Action from the Fijian Drua v Western Force 2023 Super Rugby Pacific match (file image) Photo: Fijian Drua
The Easter weekend turned out to be a big one for Pasifika rugby.
Seven of the game's Pasifika legends were honoured in the first-ever Pasifika Rugby Hall of Fame induction at Eden Park on Thursday night.
The Fiji Drua franchise recorded wins in both the Super Rugby Pacific and Super W competitions in Lautoka.
But Moana Pasifika fell heavily to the Blues at Eden Park.
Manu Samoa have also named a new head coach, in former rep Mase Mahonri Schwalger.
Drua down the Force in the rain
The rain did not hamper the Fijian Drua as they romped to a 31-13 win over the Western Force in Laukota on Saturday.
It was their third win at home in a row for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific, following defeats of the Crusaders and the Waratahs.
Stand-out for the Drua was flyhalf Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula, who kicked two penalties while his team were down a man.
The Force hunted late for an answer but were stopped at every time by a solid Drua defence.
Drua 31 (TRIES: Momo, Ravutaumada, Masi; CONS: Armstrong-Ravula 2; PENS: Armstrong-Ravula 4) def Force 13 (TRY: Tiatia; PENS: Donaldson 2)
Drua women beat Western Force
The Fijiana Drua continued from where their male counterparts left off at Churchill Park on Saturday and defeated the Western Force women's team 19-5 in their Super W game.
Ball handling was always going to be a challenge as the wet and muddy field proved a task to reckon with.
Drua scored three tries to the Force's one.
The Force did rally from a 12-0 half-time deficit, with Rosie Ebbage crossing to trim the gap, but the visitors were unable to capitalize on significant possession and field position in the second half.
The Drua (2 wins, 1 loss) and Force (also 2 wins, 1 loss) are locked on nine points in second and third spot on the Super W ladder after three rounds.
Mark Tele’a of the Blues. Photo: Andrew Cornaga / www.photosport.nz
Blues tame Moana Pasifika
The Blues produced a dominant performance to comfortably beat Moana Pasifika 47-8 at Eden Park in Auckland on Saturday.
Moana Pasifika could not get off the blocks and struggled to cross the line, even though they had a lot of possession.
Winger Mark Telea scored three tries for the Blues.
Halfback Finlay Christie scored a try in his 50th Super Rugby Pacific appearance and Ricky Riccitelli came off the bench to earn his 100th cap for the Auckland side.
Mark Tele’a bagged a hat-trick in the rout. Photo: Photosport
Inisi brothers Lotu and Fine worked overtime on attack for Moana, supported by veteran Julian Savea, who made a number of blistering runs.
Captain and flanker Sione Havili Talitui claimed his side's lone try.
Blues 47 (TRIES: Mark Tele'a x3, Stephen Perofeta, Caleb Clarke, Bryce Heem, Finlay Christie; CONS: Perofeta x 6) def Moana Pasifika 8 (TRY Sione Havili Talitui; PEN Christian Lealiifano). HT: 28-8.
Super Rugby results (Round 6) - Crusaders 37 Chiefs 26; Rebels 27 Waratahs 21; Drua 31 Force 13; Blues 47 Moana 8; Hurricanes 47 Highlanders 12; Brumbies 20 Reds 19.
Sevens changes
Two legends of Pasifika rugby say this weekend's Hong Kong Sevens tournament will be a memorable one as the event will be played for the last time at the Government Stadium in So Kon Po.
Fijian Waisale Serevi and Samoan Muliagatele Brian Lima both expressed sadness that the event will not be held at the ground anymore after this weekend's event.
They said the Hong Kong event was something they looked forward to during their sevens careers for their respective national teams.
The Hong Kong Sevens kicks off on Friday local time, with finals scheduled for Sunday.
Wrestling qualfiers
The World Wresting Federation reports three Pacific Island weightlifters have qualified for the 2024 Paris Olympics following performances at the African and Oceania Olympic Games Qualifiers in Egypt.
Samoa's freestyle wrestler Gaku Akazawa, a former Japanese high school star who moved to Samoa in 2017, defeated Wotna Ndoc of Guinea in the 65-kilogram semifinal to claim his spot in Paris.
Guam's Aquino sisters, Mia and Rckaela, earned Olympic spots after winning the semifinals at the 53kg and 57kg categories respectively.
Mia Aquino also competed at the Tokyo Olympics.
Football - FIFA Series
Papua New Guinea men's football team lost their second and final match at the FIFA Series in Sri Lanka, going down 4-0 to the Central African Republic.
OFC media reported Central African Republic took the lead 11 minutes into the first half and were up 3-0 at half time.
Papua New Guinea will now turn their attention to the OFC Men's Nations Cup 2024 in Vanuatu in June.
