2025 Mana Moana season. These sold-out shows are a testament to our communities' unwavering support, and we cannot wait to put on an unforgettable homecoming show!' Following 2022's sensational debut in Wellington and a hit performance with the NZSO in Auckland in 2023, Mana Moana reached new heights this year with a second show at Auckland's Spark Arena in May. Sydney audiences loved every minute of the choir's historic performances with the Sydney Symphony Orchestra last month. 'What an incredible performance! The energy in the room was electric. So privileged to experience this iconic moment,' an audience member told ABC Pacific. Wellington audiences on 24 and 25 July will again experience an energetic, unique, and emotional celebration, bringing traditional and contemporary songs from Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Cook Islands, Niue and Tokelau. The exciting music selection blends beloved favourites from the previous shows with fresh new arrangements, offering an even richer experience for audiences. The stunning mix of traditional and contemporary songs includes the Samoan classic Manu o le Vaveao, Nepituno —written by Queen Salote Tupou III to commemorate the 1953 Royal Tour of Her Majesty Queen Elizabeth's visit to Tonga—and an exhilarating medley featuring some of the most iconic Fijian songs, and much more. In 2022 a collaborative journey between the NZSO and Signature Choir to celebrate and promote the languages and stories of Pasifika. Their aim was to create high-quality audio recordings and videos of Pasifika songs in partnership with RNZ. This was then followed by a live performance at the Michael Fowler Centre where audience-recorded videos from the show have accumulated in over 1 million views on social media, highlighting the massive impact Mana Moana had and resulted in an incredible musical experience in 2023 and 2025 at Spark Arena.
