Ex-England forward eyes Flying Fijian spot
Former England backrower Nathan Hughes has confirmed he is '100-percent serious' about playing for Fiji at this year's Rugby World Cup.
Hughes was born in Fiji, moved to New Zealand on a high school scholarship, and traveled to England where he played 22 tests.
He is now playing club rugby in Japan and last played at Number 8 for England in 2019.
Under amended rules, a player is eligible to change their allegiance after a three-year break.
Hughes, now 31, told AP he hadn't had a conversation with new Fiji head coach Simon Raiwalui about a possible move, although he had some contact with Fiji when he first changed his eligibility.
He said it would mean a lot playing for his home nation.
Solomon Islands netball prepare for Pacific Games
Solomon Islands national netball team will play warm up matches in Australia this week, as part of their preparation for the upcoming 2023 Pacific Games.
Solomon Islands National Netball team. Photo: SINIS Media
The team will go through a seven day program in the Gold Coast, where they will receive expert coaching from Australian mentors.
The netballers will also participate in high level trial games against semi-professional franchises and other Pacific teams.
Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports performance manager Amanda Korinihona says the tour will be "a great experience for them to perform as a team on international level".
Eight Honiara-based players left the capital city on Monday, while the rest are expected to join the team on Wednesday.
Archery team wins 2 bronze medals
Two Solomon Islands archers return home this week with bronze medals from the 2023 World Archery Oceania Championships in Adelaide, South Australia.
Solomon Islands National Institute of Sports said the pair Margaret Melue and Robson Talu participated in the mix 'Barebow Team'.
SINIS performance manager for portfolio three (racquet, aquatic, target and individual sports) Jackie Travertz congratulated the two archers.
"Their commitment is shown by their performance. We will continue to provide support where needed for the athletes and National Federation as a whole to perform at their best in future events leading into the Pacific games," Travertz said.
Other countries that competed at the event included Australia, New Zealand, Papua New Guinea, Fiji and New Caledonia.
PNG Pepes ready for series
The Papua New Guinea Pepes netball team is eager to participate at next week's PacificAus Sports Netball Series at the Gold Coast in Australia.
Local players will leave for Australia on Wednesday, April 19.
They will be joined by the Australia-based players in time for final preparaqtions.
Head Coach Gimanama Crowdy said they were looking forward to the event.
She told Netball PNG that the team was well-composed.
"We have a good mix of young and experienced players," she said.
Crowdy said the assistance of the Australian government has helped them in their preparation for the upcoming 2023 Pacific Games in Honiara.
Vanuatu pair grab bronze in Thailand
Vanuatu beach volleyball pair of Sherysyn Toko and Majabelle Lawac have won over Naraphornrapat and Numwong of Thailand to grab bronze at the Asian Volleyball Confederation (AVC) Beach Tournament in Thailand.
They won in straight sets to secure the third place following their outstanding performance over the weekend, theVanuatu Daily Post reported.
The duo met Singapore pair of Ang Soh/Lim and won in two straight sets (21-11/21-9).
Toko and Lawac lifted the intensity in their second pool match to defeat Mears and Phillips of Australia in another two straight sets(26-24/21-13) to proceed to the final Round 16 where they met S.Patcharaporn and S.Samitta of Thailand and ended the game in a strong three sets win.
The Thailand pair won the first set 18-21, Vanuatu regrouped and came back strongly in a 23-21 win in the second set and finished the match with a 15-12 win in the third set to book their spot in the quaterfinal.
The Vanuatu duo met Wang.X.X and Zhu Lingoli of China One in the quarters where they cruise through a two straight sets win to qualify for the semi-final.
It was not an easy battle in the semi-final match against favourites Akiko and Yurika of Japan One, Vanuatu lost in a two straight sets. The Japanese won first set 18-21 and 18-21 in the second set.
Teiotu re-elected Cook Islands Rugby Union president
Simiona Teiotu was re-elected the president of the Cook Islands Rugby Union (CIRU) at its annual general meeting last week.
The Cook Islands Times reported the CIRU re-elected Teiotu president for another four-year term at the AGM held on Tuesday.
Prime Minister Mark Brown was once again elected patron of the national governing body.
CIRU members also elected three vice presidents; Frances Toa, Harriet Tuara and William Taripo. Three other vice presidents were elected from the community by the new executives; Anthony Turua, Sunielia Tom and Wallace Aroita.
"In terms of continuity and resilience during the period of uncertainty and to keep the faith all previous executive members (Teiotu, Toa, Taripo and Turua) have retained their seats," CIRU development manager Ben Koteka said.
"The seven-member CIRU executive committee features three females who were heavily involved with the local-based U18 Women's 15s team that travelled to the U18 Oceania Development Camp that was held in New Zealand in October 2022."
In his annual report, Teiotu said Cook Islands Rugby had gone through a really challenging 2022 season with the organisation facing financial set-backs due to an unsuccessful world qualifying campaign against Tonga in 2021.
"Further, the continuous negative impact of Covid-19 on the community and our economy has left our organisation quite fearful of the future of rugby here in the Cook Islands," he added.
Fiji Tennis to send 15 players for qualifiers
Tennis Fiji is sending a team of 15 junior players to represent the country at the West Pacific Regional Qualifiers Championship in Vanuatu next month.
The Fiji Times reported the players held their final training session at the Lautoka Regional Tennis Centre on Monday.
They leave Fiji towards the end of the month, with the qualifiers scheduled to take place from May 1-7.
Tennis Fiji president Rajiv Singh said the players underwent a two-week trial period in order to book their spots in the team.
"The players are super excited to travel out of Fiji and represent the nation in one of the biggest Junior Pacific Championship Qualifiers," he said.
Fiji national junior head coach for the West Pacific qualifiers Andrew Mailtorok said the team had been preparing for one month.
The player categories going are under-12, U14 and U16 in both boys and girls divisions.
"It is a very important tournament because after the tournament and if they qualify, they will play the best from the East and North, with a possible opportunity to travel to Australia and New Caledonia for more exposure," he said.
Mailtorok said the tournament would give the players a chance to taste top-level competition.
The team will play against Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and the Solomon Islands in the tournament.
Pacific players on the spot in league
Melbourne Storm's Fijian forward Tui Kamikamica, who entered an early guilty plea to a Dangerous Contact charge on Daly Cherry-Evans at the weekend, has copped a two-game ban and will miss rounds 8 and 10.
The Storm have a bye in Round 9.
NRL News reported Kamikamica's teammates Justin Olam and back-rower Trent Loiero accepted monetary fines for offences committed against Manly, while Roosters hooker Brandon Smith entered an early guilty plea for a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle and received a $A3,000 fine.
Manly winger Raymond Tuaimalo Vaega has taken the early guilty plea for a Grade 2 Shoulder Charge on Storm star Cameron Munster and will miss two games.
Broncos prop Keenan Palasia entered an early guilty plea to a Grade 1 Careless High Tackle on Titans forward Joe Stimson and was fined $1500.
Meanwhile, Cowboys lock Jason Taumalolo is expected to spend up to six weeks on the sideline with the co-captain set to undergo knee surgery on Thursday.
The club confirmed on Monday that Taumalolo suffered the knee cartilage injury earlier in the season and medical staff had decided it had reached the point where surgery was requited.
Despite the injury the 29-year-old still played 54 minutes in his side's Round 7 loss to the Warriors and ran for 136 metres.
PNG Hunters go down fighting
The Papua New Guinea Hunters have recorded their second loss of the season going down to Northern Pride 14 points to 36 in the Hostplus Cup round 5 clash at Barlow Park in Cairns on Saturday.
The Hunters fought right to the death but couldn't overcome an impressive Northern Pride outfit.
Head coach Stanley Tepend disappointed with his team's performance.
Tepend says they need a quick turnaround before his players go up against top of the table Burliegh Bears this weekend.
Naqelevuki appointed assistant coach for Fijian Warriors
Former Flying Fijians and Fiji Sevens star Sireli Naqelevuki will be the assistant coach for the Fijian Warriors during the World Rugby Pacific Challenge (PRC) in Samoa next month.
Originally from the village of Narikoso, Ono in Kadavu, he has been involved with the Naitasiri Rugby team in the domestic provincial competition in past years.
He has played in the Super Rugby competition with the Stormers and also represented the Western Province side in Currie Cup and Vodacom Cup tournaments in South Africa.
He last played for the Exeter Chiefs in the Premiership Rugby of England's top division.
Flying Fijians assistant coach Senirusi Seruvakula has been named head coach.
The World Rugby PRC kicks off on May 3 at Apia Park.
