Sports briefs for April 24

Rugby Sevens - Tonga

The Tonga sevens rugby team won the first round of the World Rugby Challenger Series in Cape Town at the weekend after they defeated Germany 26-14 in the final.

The Pacific team went through the first tournament undefeated, accounting for Zimbabwe, Germany, Italy and Hong Kong and drawing with Belgium on the road to the final.

Now they prepare for the second round this weekend, hoping they can repeat that performance and qualify for the World Sevens Series.

Head coach Tevita Tuifua congratulated his players but said the battle had not been won yet.

"They know this is just the beginning. It is going to be tough coming into the second tournament. They also understand what it means."

They have drawn Italy, Chile and Jamaica in Pool A.

Papua New Guinea are in Pool C where they will face Hong Kong, Belgium and Zimbabwe.

Meanwhile, the South African women came from behind in their final to beat Belgium 17-10 in front of their home crowd.

Futsal - death

The captain of a top New Caledonian futsal team has died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a match.

29-year-old Marcel Hnepeune came off the field after a few minutes play and collapsed on his way to the bench.

Efforts to revive him failed.

His side ASPTT was playing AS Ferrand in Noumea in the league's top game.

Last week, Hnepeune was player of the match when New Caledonia played against Fiji in the Melanesian Cup.

Netball - Gold Coast tournament

The PacificAus Sports Netball Series begins on Monday night on the Gold Coast in Australia.

This year's event features teams from Tonga, Fiji and Samoa along with teams from Africa and Asia.

In the first round, Samoa takes on Papua New Guinea, Fiji plays Malawi, and tournament favourites Tonga will play Singapore.

The final will take place on Saturday.

Tonga have already qualified for the Netball World Cup which kicks off in July.

Football - Vanuatu

Vanuatu's national team will participate in the four-nations Intercontinental Cup in June in Bhubaneswar, eastern India.

The tournament will also feature the hosts, Lebanon, and Mongolia.

Lebanon are the highest-ranked side at 99, slightly ahead of India at 101 while Mongolia is at 183. Vanuatu is ranked no.164.

The men's team will use the competition as part of its preparation for the Pacific Games being held at the end of this year.

Vanuatu's last match against a non-Oceania team was in 2019, when they lost 6-0 to Indonesia in Jakarta.

Football - Champions League

The kick-off times have been confirmed for next month's Oceania Champions League football tournament in Vanuatu.

The tournament begins with reigning champions Auckland City playing Solomon Warriors on May 14 in Luganville, followed by Suva FC against Samoan champions Lupe Ole Soaga who came through qualifying.

On the same day, in Port Vila, two Group B matches will take place: AS Pirae of Tahiti play Tiga Sport of New Caledonia followed by local favourites Ifira Blackbird against Hekari United of Papua New Guinea.

The final takes place in Port Vila on May 27.

Fiji - World Cup draw

Fiji's young footballers will open their Under-20 men's World Cup campaign against Slovakia on May 20.

Fiji has also been drawn with the United States and Ecuador in Group B in Argentina.

Oceania's other representatives, regional champions New Zealand, face the hosts Argentina in their group, as well as Guatemala and Uzbekistan.

Pacific Games - volunteers

Around 375 people have already applied to be part of the Sol2023 Pacific Games Volunteer Programme since it was launched on April 15.

Officials said the programme is generating alot of interest both in Honiara and in provinces throughout the country.

Pacific Games Organising Committee Workforce Manager, Reenah Numaralai, said many more people have asked for application forms.

Volunteers will work in a multitude of roles and areas including accommodation, accreditation, anti-doping, and looking after the athletes village.

The 2023 Pacific Games will be held in Honiara from November 19 to December 2.