Pacific fans to watch world cup matches at home
Footbal fans in Fiji, Solomon Islands and Papua New Guinea will be able to watch and enjoy the thrills of the FIFA Women's World Cup in a partnership between the world governing body and Oceania Football Confederation.
That partnership will see festival zones featuring big screens are being created in Suva, Lautoka and Ba and the Damodar Cinema Suva in Fiji, the use of the PNG Football Stadium in Port Moresby and the Lawsom Tama National Stadium in Honiara showing the matches from the quarterfinals to the finals.
OFC's Women's Football Manager Emma Evans said OFC was committed to raising the visibility of women's football and expanding the reach of the FIFA Women's World Cup 2023 into the Pacific.
The three national football associations will have their own programs as part of the partnership.
Davis to trial with Wellington Phoenix
Fiji Kula football representative Trina Davis is set to trial with the Wellington Phoenix Football Club this weekend.
Davis, who starred for the Fijians in the Oceania Women's Football C hampionship in Suva earlier this year, is now in the capital to try out for the clubside.
Trina, born in the United States, has been an influential figure within the Fiji Kulas squad.
The 21 year-old had played for the Israeli club ASA Tel Aviv in her first professional contract in 2021 before securing a contract with Puerto Rico Sol FC in 2022, playing in the Superior Femenino de la Liga Puerto Rico.
Trina Davis, middle, will attend a trial with the Wellington Phoenix. Photo: Avikash Chand / OFC Media
Tonga boxing boost for Pacific Games
Tonga's boxing team to the 2023 Pacific Games will be boosted by the inclusion of one of New Zealand's top amateur boxers, Matt Mataika.
Mataika has switched allegiance to Tonga ahead of next year's Olympic Games so he does not have to pay for his own way to the Games, Stuff NZ reorted.
Mataika and coach Isaac Peach have been given the go-ahead by Tonga Amateur Boxing to join the Tongan team for the Games in Honiara.
He qualifies for Tonga because his parents are both Tongans who had grown up in the Kingdom as well.
Cama named new NZ7s coach
Tomasi Cama has been named the new head coach of the New Zealand men's 7s rugby team, replacing Clark Lidlaw.
Cama, who came from Fiji on a rugby exchange program between Meads Nabua and Hamilton here in New Zealand almost 30 years ago, was named to the top position by the New Zealand Rugby Union on Friday (August 11).
Cama played 61 tournaments in the black jersey and is the All Blacks Sevens all-time leading point scorer.
His father Tomasi Cama senior was a Fiji rep in both sevens and fifteens, also coaching the Fiji 7s team in the past.
Fijians in Wallabies Rugby World Cup squad
Six players of Fijian heritage have been named in the 33-member Wallabies squad announced by coach Eddie Joes for the Rugby World Cup in France in September.
Wingers Suliasi Vunivalu, Marika Koroibete and Mark Waqanitawase, centre Samu Kerevi and forwards Rob Valetini and Langi Glees were named on Thursday.
But the surprise ommissions are former captain Michael Hooper and flyhalf Quade Cooper.
Jones has also named Will Skeleton, a player of Tongan heritage, as captain of his squad that will face Fiji, Wales, Uruguay and Georgia at the World Cup.
Samoa and Fiji depart
The Manu Samoan rugby squad flew out of Apia earlier this week farewelled by fans who lined the streets from their Taumeasina Island Resort to the Faleolo International Airport.
Fans followed the team's bus all the way through Apia city and cheered the players on as they made their way to the airport's departure lounge, the Samoa Observer reported.
The Samoans, like their Pacific neighbours Fiji, have made an early move across to France to acclimitise, while also playing warm-up matches there.
Manu Samoa will meet a United Kingdonm Barbarians next week and Ireland in their pre-World Cup final hit ups.
Meanwhile, the first contingent of Flying Fijians players heading off to the Rugby World Cup left Nadi International Airport for Paris on Thursday morning.
A total of 27 players and officials, led by head coach Simon Raiwalui, are now headed for France, where they will play two pre-World Cup Test matches against France and England.
The rest of the players will leave for France on Saturday.
