25-06-2025
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 25 June
The Fijians are in Group B of the OFC Women's Nations Cup alongside Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
Photo:
Christophe Fotozz, Tahiti
Fiji women's football coach Angeline Chua has named a number of overseas-based players in her final 23-member squad for the upcoming OFC Women's Nations Cup in Fiji.
The squad features a mix of seasoned players and fresh faces, with five overseas-based players included to bolster the team's campaign.
Two of the key players in the team are forward Trina Davis, currently playing for FC Olympia USLW in the United States, and Preeya Singh, a promising midfielder from the University of California.
The Fijians are in Group B of the Nations Cup alongside Solomon Islands, Tonga and Vanuatu.
The side will mee the Solomon Islands on 5 July in their opening match.
Group A is made up of Papua New Guinea, Samoa, Tahiti and Cook Islands.
Pasifika heritage players Hoskins Sotutu and Mark Tele'a are reportedly in South Africa to play for the Barbarians against the Springboks on Sunday morning (New Zealand time).
The two Blues players were left out of the All Blacks squad selected on Monday, and media reports say they are in Cape Town to join the Barbarians.
The Barbarians, coached by former All Blacks coach Robbie Deans, and assisted by former All Black Sam Whitelock, will meet the world champions in Cape Town on Sunday.
Tele'a, who is of Samoan origin, is moving to Japan to join the Toyota Verblitz club.
Sotutu, who is of Fijian origin, has missed All Blacks selection for the second consecutive season.
Fiji's weightlifting coach says they have recently shifted focus to recovery and injury prevention, gradually tapering the workload to ensure the athletes are in peak condition for the Pacific Mini Games.
FBC News
reported the nine-member team, under coach Henry Elder, is keen to showcase its talent and bring medals home.
The 2025 Pacific Mini Games will officially open in Koror on Sunday.
The Hyderabad Heroes and Chennai Bulls have qualified for the semi-finals of the Rugby Premier League sevens franchise tournament in Mumbai, India.
The Heroes, who have Fiji sevens reps Joji Nasova and Terio Tamani as part of their five international players, have won seven of eight matches so far.
The Bulls have won five, drawn once and lost three games to date.
Toutai Kefu, head coach of the First Nations and Pasifika XV team to face the British & Irish Lions in Melbourne on 22 July, hopes the playing squad will be named soon.
The first-ever rugby clash between the combined heritage team and the Lions is attracting a lot of interest, with some big names being floated around.
Kefu said the Wallabies selectors, led by head coach Joe Schmidt, will pick the players.
The former Wallaby says the squad will assemble on 15 July to prepare for the game, which is part of the Lions' nine-match tour of Australia.
