Samoa

$US45 million for Pacific catastrophe insurance

The five countries are the Cook Islands, the Marshall Islands, Samoa, Tonga, and Vanuatu.

The company, which is owned by the Pacific Island countries, was set up after states saw a need for a mechanism to protect their people from increasing climate and seismic risks.

It provides a regional catastrophe insurance platform offering cover that can be paid out within 10 days of a triggered event, so governments have access to immediate liquidity for disaster response.

     

Australia v Samoa: RLWC Preview

Pacific Tests confirmed for Origin period

Six nations will compete during a three-match festival at Campbelltown Stadium on June 23. Tonga, Samoa, Lebanon and Papua New Guinea will be joined by two further teams to be confirmed in the coming weeks.

Samoa, Tonga, PNG make changes for World Cup quarters

Toa Samoa have made three changes for Friday night's match against Australia in Darwin, with captain Frank Pritchard and halfback Ben Roberts back for their clash with the defending champions, while lock Leeson Ah Mau also returns to the back row.

Pritchard and Roberts did not play in Saturday's 14-14 draw against Scotland, which earned Samoa a spot in the knockout rounds despite failing to win a game during the group stage.

Fiji, Samoa begin Northern rugby tours

The Pacific Nations Cup holders pipped the Azzurri 22-19 in Suva earlier this year, with first five Ben Volavola slotting an 80th minute drop-goal to secure a dramatic victory.

Fiji also prevailed when the teams met in Suva three years ago but have only managed one win from five tests on Italian soil, way back in 1999.

Coach John McKee believes they have a real opportunity.

Files from four Pacific registries in Paradise Papers

The leak, dubbed the Paradise Papers, contains more than 13.4 million documents mostly from the offshore law firm Appleby.

The papers also contained details from the corporate registries of the Cook Islands, Marshall Islands, Samoa and Vanuatu as well as 15 other registries, mostly in the Caribbean.

The papers covered the period from 1950 to 2016.

The International Consortium of Investigative Journalists is investigating the files along with a network of journalists around the world.

Tonga book maiden World Cup finals spot

A commanding performance from Tonga's star forward pack laid the platform, and off the back of it they starved Samoa of the ball and took full advantage of their opposition's sloppy errors to score five tries.

Six arrests in Otara brawl involving 200 people ahead of rugby league showdown

The brawl came after days of heightened tension between Samoan and Tongan rugby league fans, ahead of their second round World Cup clash in Hamilton on Saturday.

Police say a crowd of up to 200 Samoan and Tongan fans gathered in a carpark near the Manukau Institute of Technology in Otara last night.

"It was major disorder", said Superintendent Sandra Manderson, the police national commander for major sporting events.

"Some people in the crowd were carrying poles and sticks... I believe there was also a machete taken off someone."

Tonga not underestimating Samoa ahead of weekend clash

Samoa lost 38 - 8 to the Kiwis last weekend, while Tonga thrashed Scotland 50 - 4.

New South Wales hard-man Andrew Fifita says they're definitely not underestimating Toa Samoa.

"They're pretty packed. They're a good strong team and that's going to really challenge us," he says. "In saying that, we'll be ready for it and we can't wait for Saturday."

Former Warriors winger Manu Vatuvei says although Tonga won their last game convincingly, they know Samoa won't back down.

Pacific league teams tweak line-ups for Round 2

Solomone Kata comes in for Konrad Hurrell in the centres, alongside three-try hero Michael Jennings, while David Fusitu'a replaces former Warriors teammate Manu Vatuvei on the wing.

Samoa have been forced into a change for the Pool B showdown in Hamilton, with Ricky Leutele named on the wing in place of Peter Mata'utia, who's returned to Australia with a quad injury.

The other change is up front with Herman Ese'ese promoted to start in the front row and Sam Lisone dropping to the bench.

Tonga squad: