Sports News for 27 June 2025
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RNZ News
10 minutes ago
- RNZ News
Liam Lawson: 'We need to extract everything we can' for British GP
New Zealand Racing Bulls F1 driver Liam Lawson, 2025. Photo: ANTONIN VINCENT / AFP Formula 1 hits the mid point of the season at Silverstone this weekend with New Zealand driver Liam Lawson hoping to kick on from his best result of the year. Lawson capped off a superb weekend in Austria by converting his sixth place in qualifying to a sixth place in the race . It was just the second time he had picked up points this season and it helped Racing Bulls to improve to sixth in the constructors' championship. That result would have given him some comfort and may have softened the view of some of his critics, but the 23-year-old Kiwi moved on quickly to prepare for the British Grand Prix. "It's a new weekend on a very different track," Lawson said on the eve of practice. "The main positive is that the car has been very fast recently and obviously we want to carry that forward this weekend but at the same time Formula One has been very close recently and we need to chase every session and try and extract everything we can." Mercedes driver Lewis Hamilton on his way to winning the 2024 British Grand Prix. Photo: Simon West / PHOTOSPORT Silverstone is an old school circuit, infact it is as old as Formula 1 itself (75 years). It is a high speed circuit with the cars at top speed for the majority of the lap. Racing Bulls Chief Technical Officer Tim Goss said Silverstone is a circuit they like. "The VCARB 02 has proved itself to deal with these characteristics well recently, both at Barcelona and Austria. Following an impressive 6th place finish at Austria, we arrive in the UK confident that we can dial the set-up in and continue to fight amongst the leading midfield teams." Lawson is a fan of the track, which was built on a former RAF base and first hosted the 1948 British Grand Prix. "Silverstone weekend brings an iconic track which we all grew up racing on in different categories," Lawson said. "It's one of the most well-suited tracks to Formula One and I've been lucky enough to test an F1 car around it. "I'm looking forward to racing on a high speed, technical track off the back of a great weekend in Austria." Racing Bulls F1 lineup (L to R) Iasck Hadjar, Liam Lawson and Laurent Mekies. Photo: ANTONIN VINCENT / AFP The weather played a part in Lewis Hamilton's victory last year and some rain could well make an appearance again this weekend. Meanwhile Lawson will have one eye on the performance of British teenager Arvid Lindblad at Silverstone on Friday. Lindblad will debut for Red Bull when he gets a practice session behind the wheel of Yuki Tsunoda's RB21. The 17-year-old had his Super Licence fast-tracked to allow him to get into Formula One before his 18th birthday . He was lined up incase world champion Max Verstappen was suspended. The Dutchman's driving infringements means he's just one penalty point away from an automatic suspension. Lindblad, who currently drives in F2, won the Formula Regional Oceania Championship in New Zealand last summer. The future line-up for the four Red Bull cars (includes Racing Bulls) is up in the air with reports that Verstappen has been linked with a move to Mercedes, while Tsunoda may leave with engine supplier Honda (and one of his backers) ending their involvement with Red Bull. Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
France names eight uncapped players to face All Blacks
Joris Segonds will make his test debut at No 10 for France. Photo: Photosport All Blacks v France Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 5 July Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin Live blog updates on RNZ France coach Fabien Galthie has named eight debutants, including five starters, in a depleted squad for their opening match of a three-test tour of New Zealand in Dunedin. Tom Spring is set to make his debut on the right wing in the clash on Saturday while Joris Segonds will earn his first cap at No 10. Alexandre Fischer will earn his first cap in the third row, Tyler Duguid in the second row and Giorgi Beria as prop. Props Paul Mallez and Regis Montagne, along with versatile forward Jacobus van Tonder, who can play in the second or third row, will hope to debut off the bench. Captain Gael Fickou, who is the most-capped player in the squad (94 caps), will lead the side from the centre while veteran prop Rabah Slimani will return to international rugby for the first time since October 2019. Pierre-Louis Barassi, Pierre Bochaton, Joshua Brennan, Nicolas Depoortere and Bastien Vergnes-Taillefer, who all played in the Top 14 final last Saturday, are out of the squad and will be available for the second and third tests. The All Blacks side was named yesterday , with debutants lock Fabian Holland and loose forward Christian Lio-Willie named in the starting side, while prop Ollie Norris and loose forward Du'Plessis Kirifi will prepare to debut off the bench. France: 1. Giorgi Beria, 2. Gaetan Garlot, 3. Rabah Slimani, 4. Hugo Auradou, 5. Tyler Duguid, 6. Alexandre Fischer, 7. Killian Tixeront, 8. Mickael Guillard, 9. Nolann Le Garrec, 10. Joris Segonds, 11. Gabin Villiere, 12. Gael Fickou (capt), 13. Emilien Gailleton, 14. Tom Spring, 15. Theo Attissogbe. Bench: 16. Pierre Bourgarit, 17. Paul Mallez, 18. Regis Montagne, 19. Romain Taofifenua, 20. Cameron Woki, 21. Jacobus van Tonder, 22. Baptiste Jauneau, 23. Antoine Hastoy. All Blacks: 1. Ethan de Groot, 2. Codie Taylor, 3. Fletcher Newell, 4. Scott Barrett, 5. Fabian Holland, 6. Tupou Vaa'i, 7. Ardie Savea, 8, Christian Lio-Willie, 9. Cameron Roigard, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Rieko Ioane, 12. Jordie Barrett, 13. Billy Proctor, 14. Sevu Reece, 15. Will Jordan Bench: Taukei'aho, 17. Ollie Norris, 18. Pasilio Tosi, 19. Samipeni Finau, 20. Du'Plessis Kirifi, 21. Cortez Ratima, 22. Quinn Tupaea, 23. Damian McKenzie - Reuters
RNZ News
5 hours ago
- RNZ News
A glimpse into the 2025 Pacific Mini Games - voices of athletes in Palau
2025 Palau Mini Games enters its fifth day of competition on Friday. Photo: Facebook / Palau 2025 Pacific Mini Games The 2025 Pacific Mini Games has been a colourful affair so far, bringing together 23 Pacific nations to compete in a variety of sports in the Micronesian nation of Palau. The Mini Games kicked off on Sunday with a lively opening ceremony and will run through 9 July. Amid the action and energy in Palau on Thursday, RNZ Pacific caught up with a few athletes on the ground to hear about their experiences so far. Weightlifters Louise Richards and Vernon Taylor Photo: RNZ Pacific/Coco Lance New Zealand weightlifter Vernon Taylor impressed on Thursday, setting a national record in the 120kg snatch, and securing a spot as the fourth-ranked lifter in Oceania. Taylor is part of a nine-strong squad from Aotearoa, training alongside heavyweights like Commonwealth Games gold medalist David Liti, and amongst a team he is "super proud of". "It's been an honour representing New Zealand in Palau, such a beautiful country," Taylor said. "The English language doesn't comprehend how I feel being here!" His record-breaking lift was no fluke, but the result of months of hard work. "Competing and setting that record has been something I've been working towards for six, seven months," he said. Now, he is focused on supporting his teammates the "best he can". Taylor added that despite having competed on the international stage before, including at the Commonwealth Games and World Championships, there has been something unique about the atmosphere in Palau. "This whole event is so unique. I've travelled to the Commonwealth Champs and World Champs, but the culture is just phenomenal," he said. "The characters on the island, how other people express themselves - it's special to be a part of." For Teammate Louise Richards, Palau has been a whirlwind of firsts. Based in Nelson and currently training under Otago Weightlifting, this is Richards' first time competing internationally. "In terms of Palau, this trip has been incredible. The country itself is stunning, and they've built all of this new infrastructure to host, which they've done a phenomenal job of." She has also found herself surrounded by some of the sport's most elite athletes. "I have been rubbing shoulders with some of the best in the sport, Olympian weightlifters, and seeing all those big names I've watched on YouTube over the years has given me a real larger-than-life feeling," Richards said. In a slight twist to her trip, Richards is also stepping up to do some behind-the-scenes training. "I'll also be doing some coaching- an accidental international debut as a coach and weightlifter," Richards laughed. New Zealand do not currently hold any medals, however David Liti is expected to perform well for the Men's 110kg. Malia Maasi (lsecond to the left) and Luani Moeakiola Ita (second to the right) Photo: Tonga Table Tennis They might be an unexpected pair on the court, but Luani Moeakiola Ita and Malia Maasi proved that age and accessibility serve as no barriers to their sport, and mainly, their pride in representing Tonga at the Mini Games. On Thursday, the Tongan duo competed in a mixed doubles match against Vanuatu's Marieson Kelly Bue and Edwin Lulu. Maasi is a massive deal at the Games; at just nine years old, she is the youngest competitor, while Moeakiola is a standout para-athlete, and a finalist in the singles wheelchair competition, set to face Fiji's Akanisi Latu on Friday. For both, the journey to Palau has been full of purpose. "Back home, we've made a lot of sacrifices…including all of the training before we get to come here to Palau," Moeakiola said. "When we heard about the Mini Games, it was exciting because it's our first time coming together for the Games, and also the first time playing mixed…and I mean, for Malia, she's nine years old, and she has this much heart to compete, and to play." Beyond the game, the pair value representation. "Diversity is important for the athletes…to know who they are, and who they represent," Moeakiola said. For Maasi, it is all about the joy of being here. For her incredibly young age she is "super happy and proud" to be part of the Games and surrounded by athletes to look up to across the Pacific. Guam baseball - Zaeyah Tajalle Zaeyah Tajalle Photo: RNZ Pacific/Coco Lance Zaeyah Tajalle may be new to the Mini Pacific Games, but she's here to make a mark. The 17-year-old Guam 'rookie', representing her country in baseball, has wasted no time getting into the swing of things, taking the opportunity to learn from her older teammates. "It's my first year at the Pacific Games…and I'm coming in with a group of girls who have played their whole lives and childhood," Tahajii said. "But knowing they welcomed me and being able to build this team with these women has been such an experience." Despite the pressure of joining seasoned athletes, Tajalle is settling into her rhythm. "I just hit a triple today, so that's been a highlight for me," she said. "Getting here, this journey - we're all ready to just give it our all, and learn." While competition is diverse and fierce, having just faced off against American Samoa and the Marshall Islands, Tajalle said the shared passion and unity between teams on and off the field are a 'stand out', and the Games will leave a life-long impression. "I think it's really exciting that all the different teams and sports come out here and rep their island, and see what everyone else has to bring," she said. "Seeing that - where everyone stands, and the challenges they have - has been exciting to see." With the confidence building and a gold medal in sight, Tajalle is focused. "Next up is that gold medal round!" she said. Tahiti va'a - Hiromana Flores-Nena Hiromana Flores-Nena, far left Photo: Tahiti Infos/SB Tahiti has been a powerhouse at the 2025 Pacific Mini Games, topping the medal table with an impressive 75 medals thus far, including 43 golds. Much of that dominance has come from the water, where their va'a teams have done well for themselves, winning the 500m male, female, and mixed races. Hiromana Flores-Nena, a member of Tahiti's men's va'a squad, says the team is far from done. "I'm from Tahiti, and we won a lot of va'a," he said. "We have another race on Friday, so we aren't dropping anything yet." While the wins have been memorable, Flores-Nena said the experience goes far beyond medals. "A real highlight has been meeting other people," he shared. "I do think the Games are really important, especially for Tahiti at the moment. "We have the big Pacific Games coming up in 2027, so these kinds of events are important for us to be at, showing up and doing our best among our other Pacific peoples." He added that the hospitality in Palau has made the experience even more enjoyable. "Palau as well is just a very hospitable country, so that's been good for everyone."
