Samoa's Brian To'o celebrates after scoring the team's first try during the Rugby League World Cup Men's final between Australia and Samoa at Old Trafford stadium, in Manchester Photo: OLI SCARFF/AFP
Money will determine whether Toa Samoa get heroes welcome
The President of Rugby League Samoa, Tagaloa Fa'afouina Su'a, says a decision has not yet been made about bringing the Rugby League World Cup heroes, Toa Samoa, home.
Tagaloa said they would love to bring the grand final runners-up home "but it all depends on financing".
He said they still have to sit down with government to discuss the matter.
Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Iosefo Ponifasio said the players he spoke to after the grand final against Australia all indicated they wanted to come but the government had still to make a decision.
Manu Samoa co-captain Matavao out of sevens series
Manu Samoa Sevens head coach Brian Lima has lost star playmaker and co-captain Melani Matavao for the first two legs of the World Sevens Series.
Lakapi Samoa Chief Executive Officer, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea'i, said Matavao has been stood down for these two events as he has been given additional time to fully recover from concussion sustained at the Hong Kong Sevens.
He also said Paul Stanley is also carrying an injury which needed more time to fully recover.
The pair have been replaced on the team for the Dubai Sevens and the Cape Town Sevens by Tuna Tuitama and Pelisi Taupo.
The Dubai Sevens starts on Friday morning, local time.
The team is: Vaafauese Apelu Maliko, Vaovasa Afa Su'a, Paul Eti Slater, Neueli Leitufia, Motu Opetai, Owen Niue, Paul Scanlan, Steve Onosai, Uaina Sione, Levi Milford, Taunuu Niulevaea, Faafoi Falaniko, Tuna Tuitama, Pelosi Taupo
Tonga defeats Samoa in junior rugby international
Tonga's Under-20s rugby team narrowly defeated Junior Manu Samoa 20-19 in Nuku'alofa.
It's the first of two games to decide the Oceania Rugby Trophy.
The match is the first international in Tonga since 2019, when a border closure was enforced in the Kingdom due to covid.
The second game takes place on December 3.
Australia expands sports programme to Solomon Islands
A sports development programme, run by the Australian Government, is expanding to Solomon Islands prior to the 2023 Pacific Games.
Team Up, which comprises more than 30 partnerships across the Asia-Pacific, aims to support programmes that are focused on gender and disability inclusion in sports.
Inside the Games reports a selection process is set to be undertaken to identify sports for development partnerships to deliver their programmes in Solomon Islands.
Team Up looks to work towards sport programmes that attract and retain women, girls and people with a disability, as well as men and boys, and sports organisations that are safe, inclusive and accessible.