Manu Samoa and the Flying Fijians have been welcomed with a traditional Maori ceremony in Rotorua, ahead of their Pacific Nations Cup clash on Saturday. Photo: Supplied/Manu Samoa Facebook
Rugby
Manu Samoa and the Flying Fijians have been welcomed with a traditional Maori ceremony in Rotorua, ahead of their Pacific Nations Cup clash on Saturday.
Both teams have arrived in the city early to round off their preparations.
The series is also a qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup, with Samoa needing a win this weekend to put their campaign back on tlrack, following their round-one loss to Tonga.
Meanwhile, the United States will host Japan in the other PNC game this weekend, scheduled for Sunday afternoon, New Zealand time.
Weightlifting
Fijian weightlifter Taniela Rainibogi and Samoa's Sanele Mao have qualified for the 2026 Commonwealth Games.
This follows their gold medal wins at the 2025 Commonwealth Weightlifting Championshipsin Ahmedabad, India.
Rainibogi claimed gold in the men's 110 kilogram category with lifts of 165kg in the snatch and 200kg in the clean and jerk.
Mao won his gold in the men's 110+ kg category, setting two Oceania and Commonwealth records along the way.
He lifted 181 kg in the snatch and 202kg in the clean and jerk.
League
The Papua New Guinea Hunters will battle the Dolphins in a elimination final of the 2025 Queensland Rugby League Hostplus Cup on Saturday.
Following their 40-10 win over the Pride last weekend, the Hunters finished seventh on the points table.
A win on Saturday would push them into the semi-final on Saturday, 13 September.
League
A women's rugby league team comprised of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Island players is in Samoa.
The Murri Gummaz will face off against local sides in a series of matcheson Wednesday in Lotofaga.
The team will also travel to Savaii for a series of matches.
Visits to primary schools in Upolu and Savai'i are also on the agenda.
The Murri Gummaz are undefeated for three years in the Queensland Murri Carnival and the Mackay All Blacks Carnival.
Rugby
The Fijian Drua rugby franchise will look for a new chief executive, following the annoucement that incumbent Mark Evans will finish at the end of December.
Fijian Drua board chairman Brent Impey acknowledged Evans' leadership, saying his contribution has helped lay the foundation in place for the Drua to be successful both on and off the field.
Evans will continue in the role until 31 December.
Surfing
The best men and women surfers are facing off in cloudbreak in Fiji for the World Surf League Finals.
The venue saw a return to the competition circuit last year after a seven-year break.
Cloudbreak, located off the island of Tavarua, has the reputation of being one of the most perfect waves in the world.
The favourites going into the event were Australia's Molly Picklum for the women and Brazil's Yago Dora for the men.
