Canberra gives boost to Pacific Games; Auckland lift regional football title; and Samoan rugby player quits over safety fears
Australian donation for Pacific Games
The Australian government is donating almost $US12 million to the Solomon Islands for the 2023 Pacific Games.
The funding is expected to help visiting athletes with accommodation, sporting equipment and the construction of a temporary venue for open water disciplines.
According to the Inside the Games website this is a counter-balance move against the growing influence of China who have pledge to donate $US21 million to the games.
However, Australian Pacific minister Pat Conroy said Australia is only seeking to help the Solomons and its population.
Auckland defeat Tahiti side in football final
Auckland City have claimed their 10th Oceania Champions football League title after a comfortable 3-0 win over Tahiti's AS Vénus in Auckland.
Auckland City celebrate Photo: Supplied
First-half goals from Cam Howieson and Gerard Garriga and a late Emiliano Tade strike secured the title for New Zealand's top side despite a brave second-half effort from first-time finalists Vénus.
As well as the league title, Auckland earned a place at the Club World Cup due to be held in China at a date still to be determined.
Helleur quits over on-field safety dispute
Former Manu Samoa international, Brenton Helleur, has announced an end to his rugby career due to a dispute with the Auckland Rugby Union.
TV One News reports Helleur is unhappy that the Auckland Rugby Union refused to punish a player who he says allegedly illegally tackled him, during a game last month that left him unconscious.
Helleur said the Auckland Rugby Union did not accept an appeal.
A video of the tackle has gone viral on social media.
Eels star commits to Samoa
Paramatta Eels co-captain Junior Paulo has become the latest NRL star to commit his international allegiance to Samoa ahead of the World Cup.
His commitment comes just a week after Canberra Raiders and Queensland forward Josh Papali'i declared his allegiance to the Pacific nation.
Paulo, 28, has played nine Tests for Samoa.
While he's never represented Australia, he was a near certainty for Mal Meninga's squad if he had chosen to represent the Kangaroos.
Paulo said he wants to inspire the next generation of Samoan youngsters.
FRU sacks three staff members
The Fiji Rugby Union is conducting an internal investigation with three staff members sacked while its Chief Executive John O'Connor is on leave.
The move comes just a year out from the Rugby World Cup in France.
FRU chairperson Commodore Humphrey Tawake said the board had to terminate three staff members but will not reveal their identities due to ongoing investigations.
During a press conference, Tawake said the Union was aware of the spread of misinformation through social media.
FRU Operations Manager Sale Sorovaki is the acting CEO for the next few weeks.
Tennis team makes progress
The Pacific Oceania men's team have advanced to the play-offs of the 2023 Davis Cup after beating host nation Vietnam two games to one.
The doubles match determined the result with Colin Sinclair of the Northern Marianas and the Cook Islands' Brett Baudinet combining.
The team also comprised Vanuatu's Clement Mainguy, Papua New Guinea's Matthew Stubbings and Tahiti's Gillian Osmont.
Meanwhile, the Pacific Oceania women's team have finished fourth out of ten teams at the Billie Jean King Cup in Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia
Schools sports event back after three years absence
Over 3,000 Fiji secondary school students from over 130 schools will compete in track and field events over three days at the Coca-Cola Games in Suva.
The popular annual athletics meet hasn't been held since 2019 due to the covid pandemic.
The competition has created top Fijian athletes who have gone on to represent their country.
Chief operations officer Abdul Khan says Fiji Police will scale up their operations to ensure the event is accident free.
New Caledonia's va'a success
New Caledonia's won two silver in the world Va'a mens Elite and Club Sprint Championships in Lake Windsor, southern England.
One medal was in the V6, one kilometre race, the other the V6 500 metre race.