June 18th 2013
FOOTBALL
Tahiti football team debut in Confederations Football Cup with 1-6 loss
South Pacific islanders Tahiti scored a historic goal in their Confederations Cup debut, which ended in a respectable defeat by African champions Nigeria.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
June 17th 2013
HOCKEY
Australian hockey men get a taste of Maori language
It was an awkward moment to say the least. The Maori verse of ‘God Defend New Zealand’ bellowing from the speakers at the Hockey World League tournament over the weekend, without a single kiwi on the pitch.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
June 17th 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE
Warriors on the rise after four in a row
Two near-length-of-the-field second half tries to Glen Fisiiahi and Manu Vatuvei propelled the Vodafone Warriors to their fourth straight win via a 23-12 success against the third-placed Sydney Roosters 23-12 in Sunday night's key 14th-round NRL clash at Allianz Stadium.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
June 15th 2013
RUGBY
Samoa trumps Italy in South Africa
Samoa scored back-to-back wins over Six Nations opposition by beating Italy 39-10 on Saturday, setting up a clash with the Springboks next weekend in the final of the four-nation tournament in South Africa.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
June 13th 2013
RUGBY
Tonga say stereotypes reinforced by referees
Tonga rugby coach Mana Otai has claimed that Pacific Islanders are the victims of unfair stereotypes by international referees.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
June 5th 2013
RUGBY
Tongan veteran signs for Ampthill as player-coach
Former Tonga international Maama Molitika has joined Ampthill for the forthcoming season in England’s National League 2 competition.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
June 4th 2013
CANOEING
Lisa Carrington wins gold at World Cup
Lisa Carrington again put her stamp on the K1 200m event at the World Cup races, winning ahead of the two local Polish girls and claiming her fifth Gold medal in these three World Cup events.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 31st 2013
PACIFIC REGION
Pacific players becoming hot commodities in global sports
A new report says a global boom in Pacific Island recruits to professional sports is providing a platform for economic growth in their home countries.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 30th 2013
SOCCER
Winston Reid named West Ham Player of the Year
Maori soccer star Winston Reid has picked up both Player of the Year accolades at the West Ham end-of-season awards.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 30th 2013
RUGBY
US, New Zealand sailors battle on rugby pitch
Sailors from the USS George Washington faced down a fearsome band of Maori warriors near Yokosuka on Saturday.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 29th 2013
RUGBY
Toa Samoa vs US Tomahawks at Aloha Stadium
Rugby is gaining momentum as a truly global game in America with the sport’s biggest event ever on US soil happening this weekend.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 28th 2013
RUGBY
28 May 13, Tonga defeat Japan ahead of Wales tour
Japan suffered a setback in their build-up for the Wales tour as they lost 27-17 to Tonga in Yokohama in their first Pacific Nations Cup match.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 27th 2013
MIXED MARTIAL ARTS
Hard day for Polynesian fighters
New Zealand mixed martial arts (MMA) fighters Mark Hunt and James Te Huna were both defeated at the Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) in Las Vegas yesterday.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 23rd 2013
BASKETBALL
Australian Olympian heads to the Solomons
An Australian former Olympian is in Solomon Islands to help encourage the country's young people to play basketball.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 14th 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE
Warriors sign Jayson Bukuya for 2014 season
Top Cronulla back rower and former Fiji Bati, Jayson Bukuya is Vodafone Warriors-bound next season after signing a two-year contract.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 13th 2013
RUGBY
Chester Williams’ Pacific hunt for young talent
Springbok legend Chester Williams has been touring the Pacific, hand picking young talent for the Romanian club he coaches.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 9th 2013
PACIFIC GAMES
Pacific Games expansion expected in 2023
The likelihood of Australia and New Zealand being included in the Pacific Games could happen in 2023.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 7th 2013
Samoa assemble overseas players in one of strongest squads ever
Manu Samoa will tour South Africa next month as part of the International Rugby Boards new quadrangular fixture and they’ve put their best foot forward by naming one of their strongest squads ever.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
May 3rd 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE
Hireme to lead Kiwi Ferns at World Cup
The team have announced that their captain for the campaign would be Honey Hireme who plays centre or second row. She will lead her country for the first time, following a selection process involving both her coaches and her peers.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 30th 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE
Tongan coach proposes Pacific league tri-series
Tongan rugby league coach Charles Tonga wants an annual competition, held in New Zealand and played between the Kiwis and Pacific Island nations, during the State of Origin weeks.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 29th 2013
AMERICAN FOOTBALL
Te'o overcomes scandal to reach NFL
Manti Te’o, the famous Notre Dame linebacker who appeared on the cover of SPASIFIK Issue 55 for the part he played in an elaborate online catfishing scandal, was finally picked up by the San Diego Chargers over the weekend in the second round of the 2013 NFL Draft.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 26th 2013
Greater Olympic medal opportunity for Pacific Islands
Small Pacific nations will have a greater chance of winning their first medal when Rugby officially returns to the Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro in 2016.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 24th 2013
OLYMPICS
Olympic medal potential for Pacific Islands
Fiji and Samoa have a great opportunity to win a medal for the first time in their nations’ histories when Rugby returns to the Olympic Games programme in Rio de Janeiro in 2016, according to IRB Chief Executive Brett Gosper.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 22nd 2013
RUGBY
IRB acknowledge centenary of Fiji rugby
Fiji’s significant contribution to the game of rugby over the past 100 years has been commended by the IRB.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 18th 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE
Ex Kiwis and Kangaroos named in Samoa and Tonga Rugby League squads
Eight former Kiwis and two ex Kangaroos have been named in the Samoa and Tonga squads to face off in the Pacific Rugby League test in Penrith.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 11th 2013
BOXING
Former Tua manager to coach Joseph Parker
After an ugly financial dispute destroyed the relationship between Kevin Barry and Samoan boxing legend David Tua, Barry is now working with the latest Samoan boxing prospect, Joseph Parker.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 8th 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE
Hurrell still deciding between NZ and Tonga
The international future of Konrad Hurrell is still up in the air, with the blockbusting Warriors centre admitting he is yet to make up his mind whether he make himself available for New Zealand or Tonga.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
April 2nd 2013
RUGBY LEAGUE
Sonny Bill Williams commits to Kiwis
Sonny Bill Williams has declared his availability for the Kiwis rugby league team for next month's Anzac Test - raising the prospect of the cross-code superstar chasing an elusive World Cup double later this year
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
March 28th 2013
RUGBY
Palu and Polota-Nau support Taki Toa Festival
Wycliff Palu and Tatafu Polota Nau joined thousands of Islanders and Maori in Parramatta over the weekend (March 23) taking part in the Taki Toa Festival, a celebration of the Pacific Island and Maori cultures.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
March 26th 2013
SEVENS
Fiji win Hong Kong Sevens
Defending champions Fiji fought back to beat a valiant Wales 26-19 in the Hong Kong Sevens final in the weekend, the 14th time they have taken home the trophy.
CLICK ON PIC TO READ MORE
