Rugby
Tonga rugby coach Tevita Tuifua says they have made changes to their squad ahead of this weekend’s opening match of the tier-two Nations Cup competition.
He said some players initially named in the squad have suffered injuries, while others are unavailable because of new contracts.
Eleven players who played for Moana Pasifika this year have also been included, including flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini and fullback William Havili.
Tonga meets Zimbabwe in Denver on Sunday, while Manu Samoa will take on Hong Kong China.
Rugby
Fiji under-20 rugby coach Andrew Tui Osborne says the team will need all guns firing against Australia on Thursday night, in their second pool game at the World Rugby Under-20 Championship in Georgia.
Osborne said the first-round loss to France last weekend, which saw the team receive three yellow cards in the first half, was disappointing.
But he believes the squad had responded positively during the review process and was fully focused on bouncing back against Australia.
Australia have a win already and are favourites to win the clash, which is scheduled for 11.30pm Fiji time.
Australia has named a Tongan heritage player, Eli Langi, to captain them against Fiji, with the Junior Wallabies featuring seven players of Pasifika heritage.
Meanwhile, New Zealand, who defeated Japan in their pool opener, will meet Scotland overnight Thursday.
Football
A hat-trick from captain Leimata Simon propelled Vanuatu’s Tafea FC to a convincing 6-0 victory over the Henderson Eels FC in Group A of the Oceania Women’s Champions League in Honiara.
Tafea led 2-0 at halftime from Simon’s first two goals.
Last year’s losing finalists Hekari Women FC scored three late goals to defeat 10-player Ba Women FC 3-1 in their clash.
Fiji’s Ba had led 1-0 at halftime but Hekari came back strong in the second spell to claim the win.
Defending champions Auckland United FC have quaified for the semifinals, following their big 7-nil win over Cook Islands’ Puaikura FC, in Honiara on Tuesday.
Auckland controlled possession for most of the first half, and led 3-nil at halftime, before they scored four more goals in the second spell.
Rugby
Fijian Drua chief executive Jeff Miller says the new format for the 10-team Super Rugby Pacific competition in 2027 will place greater demand for consistency.
The competition will see a 17-week regular season and a revamped final series.
Super Rugby announced the new format on Wednesday, with matches set to kick off on 12 February, and each team playing 16 regular season matches before the top six progress.
Miller said it is an “exciting evolution” for the competition.
Athletics
Tongan athlete Ata Maama Tu’utafaiva says competing at her third Commonwealth Games next month will be a tougher challenge than before.
Tu’utafaiva said more females are now competing in shotput and that will make the Glasgow Games competitive.
The 29-year-old made the finals of the 2018 Games and is still chasing her first medal at the Commonwealth event.
She starts her competition in Glasgow with the qualifying round on 28 July.
Handball
Handball Fiji says financial assistance is needed to help the 12 member under-18 women’s squad to compete at the International Handball Federation Women’s Youth World Championship in Romania.
Drawn in Group A, Fiji will face France, Croatia and Egypt in its World Championship debut from 29 July to 9 August.
Team lead Lusiana Rokoura said Handball Fiji is calling on the corporate sector and the public to help fund the team’s journey to Romania, as the cost of international airfares, accommodation, competition preparation, equipment and medical support remain significant.
She said the World Championship is the first step in the team’s campaign to qualify for the Brisbane 2032 Olympic Games.
