Niue lawn bowler Lynsey Talagi claims reasons given by the Niue Island Sports and Commonwealth Games Association (NISCGA) for her axing from the Commonwealth Games squad are not factual.
Talagi, who has been training in Wellington over the last three weeks, told RNZ Pacific she has lost faith in Team Niue management and the overall leadership within NISCGA.
She was originally named in the Niue squad of about 20 althetes for the Glasgow Games but two weeks ago learned that she is no longer needed. It comes exactly four years after she and other members of Niue Bowls were also left out of the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
Lynsey Talagi (3rd from left) with her Niue Bowls triples teammates and members of the Team PNG at the World Champs in 2023.
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Team Niue chef de mission Sidney Lui did not want to make an official statement when contacted. However, she confirmed Niue Bowls had recommended Talagi’s axing because of an injury the player had suffered in April, which affected her training and preparation schedule.
But Talagi has rejected the claims and said she had gotten a doctor’s clearance and has been training and competing in local event in Wellington.
A medical certificate signed by Dr Edgar Akauola of the Health Department of the Niue Foou Hospital on 25 May in Alofi, stated that Talagi was seen following a dog bite on 26 April and was continuing to recover.
“She should be back to normal activity and play lawn bowls next week,” Dr Akauola said in the medical certificate.
“I have no concern for her to compete at the upcoming Commonwealth Games in late July.”
Talagi, who is also the secrertary of Niue Lawn Bowls, was selected in Team Niue as a doubles player.
She had ordered new bowls and had come to Wellington to collect those and continue her preparation in the New Zealand capital, because of the facilities available.
“The chef de mission was concerned about my training and me being ready to compete,” she said.
“It started when I was bitten by a dog in Niue at the end of April. The former chief medical doctor in Niue who was helping with my recovery said you can be back on the green, no crutches, all going well at the end of May, early June.
“I was a week or two ahead. I was able to be back training on the green. However, I’ve now been told that they don’t think I’m match ready. I mean, if you use that phrase by people who aren’t lawn bowlers, they aren’t a lawn bowls coach, they aren’t a lawn bowls athlete.
“So, that’s essentially why I’ve been dropped a couple of days ago from the lawn bowls team competing at the Commonwealth Games.”
Lynsey Talagi (3rd from right) with her Niue Bowls Fours teammates and members of Team New Zealand at the World Champs in 2023.
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Talagi claims Niue Bowls did not recommend her removal from Team Niue and that call was made by NISCGA and the chef de mission.
“Niue Lawn Bowls did not recommend to drop me” she said when asked.
“I have an email from the team managers that says the chef de mission made the call after considering all of the information provided, including the limited time remaining before the Games.
“I have concluded that Lynsey has not had sufficient opportunity to adequately prepare for competition at the level require for the Commonwealth Games. Therefore, it is with much regret that I advise that Lynsey will not be eligible to compete at the Commonwealth Games. Accordingly, I have removed her accreditation from the Commonwealth Games Federation portal, effective today, 14 June 2026,” the email stated.
Talagi said the bowls team appealed the decision and were told that she would not be reinstated.
“I asked the team managers to request the official letter for me and for the executive committee who endorsed me for the team,” she sated as her response.
When contacted again for a response, Team Niue chef de mission Lui advised RNZ Pacific to get in touch with Catherine Papani, Niue Bowls vice-president and current interim president, who has taken over the leadership of the sports association following the resignation of former president Des Hipa.
Papani, who is a singles player in Team Niue’s bowls team, has not responded to requests for comments.
But Talagi said email correspondence between her and Papani confirmed that Niue Bowls had no part in the decision, but had made their assessment noting Talagi “was dealing with the effects of the dog bite incident and is working to regain her previous level of performance”.
“The final call to axe me was made by the chef de mission and NISCA, not Niue Bowls,” Talagi added.
In 2022, Niue Bowls took NISCGA to court over a dispute regarding the selection and axing of the lawn bowls squad for the Birmingham Commonwealth Games.
That issue arose after NISCGA did not accept Niue Bowls’ list of 12 players they had selected for the Birmingham Games and had selected their own team, which included overseas based Niuean heritage players.
Talagi said despite the setbacks, she would continue to play the sport she has come to love, looking forward to the Oceania Challenge in November and the World Bowl Champs next July in England.
“We have the next Oceania Challenge from the 19th of November for four days, and then straight after that we have the World Bowls Champs qualifier for the region for the championships next year,” she said.
“It’s nice to go to Commonwealth Games, but to me it’s not the pinnacle. I mean, pinnacle is also always to be first the singles champs for your country, and you go to Champ of Champs (an annual event for lawn bowls).
“There’s still opportunity for lawn bowls to compete at the international level, but there are competitions throughout.”
Talagi is also secretary of Niue Archery and coordinates touch rugby for Niue Touch, which also keeps her connected and busy, when she is not on the bowls lawn.
The 23rd Commonwealth Games will be held from 23 July to 2 August.
