13 Mar 2025

Pasifika Sipoti for 13 March

12:58 pm on 13 March 2025
rugby ball, referee

Photo: Unsplash / Davide Buttani

Rugby

Fiji and Moana Pasifika sides will take part in the Super Rugby Under-20 tournament, which gets underway in Taupo on Saturday.

Fiji is scheduled to meet the Hurricanes in the opening match at the Owen Delany Park.

Fiji coach, Senirusi Seruvakula said they are excited about the opportunity, where they can test players ahead of the Oceania championship.

Moana Pasifika will meet the Crusaders in the third game of the day.

The semifinals will be held on 18 March, with the final on 22 March.

League

The PNG Hunters will meet the Sunshine Coast Falcons in Brisbane this weekend, in the Hostplus Cup rugby league competition.

It will be the team's first game for the season, following the cancellation of their round one clash against the Cutters last weekend due to ex-Cyclone Alfred.

The National newspaper reported Hunters coach Paul Aiton will field the same lineup that was to have met the Cutters.

Cricket

Fiji and Papua New Guinea will meet Japan in a round-robin format at the men's Under-19 cricket World Cup qualifier in April.

The National reported the winner will qualify for the 2026 Under-19 World Cup in Namibia.

Football

FIFA has approved two new competitions for women's football at their recent council meeting.

A FIFA statement said the Council has given the go-ahead for the FIA Women's Champions Cup to kick-off in 2026, and the FIFA Women's Club World Cup in 2028.

Oceania will have one spot for the club world cup, going into a play-off for three qualifying spots against five other teams.

To get to the champion's cup competition, the Oceania representative will have to win the preliminary stage play-off against the Asian champion, before going into the second-round preliminary match.

Football

The new Football Federation Samoa chief executive officer wants to help drive Samoa Football towards more success.

Faumuina Margaret Crichton has been appointed to the position.

Oceania Football reported the former Samoan football and hockey representative has deep roots in the local sports community and is set to steer the Federation's strategic direction.

Crichton said she had always dreamed of returning home from the United Kingdom and helping develop the next generation of players and work with stakeholders to build a stronger, more inclusive, and successful future for Samoan football.

Beach volleyball

The defending champions of men's beach volleyball at the Pacific Mini Games - Vanuatu's Stivano Banga and James Chilia - are focused on successfully defending their title at the Palau event this year.

Vanuatu Daily Post reported Banga saying they look forward to competing in the Palau Games, as they continued with their preparations at home.

The Mini Games gets under way in late June.

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