Samoa

The Blues utility back was the only All Black for his team to run out against the Hurricanes last weekend in their first pre-season fixture of the year. It’s an opportunity that Tuivasa is appreciative of.

“I think making it through the first 40 minutes was the box I wanted to tick,” he says.

“It was good to get some fitness into my game and have some time to watch the clips after to see where I can grow from today.”

A new research project by Waipapa Taumata Rau | University of Auckland researchers and Pacific partners aims to investigate mental health challenges in Samoa, Tuvalu, and potentially Tonga as these countries navigate the Covid-19 pandemic and the climate crisis.

Samoa won the region's only gold, through weightlifter Don Opolege and the nation's lifters also won three silver medals, and there was also Samoan silver in heavyweight boxing.

Fiji won four medals, two of them in the rugby sevens, but there was some disappointment that neither team could win their respective finals.

Weightlifting brought the only medals for Papua New Guinea and Nauru, Vanuatu gained a bronze from beach volleyball, and one of the stories of the games was when Niue gained its first-ever medal with a boxing bronze.

After more than two years of the Covid-19 pandemic and border closures, the Hunga-Tonga Hunga-Ha'apai volcano eruption and tsunami, this trip was going to be special.

He was taking a big group of 15, including his mother, son, his two sisters and their children.

“It’s Christmas, and it’s a time for family – we’re all just looking forward to being back home together,” he said.

“Mum is really looking forward to seeing her sister who is old now, so we just want to spend as much time with her as we can.

In the men's, Fiji is in pool A with hosts South Africa, France and Canada.

Samoa is in pool B, with Ireland, Uruguay and Japan.

On the women's side, Fiji will play New Zealand, Great Britain and Brazil in pool play.

The tournament - leg three of 10 tournaments - consists of 16 men's and 12 women's teams.

The side defeated Tonga 8-5 at the Teufaiva Stadium on Saturday.

The Tongans claimed the first round in a thrilling 20-19 victory over Samoa, on 29 November.

The annual Oceania Rugby U20 Trophy which was introduced in 2015, is a key qualification competition with the winner earning a place at the World Rugby Under 20 Trophy in 2023.

Through the support of the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports program the 2022 tournament increased to a two-match competition.

This is also the first time that Tonga hosted Samoa on home soil.

First up, Samoa take on New Caledonia, followed by the top-ranked side in the competition, Papua New Guinea, playing Tonga.

On Sunday, hosts Fiji play the Cook Islands, and finally Solomon Islands play Tahiti for the final semi-final spot.

The winners of the final which takes place next weekend gain a spot in the Women's World Cup Playoff tournament in New Zealand early 2023.

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Fijiana defeated a strong Samoa side 31-24 in the final.

Samoa had an early lead, dominating the first half 16-10.

After the two sides were tied 24-all, it was Mirini’s winning try in the 82nd minute that gave them the win.

It was a perfect start for Tonga with two successive penalties to flyhalf James Faiva inside the first 10 minutes.

The game lived up to expectations under the typical western heat at Churchill Park Lautoka, with the referee calling for a water break after every 15 minutes.

Samoa registered its first points via a converted penalty to first five AJ Alatimu as they trailed 3-6.

However, Tonga extended its lead with an unconverted try to inside center Fetuli Paea in the 22nd minute.

The Solomon Islands and Vanuatu will open on July 1, with Samoa and the Federated States of Micronesia a month later on August 1.