Moana Pasifika's Lotu Inisi scores a try. Photo: Copyright © Photosport Ltd 2024 www.photosport.nz
Moana Pasifika will be hunting for a second win in the competition this year when they face Melbourne Rebels in Hamilton on Friday night.
Head Coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga has made some changes in his backline, with Pepesana Patafilo rejoining the team at right wing, while Anzelo Tuitavuki gets a start on the left wing.
Sione Havili Talitui will captain Moana Pasifika for a second week at openside flanker and Samiuela Moli earns a starting spot at hooker.
On the bench Manu Samoa halfback Melani Matavao and promising young hooker Tomasi Maka, both have a chance to make their Super Rugby and Moana Pasifika debut.
Umaga said there will be no shortage of entertaining rugby again this Friday.
"I'm expecting the Rebels to come over here with confidence after a good win over the Force. They play an attractive style of rugby and are always looking to attack with some very classy and powerful players," Umaga said.
"It should be an exciting game as we like to play the same way."
Despite some injuries to key players, Umaga is confident that those selected are capable of doing the job.
"We've been together for three, nearly four months now and we believe our culture and relationships are strong. Yet we know that needs to be tested at the next level.
"We'll keep working hard to build the culture and relationships here, while also providing the opportunities for our players to showcase their skills and talent."
Winless Fijian Drua, Crusaders to battle in Lautoka
There is no hiding the fact that both the Fijian Drua and the Crusaders need to win this weekend's third round of the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific clash.
The Drua host the defending champions in Lautoka on Saturday.
Both have not won any game so far, the Drua losing to the Blues and Moana Pasifika in their first two games.
The Crusaders went down to the Chiefs in Round One and to the Waratahs in Melbourne last weekend.
Naming key players in their starting lineups means the two teams are taking things seriously.
The Drua have named Flying Fijians fullback Ilaisa Droasese at 15, with the big versatile fullback expected to lead counter-attacks from the back.
He is joined by prop Haereiti Hetet, Jone Koroiduadua and Vilive Miramira, who are all making their first starts this season.
The Crusaders have named six players with Fijian links in their matchday 23.
They are 22-year-old Jone Rova, who is set to debut for the champions, along with All Blacks prop George Bower, Manasa Mataele, Sevu Reece, Levi Aumua and Chay Fihaki.
The Drua vs Crusaders game is on at Lautoka's Churchill Park at 1pm (Fiji Time) on Saturday.
Vanuatu Olympics
The Vanuatu government has allocated a total of 47.4 million vatu - about USD $390,000 - for their athletes' participation at the Paris Olympics.
The Vanuatu Daily Post reported the Minister of Finance John Salong had announced the funding as part of the 'New Project Proposals'.
The money is expected to cover costs including travel arrangements, accommodation, training facilities, and state-of-the-art equipment.
Oceania football
Tonga, Cook Islands, Vanuatu and American Samoa are set to compete in the OFC under-19 men's football qualifying tournament in Vanuatu from 9-15 April.
The four teams will play each other in a round robin format over three match days.
The winner will head to the Championship in Samoa in July, joining New Zealand, Fiji, New Caledonia, Tahiti, Solomon Islands, Samoa, and Papua New Guinea.
Fiji, Tahiti, Solomon Islands and the qualifying winner have been drawn into group A while New Zealand, New Caledonia, Samoa and Papua New Guinea make up group B.
(file image) Photo: OFC Media
Women's under-16
Meanwhile, the draws for the OFC under-16 Women's Championship 2024 were held at the OFC Home of Football in Auckland this week.
Papua New Guinea, American Samoa and Samoa will compete at the Qualifying tournament in Auckland, New Zealand from 14-20 June for a place in the Championship to be held in Fiji from 8-21 September. The three teams will play each other in a round robin format over three match days.
The winner will join Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Solomon Islands in Suva.
Fiji, Tonga, Cook Islands and the Qualifying Winner have been drawn in Group A, with New Zealand, New Caledonia, Tahiti and Solomon Islands in Group B.
Group A will kick-off with Fiji v Tonga and Cook Islands v Qualifying Winner, whilst Group B begins with New Zealand v New Caledonia and Tahiti v Solomon Islands.
The winner will represent Oceania at the FIFA U-17 Women's World Cup in 2025.
OFC futsal league
The OFC Futsal Men's Champions League 2024, to be held in New Caledonia on 23-28 April.
Teams from five Oceania Football Confederation countries will descend on Paita, north of Noumea, for the tournament which is being played for the first time since December 2019.
The teams competing are Veitongo FC from Tonga, Mataks FC from Solomon Islands, Vanuatu's UNV FC, Fiji's Suva FC and AS PTT from host nation New Caledonia.
The teams will play each other once before the top two teams play for the title with the third and fourth placed teams meeting in the Playoff for 3rd place.
Oceania Rugby under-20s
Fiji has won the Oceania Rugby under-20s Challenge in Auckland.
The team beat Junior Manu Samoa 31-17 in the last match on Wednesday night.
The tournament is a partnership between Oceania Rugby and Moana Pasifika.
It also served as a qualifier for the World Rugby second tier U20s Trophy, to be played in Scotland in July.
The winner between Samoa and Tonga - Samoa this time - qualified as Oceania's representative.
The Trophy will be contested by eight teams fighting for promotion to the top-tier U20s Championship in 2025.
Meanwhile, the Junior Ikale Tahi ended their Oceania U20s campaign in style with a 33-31 victory over the Moana Pasifika.
Down 31-30 with only seconds left, their fly half, Sione Matakaiongo, with ice in his veins, kicked the winning penalty goal. The Tongan crowd erupted, proud of their team, as they clinched their first victory of the tournament.
His teammate number eight, Uikelotu Afeaki, was a phenom, scoring a hat-trick to help forge a major comeback against the home side.
Samoa cricket
Samoa is to host two cricket qualifiers in August.
The Under 19 Cricket World Cup East Asia Pacific Division 2 Qualifier, and the men's T-20 World Cup East Asia-Pacific Sub-Regional Qualifier A, will be played in Apia.
These are pathway tournaments to the under-19 and Twenty20 world cups, respectively.
Indonesia, PNG, Samoa, and Vanuatu will play in the former, while the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Vanuatu will take part in the latter.
Samoa Cricket said hosting two international cricket tournaments provides growth opportunities for both Samoa as a country and Samoa Cricket as a sports organisation.
Regional sports - Fiji rugby
The Fiji Rugby Union Skipper Cup competition continues around Fiji this weekend.
Matches will be in the Premier, Vanua and Women's competition.
In the feature match of the Premier competition unbeaten Naitasiri will take on Nadroga at Lawaqa Park in Sigatoka on Saturday.
Nadi will face Namosi tomorrow at Prince Charles Park, Lautoka faces Macuata at Churchill Park Ground 3, Suva will battle Yasawa at Bidesi Park and Ba hosts Tailevu at Vinod Patel Ground.
Fiji football
Another round of the Fiji Football Association Premier League competition will be played over the weekend.
Round four this week will see Labasa host Lautoka at Subrail Park on Saturday.
Four games will be played on Sunday with Ba hosting Navua at 3pm at the Fiji FA Academy.
Tailevu Naitasiri faces Suva at Ratu Cakobau Park, before Rewa meets Nasinu, while Nadi is set to battle Nadroga at Prince Charles Park.
Vanuatu
Football, archery and beach volleyball will be sports to follow in Vanuatu this weekend.
In football, the semi-finals of the Au Bon Marche (ABM) Cup will be held on Saturday in Port Vila.
On Wednesday, Vanuatu Daily Post reported that Ifira Black Bird (IBB) FC booked its spot in the Au Bon Marche (ABM) Cup semi-finals after defeating Naka FC 4-1 at the Port Vila Stadium on Tuedsday.
The showdown witnessed Naka FC making its debut in the premiere division, grabbing the spotlight with a lone goal against the Port Vila's champion team.
Papua New Guinea
Four players will debut for the SP PNG Hunters when they meet Manly Seagulls in their opening Hostplus rugby league game on Saturday.
The National newspaper said coach Paul Aiton has named his strongest lineup for the clash at the Santos National Football Stadium.
Meanwhile, PNG Rugby League JT Super Nines Cup competition also kicks off this weekend in Port Moresby.
*Pasifika Sipoti will publish results from across the region on Monday. Want your weekend sports results included, send an email to iliesa.tora@rnz.co.nz