Wallabies prop Taniela Tupou Photo: Photosport
Ex-Welsh international takes on Fiji coaching role
Rob Sherman, a former professional footballer with Cardiff City, Swansea City, and Hull City, has been appointed as head coach of the Bula Boys, the national football team of Fiji.
His appointment comes after the end of Danish coach Flemming Serritslev's term at the end of January.
Sherman, who has signed a three-year contract, has previously served as technical director of both Football Federation Australia and New Zealand Football.
One of Sherman's first major tournaments as head coach will be the Pacific Games, which will be held in Solomon Islands, at the end of the year.
New Fijians recruit in Wallaroos squad
Two new Fijian players are in the Australian women's squad for its Test against the Fijiana 15s next weekend in Sydney.
FBC News has reported that 17-year-old Laiema Bosenavulagi and Tabua Tuinakauvadra have made the 32-member squad announced by Wallaroos coach Jay Tregonning on Thursday.
Bosenavulagi plays for Melbourne Rebels while 20-year-old Tuinakauvadra featured for Brumbies this year in Super W.
Meanwhile, Fijiana head coach Inoke Male, who coached the Fijiana Drua to winning last weekend's Super W final against the Reds in Brisbane, will name his squad this week.
Australia dominate cricket series with Vanuatu
The Australian women's Indigenous cricket team has completed a clean sweep of Vanuatu in their four-match T20 series.
The Aussies comfortably won the final match by five wickets with more than three overs to spare.
Australian captain Hannah Darlington was awarded Player of the Tournament, having led all batters in the series with 137 runs at an average of 68.50.
The victory followed the Australian men's Indigenous 11's victory in the final match of their series, in which they defeated Vanuatu 3-1.
Boxing great to speak at PNG Sports Awards
Former boxing world champion Jeff Fenech will be the guest speaker at the 31st South Pacific Brewery Sports Awards night on May 27 at the Crown Hotel in Port Moresby.
Dubbed the 'Marrickville Mauler' Fenech won world titles in three weight divisions (bantamweight, super-bantamweight and featherweight) in a span of 20 fights from 1985 to 1988.
The National reports that Fenech said he was looking forward to sharing his experiences during the award night where various athletes, national federation representatives and other stakeholders would attend.
Fiji Football launches Talent Development League
Fiji's top youth footballers will now have more opportunities to compete regularly, with the launch of the 2023 McDonald's Talent Development League.
The initiative is part of the Fiji Football Association's five-year strategic plan focusing on youth development which was piloted last year and is part of a bid to raise footballing standards.
The event was attended by Fiji football legend Roy Krishna.
The league will run for 20 weeks, featuring the nation's top youth teams across four age groups from U-9 through to U-15.
It will see about 2500 new registered young footballers who would be part of this league with 160 teams from 11 districts participating from around the country.
Tupou's frank Wallabies admission amid rehab journey
Wallabies Tongan prop Taniela Tupou is desperate to return to the field, conceding he hasn't lived up to his own expectations in the past.
Tupou is recovering from an achilles injury suffered during the Spring Tour, which ruled him out of this year's Super Rugby Pacific season.
It's his second major setback in just over a year after suffering a long-term calf injury with the Queensland Reds in 2022, rugby.com states.
Upon his return during the England series last July, the 27-year-old said it was one of the "best things to happen to him" mentally and physically.
However, the time off has led to Tupou reflecting on his Wallabies career, confessing he hadn't reached his potential at the International level.