Fiji

Radio and Television Tonga News reports two of the mammals died, two escaped and one remains at the container owner's premises.

The Quarantine Department is working to deal with the problem.

FBC reports Tonga dominated the scrums and line-outs and scored two first half tries for a 15-nil half-time lead.

Ben Volavola opened the scoring for Fiji with a solo effort in the second half, 15-7.

Nemia Soqeta, playing in his tenth test, added another try minutes later to close the gap to 15-12.

Fiji added two penalties while Tonga converted one for the scores to be leveled at 18-all with nine minutes to go.

Eremasi Radrodro scored late in the match which proved to be the winning try.

RNZI reports the home side meet the Tongan 'Ikale Tahi in what promises to be a typically willing encounter.

With none of the Pacific teams having qualified automatically for the next world cup, competition could be even more fierce than usual between the neighbourly rivals.

Tonga have a fresh look at their helm with former wallaby star Toutai Kefu heading a coaching team that includes former Tongan internationals, Sateki Tu'ipulotu, Siua Taumalolo, and Tevita Taumoepeau.

Tu'ipulotu said the match marked the start of a new age of Tongan rugby.

Fiji Sun reports the last time the Ma’afu brothers came at loggerheads was in 2010 when Campese took on his older brother Salesi during a Test match between Australia and Fiji.

Tongan head coach Toutai Kefu said it would be an interesting show between the brothers at the ANZ Stadium in Suva.

“I’ll tell Apakuki to try and beat his brother up,” the former Wallaby great jokingly said.

“After all they will be enemy on the field but will remain brothers off the field.”

The brothers mum hail from Tavuki in Kadavu while their dad is from Tonga.

According to FBC News, McKee says despite being the defending champions of the tournament, the players need to focus and play according to the game plan against Tonga.

“With Tonga we have emphasized to the players that don’t get too carried away and think about Samoa or let’s really concentrate on the test match against Tonga first and make sure that we really get our game right and look to win that match.”

Meanwhile, McKee names his final 23 member squad today.

Fiji plays Tonga at 3pm (Local time) on Saturday at ANZ Stadium.

This coincides with the upcoming opening of its new 4 star Tanoa International Dateline Hotel in Nuku’Alofa, Tonga. 

Tanoa is a major hospitality player in the Pacific with 10 hotels in Fiji, Samoa, New Zealand and soon, Tonga. 

This makeover for Tanoa Hotels, which was founded over 50 years ago, is designed to bring the brand in line with their growing portfolio and position in the market.

Ryan made this remarks after reports suggested he had been left out of the squad for this weekend’s London Sevens.

After quitting NFL franchise the San Francisco 49ers this week, the former NRL star announced his intention to qualify for the Olympics with the rugby sevens’ gold-medal favourites.

Reports stated that the crosscode star has missed out on the 12-man squad named by coach Ben Ryan. However Ryan, the former England coach, insisted that a decision has yet to be made.

New revelations in an NRL breach notice against the Eels reportedly show the club secretly arranged almost $500,000 in deals for the former NFL convert since 2013.

Official documents and boardroom minutes show a trail of salary cap discrepancies in the star full-back's third party deals with the club from 2013 to 2015, News Corp reported on Tuesday.

They allegedly include cash payments, first class overseas travel and car expenses adding up to $465,000, all hidden from the NRL.

It's the first tournament victory for the Manu since Dubai in 2012 and reverses a 42-5 hiding suffered at the hands of their Pacific rivals in pool play a day earlier.

Head coach Damian McGrath was full of praise for his players.

"I never in my wildest dreams when we woke up this morning thought that we could go through the day. We played three probably the most physical teams here in South Africa, Argentina and then Fiji and to put in the sort of performance that we did made me really proud."

The declaration had been issued in February after the country was hit by Cyclone Winston.

The NDMO's director, Akapusi Tuifagalele, told FBC News that this also signaled that the Australian and New Zealand Defence Forces had completed their recovery work - seven weeks after they were deployed.