Author: TMC Palau

The co-founder of Strongman Samoa hopes the budding sport will provide another avenue for talented young athletes in the country to shine.Competitive strongman is gaining momentum in the Pacific, despite limited opportunities for athletes to compete close to home.Athletes from Samoa, American Samoa, Tonga, Niue, Australia, New Zealand and the Cook Islands gathered in Samoa over the weekend for the second Pacific Strongest competition.The event stands apart from traditional strongman contests by incorporating some unique Pasifika elements and challenges.Strongman Samoa co-founder Masi Peter Anae hopes the event gives Samoan youth another avenue to showcase their natural strength.SuppliedSince its establishment in…

Fiji rugby great Waisale Serevi has backed the inclusion of Luke Tagi and Virimi Vakatawa in the FIJI Water Flying Fijians squad as direct replacements for Semi Radradra and Tim Hoyt, who were ruled out through injury following the opening Nations Championship Test against Wales over the weekend. Serevi believes the addition of tighthead prop Luke Tagi will bring much-needed stability to Fiji’s scrum as they prepare for a physical battle against England’s forward pack this weekend. “I thought to take in Luke Tagi for the tight head prop. I think that was another problem with the scrums, and I…

FIFA World Cup 2026 – Round of 16 – Mexico v England – Estadio Azteca, Mexico City, Mexico – July 5, 2026 England’s Harry Kane celebrates scoring their third goal with Jude Bellingham REUTERS/Daniel Becerril Purchase Licensing Rights England survived a spirited Mexico fightback to secure a 3-2 win ​and book their place in the World Cup ‌quarter-finals, ending the co-hosts’ deepest run at the tournament in 40 years despite playing most of the second ​half with 10 men at the Azteca ​Stadium. Jude Bellingham put England ahead, striking twice ⁠in the space of a minute, finishing a ​Bukayo Saka…

[File Photo] The Fiji Pearls are set for a busy week of international netball action, with every match to be broadcast LIVE on FBC Sports as part of an exciting round of fixtures featuring teams from across the Pacific and Asia. The competition gets underway on Wednesday, July 8, at the Netball Central in Sydney, Australia with the Fiji Pearls opening their campaign against Singapore at 1pm. They return later in the day at 3pm to take on the PNG Pepes in what is expected to be a competitive early test. Action continues on Thursday, July 9, with Singapore facing…

The Flying Fijians lost their opening game of the Nations Championship on Sunday morning, going down 39-24 to Wales in Cardiff.Having clawed their way back to hold Wales at 10-all at halftime, the Pacific Islanders could not contain the Welsh Dragons, who secured their second consecutive victory, following a 33-31 win over the Barbarians a week earlier.But there were celebrations in Apia and Nuku’alofa as both Manu Samoa and ‘Ikale Tahi claimed wins in their opening matches of the new World Rugby Nations Cup competition.Samoa thrashed Hong Kong China 66-19 on Sunday morning as well in Santiago, Chile. Hours later,…

[Photo: FILE] The Government is on track to meet, and potentially exceed, its annual revenue target after the Fiji Revenue and Customs Service collected $3.226 billion in net revenue during the first eleven months of the 2025-2026 financial year. The figure represents 95.7 percent of the Government’s annual net revenue target of approximately $3.37 billion, with one month remaining before the close of the financial year on July 31. According to FRCS, year-to-date collections are $156.9 million, or 5.1 percent, above forecast and $52.3 million, or 1.6 percent, higher than the same period last year. June alone delivered a strong…

[Photo: FILE] Charles Laxton Sundar’s lawyer has today told the court that his client was not informed of all of his rights before the police caution interview was conducted. Sundar is charged with a count of murder, and the lawyer is challenging the caution interview and its admissibility. His lawyer told the court they will seek a Voir Dire, arguing that the admissions recorded during the caution interview were not made voluntarily. The defence further told the court they have not been provided with a copy of the video-recorded interview.Article continues after advertisement Justice Waleen George stressed the importance of…

[Source: Fiji Rugby / Facebook] The FIJI Water Flying Fijians have drafted in Virimi Vakatawa and Luke Tagi after injuries to Semi Radradra and Tim Hoyt ruled the pair out for the remainder of the Nations Championship. Radradra and Hoyt sustained their injuries during Fiji’s Test match against Wales over the weekend in Cardiff and will play no further part in the tour. The inclusion of Vakatawa and Tagi provides timely reinforcement as the Flying Fijians continue preparations for their remaining fixtures. The team has wished both Radradra and Hoyt a full and speedy recovery as they begin their rehabilitation.Article…

The new US Ambassador to New Zealand is introducing Donald Trump’s agenda of “disruption” to the Pacific.Jared Novelly arrived in Wellington last week, and is expected to travel to Niue, the Cook Islands and Samoa within the next month to present his credentials.A businessman and sports team owner, he told a group of reporters on Friday that the Cook Islands, with its seabed riches and its permissiveness for US exploration, was “either 1a or 1b on my priority list”.”I’m going to spend quite a lot of time in the Cooks,” Novelly said.”Take something like cobalt … 90 percent of it…

[Photo: CONSTITUTIONAL REVIW COMMISSION/ FACEBOOK] The Constitutional Review Commission has been told that the Methodist Church and other indigenous institutions should never again support coups carried out in their name. Joe Nata, a former journalist, says past coups were wrongly justified using indigenous and religious interests, and urged traditional and religious institutions not to support any future unlawful takeover of government. “The Methodist church and indigenous institution should never again support a coup supposedly done in their name. All the coups that were supposedly done in their name were based on lies, on reasons of self-grandeur, opportunism, and, very generally.…