Live updates: First Nations Pasifika XV vs British and Irish Lions at Docklands stadium
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ABC News
an hour ago
- ABC News
Oneata Schwalger is wasting no time in transitioning from player to coach
The saying "it takes a village to raise a child" is a statement that often rings true throughout the Pacific Islands, and it's no different for Samoan-Australian rugby talent Oneata Schwalger. Raised by a handful of strong Pasifika women who were athletes turned coaches, Schwalger is now travelling the world to make that same transition. However, when she began, she had to wear headgear to conceal that she was a girl. "The [competing] school complained that you can't have girls… [my] coaches were awesome, they said keep coming to training… so I ended up being their water girl and I'd still train with the boys," she said. But footy as a kid wasn't something that Oneata was going to give up on just because of her gender, and seeing her persistence, her father ended up getting in touch with their local women's rugby club at Northern United. "I was really lucky; my coaches were Black Ferns and Manusina players, so as a 15-year-old, I was learning the ways from top players when I was young… when I came to play against girls my age, so I knew what I was doing," Oneata said. Samoan-Australian rugby talent Oneata Schwalger. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) In her early 20s, Oneata moved to Perth to play rugby, but not too long after, she fell pregnant. Although this meant a considerable break, Oneata was still keen to get back in the game, and her next move took her and her two sons to Melbourne. Oneata Schwalger with her sons. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) It was a make-or-break moment in her life and footy career and she knew she just had to make it work. "I was a single parent at the time; everything I had to do was to work around their schedule and my schedule, so when I trained, they trained with me," she said. "So it was always something that we did together." The COVID-19 pandemic marked another shift. With team sports cancelled until further notice, to get out of the house, Oneata and her boys spent most of their days at the park training. People started noticing. "It was during lockdown time that kids wouldn't play at their clubs, and I was always at the park anyway with them. Some other parents asked me if I wanted to coach their kids". Oneata was clear with her kids: "When I coach, I always say I'm not your mum. I'm your coach." And so her coaching dream gathered a bit more steam. But the coaching path for females isn't as easy and well-trodden as it is for men. Oneata had to use the lessons learnt from life and the wisdom imparted on her to carve out a path not too many other female athletes end up on. "As athletes, you see that [female representation] now… but in the female space, I was actually like I don't know that many female coaches to reach out to… but I actually know a lot more male coaches… I reached out to them and they got back to me straight away." It's been one inspiring journey for coach Oneata Schwalger. ( Image: Instagram/@coachonez ) One of the responses included Moana Pasifika's Tana Umaga, and he ended up taking her under his wing earlier this year. One big lesson from Umaga was the importance of listening to your players and adapting to the subconscious feedback from your players. Despite being coached by a line of hard-knock coaches where yelling was the norm, Umaga coached his team very differently. "[I asked] 'What changed for you?' Because he was coached that way, but he found that his delivery wasn't working anymore with this new generation of players… So I'm like, 'Ok, cool, he was coached like I was, but we just have to find ways to deliver our message so it lands with our athletes, whether it's boys or girls'."
Perth Now
3 hours ago
- Perth Now
Historic side deserves yearly games: Beale
Kurtley Beale has said the First Nations & Pacifika XV should play every year. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) Kurtley Beale has said the First Nations & Pacifika XV should play every year. (James Ross/AAP PHOTOS) Credit: AAP Kurtley Beale says the performance of the inaugural First Nations and Pasifika team against the mighty British and Irish Lions shows the concept deserves a regular stage. With outside expectations that tourists would put 50 points on the invitational XV in their midweek match in Melbourne, Beale's men showed fighting spirit and physicality to narrowly lose 24-19. The 95-Test veteran, who captained the side, wants to see the First Nations and Pasifika jersey held up as source of pride for young players of those cultures. The New Zealand Maori side play touring sides each year and Beale believe they could follow that lead. "I'm thinking bigger picture here, I think for the next generation, the young young Pasifika and First Nations kids in Australia, paving the pathway, this jersey, this emblem represents them," Beale said. "To be able to bring talent through and create pathways for those kids is what it's all about and it's something as a squad we're very proud to to be able to do that and and represent them at this level." As well as showcase the talents from the different cultures the match provided players such as lock Lukhan Salakaia-Loto and prop Taniela Tupou another chance to push their case for a Wallabies recall. Salakaia-Loto spearheaded the team's bone-rattling defence while Tupou delivered at scrum time. Coach Toutai Kefu said the pair deserved another crack at the Test arena. "Lukhan has been outstanding through the whole week, around that mindset and drove that for us and his performance was outstanding again," Kefu said. "I definitely would look at investing in him (Salakaia-Loto) and bringing him into the squad. "Taniela is a work in progress - his set piece was world class - when he's on song there's probably not many better. "He's had a stop-start go with injuries and has played two games now, with the Waratahs and us and if he can stay on track there's a pathway back to that Wallabies No.3 jersey."
The Australian
6 hours ago
- The Australian
Australia Cup: Wanderers too good for Peninsula
Bulgarian international Bozhidar Kraev scored twice as Western Sydney Wanderers cruised into the Australia Cup round of 16 with a 3-0 win over NPL Queensland club Peninsula Power on Tuesday night. New Wanderers signing, veteran New Zealand international attacker Kosta Barbarouses, also found the back of the net at AJ Kelly Park as Peninsula's attempt to disrupt the visitors by narrowing the pitch proved to be fruitless. Kraev scored twice in the opening 23 minutes, with Barbarouses' goal nine minutes later putting the game to bed. Kosta Barbarouses (left) celebrates with his Western Sydney teammate Alex Gersbach after scoring against Peninsula Power. Picture:It could have been worse for the Power, but goalkeeper Jordan Thurtell saved a 59th-minute penalty to deny Kraev a hat-trick. 'It was how we planned it, how we expected it and how we wished things to go,' Kraev told Paramount Plus in reflecting on his side's overall performance. The Wanderers starting side also included another of the club's off-season acquisitions in former Central Coast Mariners striker Alou Kuol, while ex-Melbourne City midfielder Steven Ugarkovic, who also recently signed with Western Sydney, was a second-half substitute. Joining the Wanderers in the round of 16 with wins on Tuesday night were Victorian clubs Avondale and Nunawading City. Avondale thrashed West Australian outfit Stirling Macedonia 5-1, while fourth-tier club Nunawading set a record Australia Cup scoreline with a 9-0 thumping of Darwin Olympic. Marco Monteverde Sports reporter Marco Monteverde is a Brisbane-based sports reporter for NCA Newswire. He worked in a similar role for The Courier-Mail from 2007 to 2020. During a journalism career of more than 25 years, he has also worked for The Queensland Times, The Sunshine Coast Daily, The Fraser Coast Chronicle and The North West Star. He has covered three FIFA World Cups and the 2000 Sydney Olympics, as well as a host of other major sporting events in Australia and around the world. @marcothejourno Marco Monteverde
