The team captains pose for a photograph with the trophy at the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific Season Launch. Photo: Dave Rowland
Pasifika Sipoti - a weekly preview of weekend sports in the region. Top on the agenda this weekend is the first round of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific kicking off Friday evening.
Pasifika teams the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika are both in action on Saturday.
The Drua are in Auckland for their clash against the Blues in Whangarei, while Moana Pasifika have flown down to the South Island from their Albany camp to meet the Highlanders in their opening match of competition.
Both teams have indicated they are raring to go and look forward to putting what they have tried out during the pre-season to the test.
Drua captain Meli Derenalagi will lead a side that contains four debutants, including the young Manuwatu fly Isaiah Armstrong-Ravula.
Moana Pasifika will run 'The Bus' Julian Savea at inside centre against the Hurricanes.
Savea is one of 10 players who will be playing for the Pasifika side for the very first time.
Assistant coach Tom Coventry told RNZ Pacific they believe Savea will be a revelaton at 12, with a lot of experience to share.
There are Pasifika players spread across the 12 Super Rugby franchise teams.
One such is winger Timoci Tavatavanawai, who will take the field for the Highlanders against his former team Moana Pasifika.
The 7s teams captains in Vancouver ready to battle at the Vancouver 7s tournament this weekend. Photo: World Rugby
Vancouver 7s meet
The fourth round of the World Rugby Sevens series kicks off with matches on Saturday morning (New Zealand time).
Fiji and Samoa are in the men's competition while the Fijiana team is the lone Pasifika representation.
Ben Gollings continue to face pressure as he has not won a tournament title in the last 17 events he has coached Fiji at.
The return of Napolioni Bolaca from injury is something many fans will be excited to see.
Bolaca is leading the Fijians as captain.
Samoa will be aiming to better their results in Canada.
They face the risk of having to play in the play-offs later in the year if they do not get out of the bottom four on the points table.
Fiji meets Spain, Canada and Argentina in Pool A while Samoa has Australia, France and the United States of America in Pool B.
The Fijiana women's team has USA, Australia and Japan in Pool B of their competition.
Saiyasi Fuli's Fijiana will also need to up their performance to remain in the top eight placing.
The 7s teams captains in Vancouver ready to battle at the Vancouver 7s tournament this weekend. Photo: World Rugby
Skipper Cup
In Fiji, the annual Fiji Rugby Union provincial competitions kick off on Saturday.
That includes the Skippers' Cup, the Under-20's, the Vanua competition and the two women's competition, Ranadi and Marama.
In the main Skippers' Cup competition, Nadroga meets Macuata in Labasa, Suva and Ba will clash at Bidesi Park in Suva, Yasawa and Naitasiri will clash at Prince Charles Park in Nadi followed by Nadi and Lautoka.
Namosi faces Tailevu at Thomson Park in Navua.
Vanuatu Beach Volleyball
Vanuatu Beach Volleyball will hold try-outs for their youth teams on Saturday in Vila.
The association is keen on recruiting youth players born between 2006 and 2009.
The try-out is at the VVF Beach Volleyball courts in Stade.
Players selected will train together to represent Vanuatu at the Under-19 Oceania Championships later this year in Solomon Islands.
PNG Hunters trial match
The Papua New Guinea Hunters will meet the Central Queensland Capras at Gladstone on Saturday afternoon.
It will be the Hunters' final trial match in preparation for the Hostplus Cup 2024 season.
Coach Paul Aiton has told The National in Port Moresby they are looking forward to the match so they can try out some combinations and game plans they have been working on.
"We want to try our combination and try to improve on our completion and our defense," he said.
Fiji Football League
The Fiji Football Association Premier League competition continues this Sunday.
Round 2 matches will see Tailevu Naitasiri playing Ba at the Fiji FA Academy in Ba, Suva hosts Rewa at Ratu Cakobau Park, Nasinu takes on Nadi at Prince Charles Park and Lautoka battles Navua at Churchill Park.
Nasinu lost their first match against Lautoka last week at the Uprising Sports Centre, with the Blues with a 4-2 victory.
Navua defeated Nadroga 2-1 at the same venue last weekend while Nadi defeated Tailevu Naitasiri 3-1.
Ba proved too strong for Suva to win 5-2 in their first game.
Pundits predict Ba, Navua, Rewa and Nadi to win their games this weekend.
Some Pacific athletes are also competing in international and regional events, including weightlifters competing at the Oceania Championships in Auckland plus a team of tri-athletes from Samoa to will be competing at the New Zealand Distance Triathlon Championships in Napier on Sunday.
*Pasifika Sipoti will publish results from across the region on Monday