Sport and Leisure

WELCOME

SPASIFIK Sport & Leisure is again packed with more sports, fitness, healthy eating, cars, homes and travel features.
New Zealand’s latest swimming sensation ORINOCO FAAMAUSILI-BANSE-PRINCE strives towards his Olympic dream in our cover feature.
LOUISA WALL looks at netball’s new future after the launch of the inaugural ANZ Transtasman Championship while one of the competition’s stars, Australian netball international and Adelaide Thunderbirds defender MO’ONIA GERRARD opens up about her Tongan heritage and the lighter side to her enforcer reputation.
Super 14 try scoring machine FETU’U VAINIKOLO tells how he went from being an unknown club player to an All Black prospect in less than a year.
In fitness, SARAH COWLEY gives your midsection a decent workout, while SERU MAR keeps you warm and healthy during the colder months with more delicious recipes.
In motoring, Tongan ANDREAS VAIOLETI offers a solution to rising petrol costs with his successful SCOOTER business.
In homes, we travel to Fiji where photo-journalist RAJAN SAMI uncovers an exotic hideaway tucked away in the capital Suva.
In travel, we take a closer look at Samoa and Tonga and how both island nations’ economies have benefited from more innovative approaches to tourism which is focussed on environment and culture.

Too read full versions of VIP features SUBSCRIBE & BECOME A VIP MEMBER

July 4th 2008
Lam gets Blues coaching job

Auckland rugby coach and former Manu Samoa captain Pat Lam has been appointed Head Coach of the Blues for three years, the New Zealand Rugby Union (NZRU) and Blues Franchise have announced.
Read more

June 30th 2008
Show me the money!

Niuean lawyer CIARA LUI imparts some helpful legal advice for young sports professionals unfamiliar with contracts and agents.
Read more

June 30th 2008
Kaino eyes dream date

The fire has returned in Jerome Kaino's eyes. After two years in the rugby wilderness, he has won his All Black jersey back and has his sights set on playing Manu Samoa in September. He speaks to PETER REES.
Read more

June 30th 2008
Pacific mourns passing of ‘Father of Oceania football’

A man regarded as the “father of Oceania football”, whose pioneering efforts over three decades helped spread the ‘beautiful game’ across the Pacific islands as well taking the NZ All Whites to its only World Cup appearance in 1982, has died. Tributes have flowed for Charles Dempsey, who in 2000 was bestowed the chiefly Samoan matai title Falanaipupu.
Read more

June 24th 2008
Mystics end Steel hopes of ANZ semis

The determination of the Northern Mystics proved too much for the Southern Steel on Monday night as the home team won their fourth match of the ANZ Championship 47-41 at the North Shore Events Centre.
Read more

June 24th 2008
Rookie All Black Rudi Wulf seals dream comeback

Rookie Samoan All Black Rudi Wulf’s solid debut against England in Christchurch last weekend sealed a fairytale return from a neck injury that almost claimed his life three years ago.
Read more

June 23rd 2008
Rampant Australia A looms as dark shadow for Maori

Manu Samoa are still winless over the New Zealand Maori after their third consecutive loss of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup last weekend. Meanwhile, Australia A have laid down the gauntlet to the Maori.
Read more

June 23rd 2008
NZ wins World Junior Rugby Champs, Samoa 7th

New Zealand rugby is in good hands after its Under 20 national team won the inaugural IRB Junior World Championship, beating England 38-3 in the final. Samoa was the best of the island nations finishing 7th.
Read more

June 19th 2008
Paddling in Paradise

MARK MALAKI-WILLIAMS profiles Samoa Ne’i Galo, a team of top paddlers using their athletic talents for charitable causes for the betterment of their people. They travelled to Samoa for the country’s 46th Independence celebrations.
Read more

June 18th 2008
Hawaiian Soccer star Natasha Kai on the rise

SPASIFIKmag.com columnist LOUISA TE’I checks out Hawai’i’s latest sporting talent – the tattoo-clad soccer star Natasha Kai, who looks destined to represent the USA at the Beijing Olympics
Read more

June 18th 2008
Jerry Collins joins the bros’ in Toulon

Former All Black hardman Jerry Collins is linking up with former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga at Toulon after signing a three-deal with the French club this week.
Read more

June 18th 2008
Samoan NFL star’s record five-year US$30 mil deal

Cincinnati Bengals Samoan star Domata Peko became the richest Bengals defensive tackle in the club’s history after signing a five-year extension that can give him as much as US$30 million with incentives.
Read more

June 17th 2008
Magic stunned by Vixens but hold onto lead

The Magic were stunned by the home team Melbourne Vixens in round eleven of the ANZ Championship over the weekend.
Read more

June 16th 2008
Australia takes PNC lead after ‘bashfest’ in Apia

Australia A have taken the lead in the IRB Pacific Nations Cup after a lucky 20-15 win over Manu Samoa in a torridly physical match played in heavy conditions at a rain-sodden Apia Park.
Read more

June 16th 2008
Samoa football in trouble as FIFA investigates

Football's world governing body is sending an emergency team to Samoa to work with the debt-ridden national federation.
Read more

June 10th 2008
NRL makes way for State of Origin II crunch match

With the top teams without their State of Origin reps, it was a chance for the lesser teams to pounce as round 13 of the 2008 NRL saw the underdogs take their opportunities.
Read more

June 10th 2008
McCaw better than Michael Jones?

Following his heroics against the Irish in Wellington, All Black assistant coach Steve Hansen now believes captain Richie McCaw is a better player than Michael Jones. PETER REES puts that claim to the test.
Read more

June 10th 2008
New Plymouth to host All Blacks v Manu Samoa Test

The All Blacks are to play Manu Samoa in New Plymouth in September during a bye week in the Philips Tri Nations, the New Zealand Rugby Union has confirmed.
Read more

June 10th 2008
Kiwi sides turn the tables of Australia

With four rounds remaining in the ANZ Championship, the Magic have extended their lead after beating the Queensland Firebirds in round ten action over the weekend, while the Steel also got a morale boosting win over their upset win over the Melbourne Vixens.
Read more

June 10th 2008
Samoa defeats Scotland at U20 World Rugby Champs

Samoa’s upset 29-17 defeat of Scotland was the highlight of the opening round of the IRB U20 Rugby World Champs in Wales. In other games, New Zealand held of the Tongans while Fiji was thumped by England.
Read more

June 10th 2008
Ikale Tahi give Maoris a scare, Fiji dumps Manu Samoa

The New Zealand Maori held off a fired up Ikale Tahi, while Fiji thrashed a disappointing Manu Samoa outfit in the opening round of the IRB Pacific Nations Cup over the weekend.
Read more

June 5th 2008
Five Pacific players make Wallabies, Australia A named

Five players of Pacific island descent have made the Wallabies team coached for the first time by former Crusaders coach Robbie Deans as the Australia A team for the IRB Pacific Nations Cup is named.
Read more

June 5th 2008
Tonga, Samoa share honours in boxing showdown

The honours were shared at the Tonga vs Samoa 4 Final Showdown boxing extravaganza at the Otara Rec Centre on Queens Birthday Monday, but veteran Samoan slugger Bob Gasio took out the main event.
Read more

June 4th 2008
NZ Maori squad named for Pacific Nations Cup

New Zealand Maori Coach Donny Stevenson and Assistant Coach Milton Haig have announced a very strong New Zealand Maori squad for the 2008 IRB Pacific Nations Cup tournament.
Read more

June 4th 2008
Warriors win away from home – at last

Unlikely hero Patrick Ah Van was the hero for the New Zealand Warriors as they finally rid the monkey off their back which was winning away from home in Australia.
Read more

June 4th 2008
Davu showing glimpses of old self for Mystics

Even with the bye, the Magic were able to stretch their lead in the ANZ Championship, despite being the only New Zealand team in the top four. They were helped by the Northern Mystics and Adelaide Thunderbirds who both claimed wins against higher ranked opposition.
Read more

June 4th 2008
11 Pacific players named in All Blacks squad

Pacific islanders dominate the first All Blacks squad named for 2008 for the Iveco series against the touring Irish and English teams with eleven named, including debutants and Blues team-mates Rudi Wulf and Anthony Tuitavake.
Read more

June 3rd 2008
NZ finishes Sevens Series on a high, Samoa third

New Zealand held on in the face of a spirited England fight back to defend their Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens title 24-14, and finish their IRB Sevens World Series defence on a high.
Read more

30th May 2008
Improving Pulse still seek elusive win

Both the Northern Mystics and the NSW Swifts were forced to fight their way back to take the all important championship points in Monday night action of the ANZ Championship.
Read more

30th May 2008
Powerful Flying Fijians squad named

The Fiji Rugby Union has announced a powerful FMF Flying Fijians squad to prepare for the IRB Pacific Nations Cup starting next week.
Read more

28th May 2008
Sonny Bill the new NRL human headline

Besieged league superstar Sonny Bill Williams was sensational for the Bulldogs in their upset 30-22 win over the Cronulla Sharks, but the 22 year-old Samoan is attracting headlines for the wrong reasons.
Read more

28th May 2008
Manu Samoa training squad named

Manu Samoa coach Tuala Niko Palamo has named his first Manu Samoa training squad for the upcoming IRB Pacific Nations Cup.
Read more

May 28th 2008
Tongans secure first Pacific Rugby title

Tautahi Gold became the first Tongan side to lift the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup title with an 11-3 defeat of defending champions Upolu Samoa, ending Samoa’s two year stranglehold on the competition.
Read more

28th May 2008
Tonga vs Samoa 4: Final Showdown

The fourth and final part in the "Tonga vs Samoa" series will be happening on Queens Birthday weekend next Monday at the Otara Recreation Centre with a showdown of top Tongan and Samoan professional boxers.
Read more

May 28th 2008
Jerry Collins gone, Crusaders gun for seventh title

All Black Jerry Collins has decided to quit New Zealand rugby after his Hurricanes side bombed out to the Crusaders 22-33 in last Saturday’s Super 14 semi-final in Christchurch.
Read more

May 28th 2008
Samoa wins London Sevens as NZ clinch Series

A hat trick of tries from Lolo Lui in the final against Fiji has given Samoa its first victory of this year’s IRB World Sevens Series in London.
Read more

May 27th 2008
Tahitian paddler defends world title

Champion Tahitian paddler Lewis Laughlin has defended his Moloka'i World Championship crown in Hawai’i.
Read more

May 26th 2008
Cahill off to Samoa again

Everton football star Tim Cahill is heading for Samoa again next week. The Australian-born Samoan will visit schools and run coaching clinics during his visit, despite his left foot still encased in a foot brace.
Read more

May 26th 2008
Fiji A defeat Tongans in soggy Suva

With the Pacific Rugby Cup closing this weekend, the island nations’ national teams are ready to do battle next month. Fiji A beat Tonga in Suva in a Pacific Nations Cup preview.
Read more

May 26th 2008
World Champs name squad to take on Silver Ferns

Australia’s World Netball Champions will be back in action for the first time since clinching the title when they meet the Silver Ferns in a two-Test duel in New Zealand this September.
Read more

May 22nd 2008
Super 14 semis...and then there were four

The dust has finally cleared after the most exciting round of Super 14 rugby this season, and this year’s semi-finalists have now been found.
Read more

Maori and Pacific peoples love their sports, whether they are playing or watching. And the new SPASIFIKmag.com Sport & Leisure section captures that passion perfectly with a feast of content to satisfy even the most ardent fan. We provide in-depth and exclusive interviews, profiles and features with athletes and teams making the headlines. But we go even further, delving into the personalities and their cultural heritages, going beneath the headlines, and investigating right at the source to get the real stories behind the faces.

You can’t go wrong with SPASIFIK Sport  - SUBSCRIBE & BECOME A VIP  to read full content.

Cars are more than just transport. They are a reflection of who we are, where we come from and where we’re heading. Cars are an extension of a person’s identity and pride and a great gauge of personality. We bring together this unique mix of personality and style with our cars section where we profile people and their cars. We give you background information on the cars they drive and let the personalities tell it how it is, sharing their knowledge and divulging their secrets. Anyone who loves their cars will instantly be drawn in.
SUBSCRIBE TO BE A VIP and receive full features & images

Warm Pacific Greetings to Travel the Pacific with SPASIFIK. What makes our site so unique from all the rest? Well, we’re more than swaying palm trees on white sandy beaches. Yes, we’re that, but much more as well. You, the readers of SPASIFIK, have a strong interest and passion for the Pacific, and we deliver with a background on each nation or territory, its people, culture, history, geography, climate, language and SO much more. As well as travel stories with its unique SPASIFIK spin, we’ll have links to stories that relate to features concerning that destination elsewhere on SPASIFIKmag.com. This is your site and we welcome your stories and photos and news of any relating must-see events wherever you are in the Pacific.
CONTACT US
TRAVEL THE PACIFIC WITH PACIFIC using our interactive map