Latest news with #Fiji
Yahoo
2 hours ago
- Sport
- Yahoo
Masibaka eyes 'full-circle moment' for Scotland against Fiji
Alex Masibaka says facing Fiji in a Scotland jersey this summer would represent "a full circle moment" as he aims to make his debut on the international stage. The 23-year-old back-rower qualifies for the Scots through his Paisley-born mother, but could just as easily be in the white Fijian jersey given his father's heritage. Advertisement "I'm very excited," said Masibaka, ahead of Scotland's trip to Suva in the middle of two matches in New Zealand. "My mother's, she's Scottish and my dad's Fijian, so it'll be a full circle moment for me and my family. "We're trying to get my parents over and I've got family in Fiji as well who will try to come down for that Fiji game and yeah, it's going to be huge." Masibaka plays for French side Montpellier but spent last season on loan at Pro D2 side Soyaux-Angouleme and was a shock call-up to the Scotland squad during the Six Nations. Advertisement Although he did not manage any game time, the number eight admitted that even being called into the wider squad by Gregor Townsend came as something of a surprise. "I was a bit shocked at first, to be honest," he said. "I was just sitting on the couch talking to my mum on the phone while she was at work and just got the call and instantly just froze. "I was just like, 'wow, this is real'. But I had to quickly shape up and come prepared and it's everything I dreamed of. "I felt like a new kid. Honestly, I was a bit nervous. I know there's some superstars in here and the first person I met was Finn Russell. Advertisement "I was very nervous talking to him, but he was just very humble and very good to talk to. "I'm just trying to learn off the other boys and try to be a sponge and take as much as I can from the team and try to bring it into the next training session. That's my focus at the moment."
BBC News
2 hours ago
- Sport
- BBC News
Masibaka eyes 'full-circle moment' for Scotland against Fiji
Alex Masibaka says facing Fiji in a Scotland jersey this summer would represent "a full circle moment" as he aims to make his debut on the international 23-year-old back-rower qualifies for the Scots through his Paisley-born mother, but could just as easily be in the white Fijian jersey given his father's heritage."I'm very excited," said Masibaka, ahead of Scotland's trip to Suva in the middle of two matches in New Zealand."My mother's, she's Scottish and my dad's Fijian, so it'll be a full circle moment for me and my family."We're trying to get my parents over and I've got family in Fiji as well who will try to come down for that Fiji game and yeah, it's going to be huge."Masibaka plays for French side Montpellier but spent last season on loan at Pro D2 side Soyaux-Angouleme and was a shock call-up to the Scotland squad during the Six he did not manage any game time, the number eight admitted that even being called into the wider squad by Gregor Townsend came as something of a surprise."I was a bit shocked at first, to be honest," he said. "I was just sitting on the couch talking to my mum on the phone while she was at work and just got the call and instantly just froze."I was just like, 'wow, this is real'. But I had to quickly shape up and come prepared and it's everything I dreamed of."I felt like a new kid. Honestly, I was a bit nervous. I know there's some superstars in here and the first person I met was Finn Russell."I was very nervous talking to him, but he was just very humble and very good to talk to."I'm just trying to learn off the other boys and try to be a sponge and take as much as I can from the team and try to bring it into the next training session. That's my focus at the moment."
Times
10 hours ago
- Sport
- Times
Six Wallabies who can cause British & Irish Lions issues
At last, the tour starts for real. The phoney war, with the Lions sounding entitled as if the Empire still existed, is over. Joe Schmidt's priority is to prepare to win a series, and if that means taking no risks with his elite, good for Joe. With Saturday's match against the Western Force coming three weeks before the first Test, the Australia head coach is keen to see some of his squad in action. So are we. Before the tour opener, let's consider six opponents the Lions are likely to face at some stage. Five members of the Wallabies squad have stayed with the Force before joining the Australia camp for next Sunday's Test against Fiji. The first pick comes from this quintet. The second row's stagnated career has reignited, with his lineout skills coming to the fore in Western Australia. The Force have developed a handy habit of stealing lineouts in Super Rugby, with Swain prominent. The Lions scrummaged superbly against Argentina but their lineout was poor, losing five of their own throws. Swain and his colleagues will target the touring side at this set piece. It's a challenge for the Lions but a great opportunity for individuals to — quite literally — jump into contention for the Test series. The Force finished ninth of 11 in Super Rugby but their lineout statistics were outstanding, with the Australian lock back to his best since moving west. It is a game everyone expects the Lions to win but the magnifying glasses will be well and truly aimed at the lineout, with Swain at the centre of the action. The 27 year old was a regular in the Wallabies midfield until an ankle injury eased Joseph-Aukuso Suaalii into rugby's global headlines. Hype or here to stay? Regardless, the Queensland Reds centre Paisami is far too good to be dismissed as a 'former international' at this stage of his career. He has the same hard-carrying aggressive style that Leicester Tigers' Izaia Perese brings to his game. Released by Schmidt to play against the Lions on Wednesday, he is out of contention for the Test match against Fiji four days later but he'll be looking to remind the Australia coach that the Wallabies have solid as well as sensational options in their back line. Another Queensland player looking to make a mark. The Fiji-born utility second row and back-row forward — named already as part of the First Nations and Pasifika squad who will face the Lions — has superb hands and is a powerful ball-carrier. There is something of the Leone Nakarawa to him when he is on form. Under Les Kiss (the man who will succeed Schmidt with Australia) the back-five operator has added breakdown basics to his broken-field brilliance. The Wallabies have a magnificent back row in Rob Valetini, Fraser McReight and Harry Wilson, but if he has shrugged off his injuries, Uru adds impact from the bench. The Brumbies wing is one of only two uncapped members of Schmidt's initial Australian squad. There are bigger wings than Toole, and there are faster ones as well, but few have the knack of finishing with such muscular determination. Toole is also an astute, angled runner coming off his wing. His understanding with the Brumbies and Wallabies full back, Tom Wright, could lead to him winning a first cap in the forthcoming series. He has a confident kicking game and a rugged defensive attitude. If his lack of international experience is a problem, his seasonal form and link play with the superb Wright — the most incisive performer in the Wallabies back line — must be a huge plus. If he misses out on selection for the Fiji match, he could very well be sent back to the Brumbies where he will have an opportunity to prove Schmidt wrong ten days before the first Test in Brisbane. The 34-year-old was fly half the last time the Lions played Australia, in 2013. A wonderful full back and wing with the most astonishing instinct for the game, he gravitated to No10 and seduced seasoned coaches like the New Zealander Robbie Dean, then in charge of Australia. Twelve years on and O'Connor, who has recently joined Leicester, has been dividing his fans and naysayers (he's not, never was, and never will be anything like as good a No10 as back-three player). The Australian media have again leapt on the idea that the veteran is the answer to the team's concerns at fly half. He has been playing — often from the bench — for the Super Rugby champions, the Crusaders. Schmidt let the hype build and then left him out of his 36-man squad. There is still, however, the Invitational Australia and New Zealand team who face the Lions a week before the first Test. O'Connor could yet provide a cameo. Richie Mo'unga, one of the world's best tens, could also feature. The New Zealander Mo'unga versus Finn Russell would be one for the fly half purists. In 80 minutes against England, I saw a one-man weapon capable of savaging the Lions with his exceptional footwork and extraordinary aerial game. How good, I wondered, would he be with a season of Super Rugby under his belt? Alas, a broken jaw in May has left him short of union know-how after his switch from league. He could be a wing, a centre, a whole new position . . . but he could also be woefully short of union experience. Playing against the Lions is tough enough; doing so with the weight of a sports-mad country on your back? He could do with 80 minutes of rugby before the series. Hopefully he'll get it against Fiji next Sunday. Lions fans will have to wait.
ABC News
18 hours ago
- Politics
- ABC News
PNG declares national HIV crisis as infections increase
On the program this week: Papua New Guinea has declared a national HIV crisis, with the number of new cases increasing almost 50 per cent in the last decade. In the US territory of Guam, Governor Lou Leon Guerrero has assured residents they are safe after their island was used as a decoy for the US to launch an attack on Iranian nuclear facilities. The Rio Tinto-owned Panguna gold and copper mine was at the centre of a bloody conflict in the late 1980s; three decades on, and Papua New Guinea has transferred the majority stake in it to Bougainville. Fiji's government has presented its national budget promising investments in jobs, infrastructure, and social protections. But it comes as global conflict looms in the Middle East. Like many Pacific Islands, Samoa faces frequent flooding due to heavy rainfall, posing risks to families living near waterways, including Milovale Kitiona's family in Lelata.
Associated Press
20 hours ago
- Health
- Associated Press
Wellness Without Borders: World Wellness Weekend Returns to Inspire the Globe
SAVE THE DATE: September 19–21, World Wellness Weekend 2025 Uniting 160 Countries Through Vitality, Serenity & Solidarity LONDON, UNITED KINGDOM, June 27, 2025 / / -- World Wellness Weekend (WWW), an international non-profit association, returns for its 9th edition from September 19 to 21, 2025, across 10,000+ venues in 160 countries, engaging individuals, families, and communities toward a healthier, happier, and more active lifestyle. In response to alarming global trends in inactivity, stress, and social isolation, this annual event underscores the importance of wellness as a proactive and inclusive force for both global health resilience and local community empowerment. With the core motto 'Wellness starts with WE', WWW shines a light on the Five Pillars of Wellness: sleep, nutrition, movement, mindfulness, and community care. This celebration coincides with World Cleanup Day (Sept 20) and is strategically aligned with Campaign Nonviolence Action Days, the European Week of Sports and Dubai 30x30, creating a wave of synchronized well-being and environmental action across time zones. This year, WWW kicks off at sunrise in Fiji with rituals hosted by Pure Fiji and Navutu Stars Resort, and concludes at sunset in Hawaii with Street Wellness sessions hosted by Anara Spa at Grand Hyatt Kauai, a 2025 Wellness HERO - and with exciting events on every timezone. New digital resources like and World Wellness WebTV make participation even more accessible, offering free indoor and outdoor classes, expert-led talks, and online workshops in 18 languages. World Wellness Weekend 2025 will expand significantly across the USA with the support of ISPA (International Spa Association), the Spa Industry Association, the Health & Fitness Association, and the Hot Springs Association of America (see the Wellness Map of the USA: ): - Leading global hospitality groups proudly participating include Marriott International Hotels, Most Active Hotel Group in the world in 2024 with 143 hotels participating, this year mobilizing over 200 hotels worldwide - 70+ properties managed by Arch Amenities Group include iconic 1 Hotel West Hollywood, Sea Spa at Loews Coronado Bay Resort and Stillwell Spa at Snowpine Lodge (all 2025 Wellness Champions) - Hyatt hotels join WWW nationwide, including Anara Spa, Grand Hyatt Kauai, a 2025 official Wellness HERO, Alila Napa Valley and Lost Pines Spa, as Wellness Champions, Spruce Peak, Royal Palms, Andaz Miami Beach, Miraval Aviara, Sunny's Spa (Seabird), also in South Korea with Grand Hyatt Seoul and Busan - Award-winning Glen Ivy Hot Springs (California), is a 2025 Wellness HERO by organizing wellness activities for guests, staff and the local Senior Community - The legendary American Club, a Kohler property, is the first-ever Wellness Champion in Wisconsin - Wellness Camp in New-York City will be organized by Karen Ballou, founder of Immunocologie Skincare, with a thoughtfully curated lineup of healing experiences, expert-led workshops, and interactive sessions designed to renew your body, skin, and spirit - 20+ Hard Rock Hotels will participate with multiple activities, to be announced soon In 2025, World Wellness Weekend is poised to reach millions of lives, in studios and spas, online and outdoors, from urban parks to tropical resorts. More than an event every week-end of September, before the Equinox, WWW has become a global movement. For media inquiries and interviews, please contact: Christina Ioannou, Director, CCIcomms – [email protected] More information: (in 18 languages) Visit this link to further explore all international ambassadors facilitating WWW in their region #worldwellnessweekend #wellnessforall #BeActive #wellfluencer Christina Ioannou CCIcomms +44 7447 997215 email us here Legal Disclaimer: EIN Presswire provides this news content 'as is' without warranty of any kind. We do not accept any responsibility or liability for the accuracy, content, images, videos, licenses, completeness, legality, or reliability of the information contained in this article. If you have any complaints or copyright issues related to this article, kindly contact the author above.
