New Zealand

New Zealand were upset 22-0 in their opening match against the USA before beating Spain 55-0.

The All Blacks sevens had to win their match against Australia to avoid missing the cup quarters in Cape Town for the first time.

New Zealand made a great start to the match, dominating possession and territory to run in three unanswered tries in the first half.

However, Australia fought their way back into the match with two tries in three minutes at the start of the second spell to get themselves within nine points of New Zealand.

New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern promised the money last the month after restating the offer to resettle 150 refugees from Australian offshore detention.

Deputy secretary Jeff Langley from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said there are a number of different ways the money could be channelled including to the Red Cross and other NGOs operating on the island.

He said the ministry is also talking to the Papua New Guinea government to identify needs created by the refugee population on the island.

“I hope that this is the last time Australia and New Zealand will participate in our games as our guests.

“Within the next 12 to 18 months we hope to make the necessary changes to our Constitution which will allow them membership to the Council,” said PGC president Vidya Lakhan.

Australia and New Zealand were first invited as guest and competed in four sports at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby, Papua New Guinea.

Here at the Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu the Trans-Tasman neighbours were invited for two sports, rugby 7s and weightlifting.

The Trans-Tasman neighbours were invited to take part in four sports at the 2015 Games in Port Moresby, increasing to eight for the 2019 edition in Samoa.

Australia and New Zealand make their Mini Games debut in Port Vila this week in weightlifting, having declined to enter teams in rugby sevens.

The President of the Pacific Games Council, Vidhya Lakhan, said the participation of Australia and New Zealand would ensure the event is recognised around the world.

"Most of the continents have their own Continental Games," Lakhan said.

The skilful fly-half joins All Blacks great Richie McCaw as the only player to have retained the award, while Barrett, McCaw and the great Dan Carter are the only three to have won the prize more than once.

Barrett enjoyed another stellar year in international rugby, helping New Zealand retain the Rugby Championship, while he was also a part of the side that drew a thrilling series with the British and Irish Lions 1-1.

Manly released the 31-year-old five eighth yesterday after securing disgruntled Roosters halfback Mitchell Pearce.

Green, who was one of Manly's stars in 2017, had a year left remaining on his contracts.

Signed until the end of the 2020 NRL season, Green is moving to Auckland after helping the Sea Eagles surge to sixth this season from 13th in 2016.

New Zealand collapsed in limp fashion to a 4-2 defeat at the hands of the Fijians, and in the aftermath Blair attracted the ire of many with his nonchalant reaction, which included him suggesting the loss wasn't a negative for this side.

Just a week after falling 28-22 to Tonga, the Kiwis have been beaten by a second tier-two side in a low-scoring match they had never looked like winning.

Two Apisai Koroisau penalties to a sole Shaun Johnson effort on Saturday were enough to give the Bati a well-deserved win over a Kiwi team which never managed to get out of first gear.

An error-ridden performance from the Kiwis was comprehensively punished by a Fijian outfit, who showed more pace, poise and precision than the lacklustre New Zealanders.

New Zealand v Fiji

New Zealand take on Fiji in tomorrow night's Rugby League Cup quarter-final in Wellington, with the Bati hoping to replicate Tonga's efforts in upsetting the tournament co-hosts.

As RNZ sports reporter Joe Porter discovered, the Fijians are bullish, with Tonga's victory breathing life into the tier two nations.