Pasifika Sipoti in brief for 26 June
AFP
Two players of Pasifika heritage have been named in the French squad to face the All Blacks in three test matches in New Zealand next month.
Fijian native Alivereti Duguivalu, son of former Fijian centre Esala Nauga, is amongst a number of new faces France coach Fabien Galthié has named in his 37-man squad.
Romain Taofifenua is of Wallisian heritage, with his father, Willy Taofifenua, being one of the first players from Wallis and Futuna to play professional rugby in France.
France have named an inexperienced squad for the upcoming test series against the All Blacks in Dunedin, Wellington and Hamilton.
The Flying Fijians are heading into camp in Nadi this weekend, in preparation for their two test matches in July.
First up will be the test against the Wallabies in Newcastle, Sydney on 6 July.
They then face Scotland in Suva on 12 July.
The Fiji Rugby Union said overseas-based players have started arriving in Nadi, with the squad scheduled to move to Sydney at the weekend.
Meanwhile, prop Luke Tagi has been ruled out of the upcoming test season due to an ankle injury sustained while playing for his Top 14 club, Bayonne, in France.
He will be replaced by Fijian Drua prop Samu Tawake.
The Cook Islands under-16 boys beach handball team has qualified for the 2026 Youth Olympic Games.
Cook Island News
reported the team competed at the 3rd IHF Men's Youth Beach Handball World Championship in Tunisia last week, where they finished 15th out of 16 teams.
Makiroa Mitchell-John, president of Handball Cook Islands and secretary-general of the Oceania Continent Handball Federation, said the achievement is remarkable as all the players are "100 per cent homegrown".
The 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games will take place in Dakar, Senegal, in late 2026.
Team Palau will have some teenagers representing them at the upcoming Pacific Mini Games, which will officially open in Koror on Sunday.
The
Island Times
reported 15-year-old, Craven Ngirchomlei will compete in the men's 800-metre and 1500-metre races.
Another 15-year-old, Reese Polycarp, is among the youngest on the women's indoor volleyball team.
Tonga is sending 33 athletes to the Palau Pacific Mini Games from 29 June to 9 July.
The Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee has confirmed Tonga will compete in archery, athletics, basketball, beach volleyball, table tennis, swimming and weightlifting.
The archery team is already on its way to Palau, led by coach Hans Jensen.
The remainder of team Tonga is scheduled to arrive in time for the opening ceremony on 29 June.
Moana Pasifika rookie of the year for 2025, Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, will stay with the side for 2026 and 2027.
The North Harbour-based franchise said the 21-year-old loose forward stamped his mark when he became a replacement player and forced his way into a regular place in the starting lineup.
Moana Pasifika head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga said Ta'eiloa is a rare talent who has shown amazing ambition and tenacity to get to where he is now.
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