Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 3 June
Photo:
FRU Media
Fiji rugby veterans are returning to the Fijiana 15s team for the 2025 Oceania Rugby Women's Championship.
The Fijiana 15s enter this year's tournament as defending champions.
FBC
reported the returnees include Bitila Tawake, Rusila Nagasau, Asinate Serevi, Iris Verebalavu, and Jade Coates.
The tournament will again see Fiji face off against traditional Pacific rivals Tonga and Samoa, serving as a build-up to the women's Rugby World Cup.
The first Rugby World Club Cup will be held in 2028.
The competition will see 16 teams taking part, with eight qualifying through the Investec Champions Cup and the remainder from Super Rugby and Japan.
The
BBC
reported European Professional Club Rugby chairman Dominic McKay has confirmed the plans.
The existing Champions Cup, with teams from England, France, Ireland, Wales, Scotland, South Africa and Italy, will continue.
The Fiji Rakavi Football Union Ltd, the company that now manages Fiji Rugby, has signed a memorandum of understanding with the China Rugby Football Association (CRFA).
FRU board chairman John Sanday said the MOU was signed in Beijing between FRU trustees board representative Jenny Seeto and the CRFA president Wang Yun.
Sanday said the agreement will help boost rugby in both countries, with focus on rugby academies, youth exchanges and high-performance programs.
Australia and New Zealand have confirmed their teams for the Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
Twenty athletes have been selected to represent Australia in the athletics competition, which is set down for 4-9 July in Koror.
Nine weighlifters will represent New Zealand, led by Olympian David Liti.
The Games, which will feature athletes from 24 Pacific nations across 12 sports, will officially open on 29 June.
Meanwhile, the chairman of the organising commitee said the event will be declared 'drug, alcohol and tobacco free'.
Vanuatu's women's beach volleyball players, Majabelle Lawac and Shersyn Toko, have returned home with a bronze medal from the FIVB Volleyball Pro Tour Challenge in China, held last month.
The duo defeated China 2-1 in the play-off for third position at the event.
That win came after earlier competition in other international beach volleyball events in Vietnam and the Phillipines.
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It was an opportunity for the players to be together as a squad for the first time, with some players being able to be in Samoa for the first time. "Bringing our girls home, some for the very first time, created a powerful sense of identity and belonging," she said. "It's not only about who they are as athletes, but who they are as young women, grounded in culture and family. "Thank you to the Netball Samoa staff for running such a large-scale camp while continuing their daily operations. The care, effort, and heart behind this camp has been truly special." Samu said they are proud of the squad named and called for more support, especially financially, to assist the team on their trip. "This marks a significant milestone for our young athletes, who have trialled and trained with dedication and pride to represent Samoa on the world stage," she stated. "As we prepare for this international journey, we continue to seek sponsorship and support. 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"I'm very happy we have reached the milestone of announcing the team," she stated. "This has been almost 18 months in the making. "I am very happy with our 12 athletes but I'd also like to acknowledge the contribution and commitment of those other 15 athletes who have been part of our squad pushed for selection. "As we are in the business end of our preparations, we are sharpening our focus to ensure we are as ready as possible for the WYC in September." Fiji will meet Trinidad and Tobago first up on September 20, have Barbados on September 21, take on Malawi on September 22 and meet South Africa on September 24. Baby Pearls: Adi Varanisese Vula, Akisi Bolakoro, Anatolia Nuku, Eseta Waqaira, Hana Sotutu, Lydia Tavesivesi, Mereoni Taqiri, Nina Nakula, Shaid Sasalu, Solei Toganivalu, Susana Rasaubale, Vilimaina Kagi; Non-Travelling Reserves: Mykaella Chandra, Seini Naulia, Timaima Jones.
