2025 Pacific Mini Games: Weightlifters to represent New Zealand in Palau
Photo:
New Zealand Olympic Committee
A nine-member weightlifting team will represent Team New Zealand at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games in Palau.
The New Zealand Olympic Committee (NZOC) confirmed this in a news release on Wednesday.
Weightlifting New Zealand President Simon Kent said he is looking forward to a strong showing from the group at the event from 29 June to 9 July.
Two-time Olympian and two-time Commonwealth Games medallist David Liti will lead the New Zealand Team in the Men's +110kg category.
Kent said Liti's inclusion will be good for the team, which will have some debutants.
"With a decade of international experience, David's presence will be a valuable asset to the group as they navigate being part of a multi-sport event," Kent said.
"Five athletes will be making their New Zealand debuts at these Games, something we know will be a special time for them and their families.
"The Pacific Mini Games are the ideal setting for these athletes to gain international experience, as competing in the Pacific offers its own unique challenges - the travel, foreign conditions and generally being out of their comfort zone are all factors for them to consider and ultimately lean into."
Kent said the Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games are a stepping stone on the journey for athletes hopeful of Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games selection.
"Athletes from across the Commonwealth will compete in Palau, India, Norway and Samoa during the next 10 months, aiming to secure their spot on the final ranking list for next July's showpiece event in Glasgow," he added.
NZOC chief executive Nicki Nicol also extended her support to Team New Zealand.
"We're proud to support this talented group as they represent the New Zealand Team, particularly those who will wear the fern for the first time.
"For some, the Pacific Mini Games could be the first step on their journey towards representing New Zealand at a major Games, and we wish them all the best for a successful campaign in Palau."
New Zealand Team confirmed for the Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games
(*denotes New Zealand Team debut):
Hannah Close* (26 years old, Women's Under-58kg), Holly Drain (26 years old, Women's Under-77kg), Sienna Fesolai (19 years old, Women's Under-69kg ), David Liti (28 years old, Men's +110kg), Tui-Alofa Patolo* (34 years old, Women's +86kg category), Louise Richards* (27 years old, Women's Under-63kg), Monica Saili-Hiakita* (27 years old, Women's Under-77kg), Judy Soloai* (30 years old, Women's +86kg), Vernon Taylor (26 years old, Men's Under-71kg)
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
RNZ News
2 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Du'Plessis Kirifi keen to add to All Blacks openside legacy
Du'Plessis Kirifi didn't have much time to think about his first All Blacks start. He was thrust into the run on side moments before kickoff in the third and final test against France in Hamilton after Luke Jacobson was a late withdrawal. Kirifi would start at openside, with captain Ardie Savea switching to No.8. "To play any game for the All Blacks is special, but to be told you're starting out of the blue, you don't have enough time to really react," Kirifi said. "But when you get a moment in the changing room before you run out, I think it starts to sink in that you're going to be wearing the No.7 jersey for the All Blacks." Du'Plessis Kirifi scores against France. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Openside flanker is one of the most scrutinised positions in the All Blacks and whoever wears the No.7 jersey will inevitably be compared to the likes of Richie McCaw and Sir Michael Jones. "Then there's a little pressure of who has gone before and who has worn that jersey in the past," Kirifi said. "I hope that tonight in the tinniest way possible that I could help out and benefit the (All Blacks) No.7 legacy." Kirifi insisted he wasn't overwhelmed by the late call up to the starting XV, though he said it was always bittersweet when it was because of an injury to another player. "We're all professionals and we're all prepared to play. In the first test Damian McKenzie came on one minute into the game. You're always prepared for that situation. Whether or not it happens is another question. "Obviously I'm gutted for Luke (Jacobson). He's worked extremely hard to get back into the environment and into the starting jersey." Du'Plessis Kirifi celebrates with Ruben Love. Photo: Brett Phibbs / Kirifi said you had to prepare as if you were going to play 80 minutes. "Physically, you're still getting the work done throughout the week. Mentally, I think if you let yourself fall into the trap of 'I'm only going to come on for 10 or 20 minutes', then when something like tonight happens, you're caught out," Kirifi said. "As we've seen throughout the week we've had multiple injuries in our back line. So Will Jordan, who wasn't even supposed to be playing, is now starting (late replacement for Rieko Ioane). That's the reality of contact sport. Prepare to play and if the time comes you're ready." Kirifi not only made his first test start but also scored a try in the All Blacks come from behind 29-19 win, which sealed a 3-nil series sweep . "Obviously it's pretty cool to get your first test try for the All Blacks," Kirifi said. "A pretty typical No.7 try. A bit opportunistic there at the end of a loose ball... I was just extremely lucky on the back of a good kick and a good chase. "A cool moment getting the first meat pie (try), but I was just really glad that the pressure we were applying throughout that second half found a way to turn into points." Du'Plessis Kirifi of New Zealand celebrates his try, New Zealand All Blacks v France. Photo: Brett Phibbs/ Kirifi and the All Blacks will have a small break before turning their attention to the Rugby Championship. The squad is named early next month, with the All Blacks first game in Argentina on 17 August. Kirifi was honest in his assessment about how much he had learned after three weeks of test rugby. "I'm not going to lie. Not a lot," Kirifi said. "You always know it's a step up and you try to prepare as best as possible. Whether or not you're prepared is another question. "I've always been aware of the intensity, the physicality and the level up that it is. My job and the challenge for me is to just continue to keep growing and trying to reach that intensity and that level accurately." Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
2 hours ago
- RNZ News
Rugby: Wallaroo Waiaria Ellis says New Zealand was 'the best place to debut'
Waiaria Ellis started on the wing for the Wallaroos against the Black Ferns Photo: Kerry Marshall / Western Sydney schoolgirl Waiaria Ellis debuted for the Wallaroos last weekend, playing for her country against her other home side. The Laurie O'Reilly cup match between the Black Ferns and the Wallaroos at Sky Stadium meant the Australian pocket rocket became the second-youngest debutant in Wallaroos history at 17 years and 305 days. Ellis, who is nicknamed 'Baba', was just 60 days short of Caitlyn Halse's record set in 2024. "I wasn't expecting to debut so soon. I thought that I would have had a few more training camps and that, because I'd been to a few, but I just wasn't expecting it, so it's literally so surreal," Ellis said. "There's definitely no better place to debut, to be honest. Like, just being Māori, then being able to debut in New Zealand and versing New Zealand was pretty crazy, but it was amazing." The Castle Hill High Schooler started in the number 14 jersey on the same wing as Katelyn Vaha'akolo. The Black Ferns clinched a 37-12 win over the Aussies. Waiaria Ellis looks for a gap Photo: Kerry Marshall / Her mum flew over the Tasman to the capital, and her koro, nan, and aunty drove down from Tūrangi. The Ngāti Tūwharetoa descendant said that having the backing of her family was everything. "I'm just so proud to be Māori. Our culture, our connection to the land, and just my family. Family is a lot to us. It is important." Her dad Ben Ellis played in the NRL for St George Illawarra and captained the New Zealand Māori Rugby League team in 2008. Her sister Ruby-Jean Kennard-Ellis has also played in the NRLW for the Parramatta Eels. The young Ellis looked up to both her dad and her big sister. "My dad helped coach me and everything, and he played in the NRL as well. He knows a lot about footy and he's just helped me a lot with everything in my career. "But then, a few years ago, my sister debuted for Para, Parramatta NRLW, and she was the first junior Parramatta player to play for the women - the first junior one to come through the path - she was actually a very big idol of mine, I looked up to her." She also praised her teammate Caitlyn Halse, who is another strong contender for the number 15 jersey. "She's very, very good, and she's so young, like, she's just a year older than me but she's achieved so much, and, she's just such a great player." Ellis hasn't been playing the 15-aside game long but owes her nifty playmaking ability to rugby league - the sport she has been playing since she was five years old. She has also worn the green and gold in junior Australian gymnastics, Oztag, and schoolgirls sevens. Waiaria Ellis sized up against Jorja Miller who scored a stellar try in the O'Reilly Cup, Black Ferns v Wallaroos match Photo: Kerry Marshall / In just her second year on the rugby pitch, she scored a spot in the NSW Waratahs Super Rugby Women's team at 16. The Waratahs won the Super W championship back-to-back, defeating the Queensland Reds 43-21 this year. "Super W season is one of my favourites. The girls are just really good to be around." With a Wallaroo cap under her belt, Ellis wants to see where her rugby career can take her. "Australia has given me everything, all my opportunities and stuff. So I feel like that's who I should be representing." "But also, if I was in a black jersey, I'd be very proud to be in a black jersey as well - both I'd be very grateful for if I ever had to swap for anything." And the utility back isn't limiting her options. "I definitely would want to give sevens a crack." But for now, Ellis' focus is impressing selectors for the Women's Rugby World Cup in England. "Obviously I do other sports and stuff, but I've just been really concentrating on 15s, just because that's, like, the World Cup is literally the pinnacle of our sport. Everyone wants to achieve that, so that would be pretty amazing." Waiaria Ellis chasing down Portia Woodman-Wickliffe Photo: Masanori Udagawa/Photosport Wallaroos head coach Jo Yapp said in a pre-match statement that the coaching staff are "all really pleased for Waiaria." "She has an excellent skillset and her youthfulness has a great effect on the playing group. We are confident in her ability to take the next step at this level." Australia is hosting Wales in a two-test series on 26 July in Brisbane and 1 August in Sydney in preparations for the Rugby World Cup. A squad of 32 will be selected for the World Cup following the match in Sydney, then will jet off for the UK on 11 August. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
4 hours ago
- RNZ News
NRL: NZ Warriors v Newcastle Knights - what you need to know
Newcastle wing Dom Young and Warriors halfback Tanah Boyd will face off at McDonald Jones Stadium. Photo: RNZ/Liam Swiggs Warriors v Knights Kickoff: 6pm Sunday, 20 July Venue: McDonald Jones Stadium, Newcastle Live blog updates on RNZ Sport With their home victory at Christchurch in April, NZ Warriors grabbed the historical bragging rights over Newcastle, winning 26 of their 52 previous meetings, with one draw. The Knights enjoy a 14-8 advantage at their homeground of McDonald Jones Stadium, including a 14-8 victory there last season. In six meetings since the Warriors returned home from their Covid exile, they hold a 4-2 edge, including a 2023 playoff win at Go Media Stadium. Newcastle's biggest win came in the Warriors' debut season, when they prevailed 48-6 at home, while the Warriors have twice achieved the same margin in 1999 and 2007. After back-to-back defeats and a bye week, the Warriors returned to action last week with a convincing win over the hapless Wests Tigers. Five-eighth Chanel Harris-Tavita had a try double and new halfback Tanah Boyd, replacing injured Luke Metcalf, enjoyed a solid debut for the Auckland club. They are now 11-5 for the season and safely in fourth on the table, two points clear of Brisbane Broncos, who gather two points from their final bye. At 6-11, Newcastle sit 13th, but just two points off the bottom of the table. They have lost two consecutive matches, but beat the Dolphins before that. They just haven't been able to string together wins, since they started the campaign with wins over the Tigers and Dolphins. A big part of that is their inability to score - their 251 points, an average of 14.7 per game, is the least in the competition by some margin. Warriors: 1. Taine Tuaupiki, 2. Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, 3. Adam Pompey, 4. Kurt Capewell, 5. Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, 6. Chanel Harris-Tavita, 7. Tanah Boyd, 8. James Fisher-Harris (c), 9. Wayde Egan, 10. Jackson Ford, 11. Leka Halasima, 12. Marata Niukore, 13. Erin Clark. Interchange: 14. Te Maire Martin, 15. Jacob Laban, 16. Demetric Vaimauga, 17. Tanner Stowers-Smith. Extended bench: 18. Samuel Healey, 20. Eddie Ieremia-Toeava Coach Andrew Webster has the luxury of bringing back Queensland Origin hero Kurt Capewell, after he sat out last week for recovery. He slots into centre, after Rocco Berry's latest injury, and that's the only change to the team that accounted for the Tigers. Kurt Capewell returns from Origin duty into the Warriors midfield. Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ Knights: 1 Dane Gagai, 2. Dominic Young, 3. Fletcher Hunt, 4. Bradman Best, 5. Greg Marzhew, 6. Jackson Hastings, 7. Jack Cogger, 8. Jacob Saifiti, 9. Jayden Brailey, 10. Leo Thompson, 11. Brodie Jones, 12. Kai Pearce-Paul, 13. Phoenix Crossland. Interchange: 14. Tyson Gamble, 15. Mat Croker, 16. Tyson Frizell, 17. Jermaine McEwen. Extended bench: 18. Thomas Cant, 21. Jack Hetherington Plagued by injuries, coach Adam O'Brien has had to name captain Dane Gagai at fullback, after he moved their late last week. Tyson Frizell moves to the interchange and Brodie Jones shifts to the starting side. The Knights have lost perhaps their two most potent attacking weapons in Kalyn Ponga (foot) and Fletcher Sharpe (kidney), but they have a couple of tryscoring wings in Auckland-born Greg Marzhew and English international Dom Young . If they get quality ball, look out. Wellington-born Phoenix Crossland made his NZ debut last year as a hooker, but his utility value has been important to Newcastle this season. He lines up at lock this week, relegating former Origin and Australia forward Tyson Frizell to the bench. Newcastle have been pretty poor this season and the Warriors must win games like this, if they hope to secure home advantage in the playoffs.
