Samoa

Samoa seal final qualifying berth for netball's World Youth Cup

Having lost their opening two matches of the tournament, Samoa won three straight to join Fiji and the Cook Islands as the top three teams in the Pacific.

Fiji Bati name NRL-heavy squad for Samoa test

Wests Tigers speedster Kevin Naiqama is set to play his 10th test for the Bati after missing the Melanesian Cup defeat to Papua New Guinea in May.

Manly hooker Apoisai Koroisau and Knights forward Korbin Sims are also poised to pull on the Fiji jersey for the first time in 2016, while Lautoka-born Panthers centre Waqa Blake is in line to make his test debut at Apia Park.

Etuate Qionimacawa, who starred with a hat-trick in the May test against the Kumuls, is absent from the 18-strong squad, with Pio Seci and Saimoni Lomaloma are the only locally based players included.

Apia test a chance for Fiji Bati to test World Cup hopefuls

Toa Samoa will celebrate 30 years of rugby league in the country by playing its first official Test on home soil against the Bati.

Fiji Bati coach Mick Potter said it will be a chance for some younger players to impress.

"We're going to have the opportunity to have a look at some guys that probably just sit below some of the other players. We've had about 13 players have to pull out for various reasons so we've got a pretty deep squad and there's an opportunity to have a look at some younger guys playing, as well as some regulars you've seen before."

Kenya and Samoa seeking Titch

 Tietjens stepped down as All Blacks Sevens coach after the 2016 Rio Olympic Games.

The Kenya Rugby chairman Richard Omwela is reported to have contacted Tietjens, but is yet to discuss with him the possibility of taking over as head coach.

Omwela told Kenya's Daily Nation newspaper, "We have had initial contacts with him (Tietjens) and he said he is available, but he has said before that he doesn't want a full time job after retirement…he only wants to do consultancy."

Samoa denied chance to qualify for Women's Rugby World Cup

The Manusina are the only Pacific Island country to compete at a Women's World Cup and finished 11th at the last tournament two years ago.

But Coach Ramsey Tomokino says Oceania Rugby decided in March to exclude them from November's inaugural Oceania Women's Rugby Championship because Samoa did not have a local women's competition.

Commonwealth Ministers pledge four-point plan to empower women

The meeting outlined the steps needed to action the four-point plan including the importance of engaging with national, regional and international partners to mobilise communities - including men and boys - to change attitudes towards family violence

 The ministers joined campaigners, senior government officials and civil society representatives at the 11th Women’s Affairs Ministerial Meeting in Apia, Samoa to explore solutions to burning issues that hamper women’s progress.

During the meeting the Commonwealth announced measures to achieve gender justice.

Junior Fa plotting path to take on NZ boxing champion Joseph Parker

Fa and Parker have history, splitting their four amateur fights two each, and momentum is slowly building behind the prospect of the pair eventually squaring off in the pro ranks.

Born and raised in South Auckland, Fa attended two Commonwealth Games with Tonga before taking three years out of the sport to have a family.

Australian Minister announces AU$2.5 million in climate change investments for SPREP

"It is a great pleasure to welcome you to Samoa, and especially to our SPREP campus," said Director General Kosi Latu. "The Australian Government is one of the key donors to SPREP and we are keen to strengthen our bonds through the work we do here at SPREP," he added.

Minister Fierravanti-Wells was pleased to announce two climate change adaptation investments while at SPREP.

New-look 7s line-up in store for Samoa

RNZ reports the Manu finished in ninth place last season, their first under new coach Damian McGrath.

The squad reached the quarter finals or better at four of ten tournaments, highlighted by victory in the penultimate round in Paris.

Captain Falemiga Selesele was named in the Series Dream Team while Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa was nominated for Rookie of the Year.

But Damian McGrath said both players are unlikely to return.

Samoa's Jeremy Dodson ready for Rio debut

RNZ reports the 28 year old was born and bred in the United States but said he had been overwhelmed by the support he's received from the Samoan community, and is hoping to repay that faith on the track.

"It's the biggest stage and there's no better way to make a big statement than at the biggest stage. Hopefully when I get down there some great expectations will come to fruition and it can come out of it a great experience in the end," he said.