Latest news with #WillGenia
The Advertiser
2 days ago
- Sport
- The Advertiser
Ex-Wallabies star Genia makes surprise call at 37
Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport." Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport." Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport."
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Sport
- Perth Now
Ex-Wallabies star Genia makes surprise call at 37
Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport."
West Australian
2 days ago
- Sport
- West Australian
Ex-Wallabies star Genia makes surprise call at 37
Former Wallabies star Will Genia has thrown himself on the open market, saying he's willing to play on, coach, mentor or just inspire. Whatever, as long as he remains in rugby or sport in general, even as an ambassador to share his experiences after almost two decades at the professional level. "I'm keen to play. I still really enjoy the game, the challenge it obviously provides physically and mentally, so I'm just sort of sitting back seeing what's out there," Genia told AAP in a wide-ranging and candid interview. Genia's six-year stint with Kintetsu in Japanese rugby has come to an end, with the club opting against retaining the veteran scrumhalf or his long-time partner in crime Quade Cooper. Genia is anything but bitter. "They're just keen to move in a different direction. A hundred per cent I get it," the 37-year-old said from Port Moresby. "It's a business and, like anything in life, everyone's trying to do their best and that's what's best for them. "The club's given me six years, man. I was so grateful to live in Japan and play for them for six years and I've got nothing but gratitude." Three times a Wallabies skipper, Genia still has aspirations to play on, maybe in the USA, where a glut of former Wallabies ply their trade. "I'd like to keep playing, ideally for me Japan," he said. "I really enjoy it there. I still feel like I can compete at a high level in that competition. "Potentially even in the States. That's really appealing to me because it's somewhere you can go and play and enjoy the game but share your experience." Genia, though, has ruled out a fairytale return to the Reds, where he starred in Queensland's famous 2011 Super Rugby final triumph over the great Crusaders. "I'm a realist. The ego side of a professional athlete says, yes, I might be able to go back (to the Reds) but the reality is it'd be incredibly difficult," he said. "Being an older athlete, you can go back and play for maybe a couple of games, but then it catches up on you because it's a different level of intensity and a different level of commitment mentally that it requires." If his playing days prove to be over, the 110-Test stalwart and three-time World Cup representative will consider coaching. The one certainty is Genia continuing to serve his native Papua New Guinea, where he has deep roots and connections. His father Kilroy served as a PNG cabinet minister, while Genia is an ambassador for the Kokoda Track Foundation. His 10-year-old daughter is also schooled in PNG, where Genia plans on spending much of his post-playing life. "My family are invested in a rugby club here and I find a hell of a lot of joy in using sport as an opportunity to create change because obviously a country like Papua New Guinea, for example, it's stricken," he said. "The minimum wage is ridiculously low. There's a lot of people that live in poverty. There's a lot of people without education, and so my family, we're really big on trying to use rugby, use sport, more so as a vehicle for transformation of people's lives. "So that's where I feel I can help, more holistically." Genia would "100 per cent" even be open to helping the NRL's incoming PNG team in some capacity. "I'd love that," he said. "My dream is to stay involved in sport."
RNZ News
2 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 12 June
Fijian Drua fans at Churchill Park, Lautoka. Photo: PHOTOSPORT The Fijian Drua have revealed a new player signing ahead of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. Canberra-based centre Iosefo Namoce has signed a two-year deal with the Nadi-based franchise. The Drua are expected to release 10 players at the end of this season, and recruit a couple of other players in the next few weeks for the 2026 season. The PNG Hunters head coach Paul Aiton has made changes to the team facing the Sunshine Coas Falcons, in a Hostplus Cup rugby league match in Port Moresby this weekend. The National newspaper reports fullback Sanny Wabo - was injured in the 16-50 loss to the Redcliffe Dolphins last weekend - is being replaced by debutant Douglas David. The PNG Hunters have dropped to eighth, from sixth spot, and a win against the seventh-placed Falcons can see them go back one slot up. Former Wallabies halfback Will Genia - who has Papua New Guinea heritage - returned home at the weekend to play club rugby for the team he started his career with. The National reported 36-year-old Genia helped his Valley Hunters team to a 26-19 win over the Crusaders in the Capital Rugby Union competition. Genia said he was happy to be back where it all started for him as a 16-year-old, and he is yet to make up his mind on whether to continue playing or take up coaching in Japan. Genia retired from international rugby after the 2019 Rugby World Cup in Japan, having earned 110 international caps for the Wallabies. The Fiji under-21 women's netball squad will compete in a warm-up tournament in Suva next month, as part of their Netball World Youth Cup preparations. FBC News reported the tournament will run from 7-11 July at the Vodafone Arena in Suva. Head coach Simone Nalatu said they will field two Fiji under-21 teams, made up of players in their 27-member squad. Fiji will be joined by Cook Islands, Samoa and Tonga at the 2025 Netball World Youth Cup in Gibraltar. Two Papua New Guinea weightlifters, named to compete at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau at the end of this month, are excited about the opportuity to compete against the region's best. The Post Courier reported Kari Anna Mea and Rarua Tolana Mavara are part of the 12-member team that will compete at the Games. The duo acknowledged the support of top PNG lifters like Dika Toua, Morea Baru and Steven Kari, who assisted in their development as lifters. Mea will be making her debut while Marana had first represented PNG at the 2015 Pacific Games. New Zealand weightlifer David Liti says he wants to inpsire the next generation of athletes when he competes at the Pacific Mini Games in Palau later this month. Speaking on PMN's Pacific Mornings program, Liti said that despite his international success at events like the Olympics and Commonwealth Games, he is motivated by the opportunity to encourage young athletes closer to home. He said inspiring young children who might follow his rise in weightlifting could "spark a journey for them to be one of the greats in the future". Liti, who is of Tongan heritage, is part of Team New Zealand to the Games, which officially opens on 29 June in Koror, Palau. Vanuatu Judo will have seven members at the Pacific Mini Games. Vanuatu Daily Post reported the team includes 16-year-old debutant Kaina Derliue. Vanuatu claimed three medals at the 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara, and Monvoisin said they are hpeful they can repeat the same in Palau.
