Samoa

A win against Papua New Guinea this afternoon would put them into the playoff for the third and final World Cup berth.

Samoa coach Lee Edwards is glad the team finally came away with a win after two losses.

“It’s a huge step-up from yesterday – obviously it’s about the belief in themselves. All these girls are new caps so it’s a bit of pressure they’re not used to.”

Edwards also expects a tough game when they meet PNG tomorrow afternoon.

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."

Jeremiah Esera was killed when he chased a ball into the street in the 2800 block of 35th Avenue at Penniman Avenue and was hit by an AC Transit bus, police were quoted by local media as saying.

He was pronounced dead at the scene.

A person very close to the family of the deceased who wished not to be named said the boy’s mother is from Kolomotu’a in Tonga but his father is Samoan.

Oakland’s East Bay Times reported that a relative said Jeremiah, his mother and his siblings were visiting another relative at a residence on 35th Avenue when the tragedy occurred.

 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."

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.

The programme, delivered over five years, is aimed at encouraging increased sports participation and improving health outcomes in young people throughout the region, specifically Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands.

NNZ CEO Jennie Wyllie says they are committed to supporting Netball in Oceania and this programme will enable NNZ to provide long-term and consistent support.

“For a number of years NNZ has been committed to supporting and providing development to Netball in Oceania,” Wyllie said.

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.

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.

"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.

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.