Latest news with #TevitaIkanivere
ABC News
29-05-2025
- General
- ABC News
Still pinching himself, Isoa Nasilasila reaches the 50 Super Rugby games landmark with the Fijian Drua
The best the Fijian Drua can hope for now is win over the Reds in their final match of the home and away season, a result that would see them finish 9th on the Super Rugby Pacific ladder. There will be disappointment in the camp over their failure to make finals for what would have been a third season in a row, but there will still be cause for celebration when the team take to the field in Brisbane. Co-captain Tevita Ikanivere and lock forward Isoa Nasilasila will become the first players to have made 50 Super Rugby appearances for the Drua. Born and brought up in Sydney, at one point Nasilasila had ambitions to play Super Rugby for an Australian team, but as he told the boys from ABC Radio Australia's Nesian Footy show, when the Drua came into being, he decided to follow his heritage, and went on to make his debut for the Fijian side against the Waratahs.
RNZ News
21-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 21 May
Glen Jackson working with the Fiji national team in 2021. Photo: PHOTOSPORT Fijian Drua coach Glen Jackson is urging patience as the team's season approaches its end. The Drua are 10th and second-last with two rounds of Super Rugby Pacific to go. They have a bye this weekend before finishing their season against the Reds in Brisbane on 31 May. FBC reported Jackson saying he understands the fans are unhappy with the results. "They're probably sick and tired of hearing me about how young we are and how inexperienced we are. "But that's the life of what we were at, so very motivated to finish well." The Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika are expecting some player movements for the new 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. Drua co-captain and hooker Tevita Ikanivere is expected to leave the cub for a possible contract in Europe, while 21-year-old flanker Motikai Murray has re-signed for another two seasons. Fiji Sevens player Joji Nasova will join the Fijian Drua in 2026. The Fiji Times reports the club has announced the Olympic silver medalist joining on a two-year deal. Joji Nasova was named in the 2025 HSBC SVNS Men's Dream Team and was the joint top try-scorer of the series. Meanwhile, Moana Pasifika has confirmed that utility backline player, Fine Inisi, will join the Dragons in Wales, at the end of the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific series. Australian-born Scotland captain Sione Tuipulotu says he is "all in" for the British and Irish Lions. reported that amid ongoing debate about the selection of foreign-born players, the Glasgow centre - who has Tongan heritage - is set to line up against the Wallabies during the Lions tour. Tuipulotu, who made his international debut in 2021, is among seven members of Andy Farrell's 38-man squad who hail from overseas. Five of those players are eligible for their adopted nations on residency rules, while Melbourne-born Tuipulotu qualified through his Scottish grandmother. He said he is looking forward to showing how committed he is to playing for the Lions. Oceania Football president, Lambert Maltock, says the new OFC Pro-league will transform the landscape of football in the region. Maltock told the OFC 31st Ordinary Congress in Paraguay that the league will help clubs, players, and people aspire to the highest standards. He said Oceania is also strong on youth development and growing the women's game. OFC has over 70,000 young players in the different national academies and grassroots programmes. Guam's men's basketball team has been drawn into a strong group at the 2027 Basketball World Cup Asian qualifier, alongside Australia, New Zealand, and the Philippines. Australia is number three in the world, while Guam is the lowest-ranked by some margin at 88th. The qualifier tips off in November when Guam opens its campaign against Australia, with its other games not until next year. Speaking after the draw, Guam national coach Edward Calvo said every team at this level is elite, but he felt they can learn a lot by playing the best. He said Guam's focus in the short term is on preparing for the FIBA Asia Cup in Saudi Arabia, where they'll face Japan, Iran, and Syria.
Associated Press
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Associated Press
Super Rugby salutes Pacific power as the Drua, Moana Pasifika win in round 14
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The weekend's 14th round of Super Rugby was a tale of two captains as the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika won on the same day for the third time with both victories highlighting leadership. Captain Tevita Ikanivere led the Drua to a 38-7 win over the Western Force in Lautoka on Saturday in the Drua's final home match of the season. The match was also the last in front of home fans for four leading Drua players, including Ikanivere, who likely are heading overseas next year. Hours later Ardie Savea produced a towering individual performance to lead Moana Pasifika to a 27-21 win over the defending champion Blues, its first-ever win over their fellow Auckland-based team. Savea was an inspiring figure for Moana Pasifika, featuring in all phases of play and winning the crucial turnover that ended the match with the Blues camped on Moana's goal line. The two Pacific teams have won on the same day only twice previously: in round 15 in 2023 when the Drua beat the Queensland Reds and Moana Pasifika beat the New South Wales Waratahs and in round four this year when Moana Pasifika beat the Hurricanes 40-31 and the Drua beat the Chiefs 28-24. Ikanivere has been a Drua stalwart, a team member even before the Drua were admitted to Super Rugby. He was farewelled in steamy Lautoka on Saturday along with Caleb Muntz, Selesitino Ravutaumada and Isoefo Masi as Drua won for the fourth time at home this season. The Drua were last-placed and already out of playoffs contention heading into the match but they showed they can still make an impact on the playoffs with two regular season rounds remaining. Their five tries to one win pushed the Force back to ninth place and out of playoffs contention. The Drua will finish with a match against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane in the final round which could also rearrange playoff standings. Their fans, the best in Super Rugby, sent off their departing players with a joyous celebration of Saturday's win. 'This is how we want to play every week,' Ikanivere said. 'It hasn't happened but it's a good way to end the season, especially at home. That was for our fans, for our families and for the whole Drua family.' Ikanivere then offered fans the tantalizing hope that his career with the Drua might not yet be over. 'Nothing is concrete yet. You might see me here again next year,' he said. 'If it does happen, sorry for already farewelling me.' Savea has been an instrument of change for Moana Pasifika this year, unifying them, building their confidence and leading them to their sixth win of the season on Saturday, their best-ever record. With Saturday's win they leap-frogged the Blues into sixth place to stay in playoffs contention, though they have a tough finish against the Chiefs and Hurricanes. 'I'm proud of the effort of the boys for standing up against a quality Blues side,' Savea said. 'I'm just happy to get the win. 'This team's about uniting people, not just (the team) but New Zealand and the whole Pacific. That's what we stand for and our purpose.' Sevu's record Winger Sevu Reece equaled all-time Super Rugby try-scoring record when he scored his 65th try in the Crusaders' 48-33 win Friday over the Waratahs. The win left the Crusaders level on 41 points with the second-placed Chiefs but in third on points differential. The ACT Brumbies moved atop the standings for the first time this season when they beat the Queensland Reds 24-14 in Canberra, leaving the Reds in fourth place. The Wellington-based Hurricanes stayed in fifth with a hard-fought 24-20 win over the Dunedin-based Highlanders. The Hurricanes sealed their win with a try to scrumhalf Cam Roigard in stoppage time. Moana Pasifika are sixth, ahead of the seventh-placed Blues on points differential. The Waratahs are eighth with only a faint chance of reaching the playoffs and with away matches remaining against the Western Force and Blues. ___ AP rugby:
Yahoo
18-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Super Rugby salutes Pacific power as the Drua, Moana Pasifika win in round 14
WELLINGTON, New Zealand (AP) — The weekend's 14th round of Super Rugby was a tale of two captains as the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika won on the same day for the third time with both victories highlighting leadership. Captain Tevita Ikanivere led the Drua to a 38-7 win over the Western Force in Lautoka on Saturday in the Drua's final home match of the season. The match was also the last in front of home fans for four leading Drua players, including Ikanivere, who likely are heading overseas next year. Advertisement Hours later Ardie Savea produced a towering individual performance to lead Moana Pasifika to a 27-21 win over the defending champion Blues, its first-ever win over their fellow Auckland-based team. Savea was an inspiring figure for Moana Pasifika, featuring in all phases of play and winning the crucial turnover that ended the match with the Blues camped on Moana's goal line. The two Pacific teams have won on the same day only twice previously: in round 15 in 2023 when the Drua beat the Queensland Reds and Moana Pasifika beat the New South Wales Waratahs and in round four this year when Moana Pasifika beat the Hurricanes 40-31 and the Drua beat the Chiefs 28-24. Ikanivere has been a Drua stalwart, a team member even before the Drua were admitted to Super Rugby. He was farewelled in steamy Lautoka on Saturday along with Caleb Muntz, Selesitino Ravutaumada and Isoefo Masi as Drua won for the fourth time at home this season. The Drua were last-placed and already out of playoffs contention heading into the match but they showed they can still make an impact on the playoffs with two regular season rounds remaining. Their five tries to one win pushed the Force back to ninth place and out of playoffs contention. The Drua will finish with a match against the Queensland Reds in Brisbane in the final round which could also rearrange playoff standings. Advertisement Their fans, the best in Super Rugby, sent off their departing players with a joyous celebration of Saturday's win. 'This is how we want to play every week,' Ikanivere said. 'It hasn't happened but it's a good way to end the season, especially at home. That was for our fans, for our families and for the whole Drua family.' Ikanivere then offered fans the tantalizing hope that his career with the Drua might not yet be over. 'Nothing is concrete yet. You might see me here again next year,' he said. 'If it does happen, sorry for already farewelling me.' Savea has been an instrument of change for Moana Pasifika this year, unifying them, building their confidence and leading them to their sixth win of the season on Saturday, their best-ever record. With Saturday's win they leap-frogged the Blues into sixth place to stay in playoffs contention, though they have a tough finish against the Chiefs and Hurricanes. Advertisement 'I'm proud of the effort of the boys for standing up against a quality Blues side,' Savea said. 'I'm just happy to get the win. 'This team's about uniting people, not just (the team) but New Zealand and the whole Pacific. That's what we stand for and our purpose.' Sevu's record Winger Sevu Reece equaled all-time Super Rugby try-scoring record when he scored his 65th try in the Crusaders' 48-33 win Friday over the Waratahs. The win left the Crusaders level on 41 points with the second-placed Chiefs but in third on points differential. The ACT Brumbies moved atop the standings for the first time this season when they beat the Queensland Reds 24-14 in Canberra, leaving the Reds in fourth place. Advertisement The Wellington-based Hurricanes stayed in fifth with a hard-fought 24-20 win over the Dunedin-based Highlanders. The Hurricanes sealed their win with a try to scrumhalf Cam Roigard in stoppage time. Moana Pasifika are sixth, ahead of the seventh-placed Blues on points differential. The Waratahs are eighth with only a faint chance of reaching the playoffs and with away matches remaining against the Western Force and Blues. ___ AP rugby:
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Drua farewell quartet with win over the Force
Fijian Drua captain Tevita Ikanivere and three other senior players have been farewelled from the side. Photo: Fijian Drua Fijian Drua captain Tevita Ikanivere and three other senior players have been farewelled in style in their last home match for the side in Lautoka on Saturday afternoon. The Drua finally found the rhythm at Churchill Park to claim a big 38-7 win over the Western Force in their Super Rugby Pacific round 14 clash. It was the last home game for Ikanivere, Caleb Muntz, Selesitino Ravutaumada and Isoefo Masi. The four are leaving the club at the end of the Super Rugby season. "Was a great game. I thank the boys for getting the job done," Ikanivere said. "It was a tough one but we finally managed to get it done in the end." Force captain Jeremy Williams said the local side were on fire and just denied them any opportunity to settle down. "I thought we started the first half really well and then they gained that momentum and we couldn't really get it back," Williams told Stan Sport post-game. "We had poor discipline and probably turned the ball over too easily and that's the second week in a row we've done those things. "Against a quality side like the Drua, you're going to pay and we did." Drua head coach Glen Jackson said before the game that the team was focused on getting a win for their fans and the four departing players. The win was a much-needed breather for the Fiji Drua fans, most of whom had started questioning the side's performance after they had not performed up to the fans' expectations, despite some early promises. It also pushed the side up to 10th position, off the bottom of the competition's points standing, with a point advantage over the Highlanders, who lost to the Hurricanes 24-20 in Wellington on Friday night. At the same time, they managed to keep their winning record against the Force at Churchill Park intact, taking their home wins to 10 out of 11 matches. The Force remain at 9th position. The visitors, who thrashed the Drua at home in Perth in round five, started with a bang and scored a converted try just after kick off. It was Sio Tomkinson who got across. Captain Williams had his side on the offence early, when a quickly recycled ball down the blindside gave Henry Robertson the run and his offload, with Tomkinson scoring untouched inside the opening three minutes. The Force went on to dominate much of the opening 30 minutes despite losing Henry Robertson to the sin bin after 17 minutes for a professional foul on rival halfback Philip Baselala. But the hosts hit straight back, with Baselala diving over to score, the conversion tying the game up. Then centre Masi got on the scoreboard, before flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula added a penalty, leaving the home side to lead 17-7 at halftime. Number eight and work horse Elia Canakaivata claimed two tries in the second half before Ravutaumada got his name on the scoreboard, as the Drua finished off with a 38-7. Drua will have a bye this coming weekend before flying to Brisbane for their last match against the Reds the following weekend, while the Force play the Waratahs on May 24. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero, a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
