Rugby

RNZ understands the deal is in the works, with some senior Warriors are aware of the move, despite Tuivasa-Sheck not having told the team.

However New Zealand Rugby says they haven't entered formal discussions with Tuivasa-Sheck or his agent.

Tries from flankers Paul Grant and Matt Garvey either side of half time put the visitors in control before England's Anthony Watson raced in to score.

David Denton, Joe Taufet'ee and Perry Humphreys all scored second-half tries for Worcester.

But lock James Phillips and two tries for Kahn Fotuali'i sealed Bath's winning bonus point.

After Rhys Priestland's opening two penalties inside the first 14 minutes, Chris Pennell got Warriors back in the game when he finally slotted one home from close to the halfway line having missed his first two attempts at goal.

The Fijians finished fourth in the opening round in Dubai and fifth a week later in Cape Town.

On both occasions their Cup run was ended by South Africa, (12-7) in the semi and (31-26) quarter finals respectively.

"We had a bad loss against Canada in the pool stages in Cape Town which took a bit of a shine off the week but generally we've moved in the right direction," reflected Gareth Baber.

Going up against a side that qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup as the second-ranked team from Oceania behind Fiji, the Brave Blossoms blew away the Pacific islanders. Japan displayed some scintillating 15-man rugby and a well-organized, robust defense in a 39-6 victory at Stade Ernest Wallon.

Japan came into the game as the more experienced side with its starting XV having won 392 caps to Tonga’s 157. It was more of the same among the reserves, with Japan’s replacements having played 58 tests to just six by Tongan backups.

The clip, on the popular Fox Sports Matty Johns Show, showed small children attempting to pronounce the 'funniest' player names in the NRL (National Rugby League), most of which being Pacific Islander surnames, 9News network reports.

But the "Footy Kids in Cars" video has not gone down well with players. Former Samoa international Frank Puletua told 9News he was "disappointed that a segment like that got to air without any sort of thought about how it might be perceived by people in Pacific Island league communities."

Fiji thrashed Great Britain 43-7 in the first ever Olympic sevens final a year ago today to win the country's first ever medal at the Summer Games.

Ryan said it was an incredible journey and in many ways it already felt like a lifetime ago.

"These days on social media you get your Facebook where you wake up and suddenly get a memory that Facebook wants to share with you from a year ago and I've been getting those regularly of videos of me getting on the plan to the training camp in Chile and various other ones," he said.

The Pacific Islanders recent qualification for Japan 2019 saw them grouped with Argentina, England, France and the USA. Tonga were the fifth and final team to qualify but the dating task is being greeted with open arms.

Kefu noted that “I think in terms of our mindset it suits us to play the harder teams.” Tonga is not a side to back down from a challenge. Indeed in Rugby World Cup 2011 the Pacific Islanders upset finalists France in the pool stage. Last November they also defeated Italy in Padua.

The result was only the beginning of the New Zealand based team's woes, as they endured a nightmare day in Perth.

Veteran Ryan Hoffman and young forward Albert Vete both face extended stints on the sidelines after copping broken bones.

Vete broke his arm in the first half of the loss, while Hoffman didn't even get on the field.

The 33-year-old's final season at the Warriors will now be heavily shortened after he broke a metatarsal bone in his foot while stretching at the team hotel.

Tigers coach Daryl Powell chose to rest some of his frontline players against St Helens after the excesses of two games in four days last weekend and his fringe prospects proved equal to the task in a 16-12 victory at The Jungle.

First-half tries from Mark Percival and Louie McCarthy-Scarsbrook had the Saints 12-4 up at the interval and on the way to completing a double over the Tigers.

But the hosts clocked up 12 unanswered points in the second period to edge a testing encounter, with Mike McMeeken and Tom Holmes touching down.

In a study of 14- to 18-year-olds in 40 schools, those completing the exercises three times a week saw 59% fewer concussions than other schools.

The exercises focus on increasing neck muscle strength, balance and movement.

The RFU is rolling out the programme in schools in England from next season.

The Rugby Football Union says it will provide seminars for rugby coaches on the exercises, as well online resources and training pitch handouts.

Head and neck injuries are more common in rugby than other sports because of the impact of tackling and scrummaging.