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Rugby
23rd October
Samoa-born All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala makes the move to Blues for his Super Rugby
AUCKLAND, 23 OCTOBER 2020 (STUFF NZ) – The rich just got richer, with All Blacks prop Nepo Laulala confirming he will play his Super Rugby for the Blues for the next two years. Samoa-born Laulala,...
22nd October
Rugby Australia boss backs Ella’s call to boost Indigenous pathways
SYDNEY, 22 OCTOBER 2020 (SMH) – Rugby Australia boss Rob Clarke agrees with Gary Ella that the code needs better pathways for Indigenous talent to reach the top as the Wallabies legend nominated who he believed would be the next First Nations player to wear the jersey. Wallabies back Dane Haylett-Petty also said the team...
Vatuwaliwali and Koro to debut for Suva
2018 Deans champion Ratu Kadavulevu School players Jone Vatuwaliwali and Josua Koro will debut for Suva in their round 13 clash against Lautoka tomorrow. Vatuwaliwali has been named in the starting line-up at halfback with Koro to come off the bench. Also making their debut are Covenant Brothers winger Marika Vularewa in number 14 with...
‘My Dad lost the plot’: Du’Plessis Kirifi and family in tears at All Blacks callup
AUCKLAND, 22 OCTOBER 2020 (STUFF NZ) – The morning after an All Blacks test victory over the Wallabies, selector and forwards coach John Plumtree was hardly someone Du’Plessis Kirifi expected to hear from. Especially feeling the way he was, two days after captaining Wellington to a Mitre 10 Cup win over North Harbour. “I’d actually...
Blues get All Black front row quartet
The Blues will boast four All Black front rowers next year with prop Nepo Laulala joining the Auckland based super rugby franchise on a two year deal. Laulala, who turns 29 next month, has been with the Chiefs for the past five years and with the Crusaders prior to that. He joins fellow All Black...
Agreement signed to broadcast inaugural Fiji Bitter Dranikula 7s live
An exclusive agreement has been signed between the Dranikula Sevens Organising Committee and Fiji Television Ltd to broadcast the 2020 Fiji Bitter Dranikula 7s tournament on its free to air channel Fiji One. The tournament will be held over two days at Thompson Park in Navua from November 6-7, 2020. It has been confirmed there...
Wales captain Jones on cusp of equalling test cap record
(Reuters) – Wales captain Alun Wyn Jones will equal the record for most test appearances if he plays on Saturday against France in Paris. The 35-year-old lock is expected to be selected by coach Wayne Pivac on Thursday when he names the matchday squad for the game at Stade de France, which is a warm-up...
Rugby: Pumas eager for game time after isolation release
SYDNEY (Reuters) – Argentina coach Mario Ledesma is glad to be out of isolation after spending two weeks in a bio-secure facility in Sydney and says he is looking forward to his side getting some much-needed game time ahead of the Rugby Championship. Ledesma was among more than a dozen Pumas players and staff to...
Test rugby return means adjustments for Wales, says Tipuric
CARDIFF (Reuters) – Wales loose forward Justin Tipuric anticipates some adjustment for himself and his team mates as test rugby in the northern hemisphere returns this weekend after the COVID-19 hiatus. “Everyone knows it’s different, even the build-up is much quieter than normal which is a bit weird,” he said amid a lockdown in Wales...
21st October
Training an oasis for Ireland amid COVID-19 constraints, says Sexton
DUBLIN (Reuters) – Training offers some normality to Ireland’s rugby players amid the COVID-19 pandemic, captain Johnny Sexton said on Tuesday after tough new restrictions were imposed on the country at the start of the week. “The most normal thing we’re doing at the moment is rugby training. We don’t have to wear masks, we...
Jetsetters keep low profile against trophy holders
The Nadi rugby team has opted to keep a low profile in its buildup to the Farebrother Sullivan Trophy challenge against holders Namosi this Saturday. The double-header match is a crucial one for both teams in their bid to cement their Skipper Cup semi-final spot. Nadi has recorded a mixed bag of results in the...
Levuka boy joins All Blacks
“They were dancing in New Zealand and we were dancing here.” These were the words of Tony Lagicere when the news came that his nephew George Bower had made the All Blacks squad for the 2020 Tri-Nations Series. “George’s parents called from New Zealand, and when they told us he had been called up again,...
Boost for Savusavu 7s
An extra boost for the 13th Fiji Bitter Savusavu 7s with apparel sponsors BKL coming on board to outfit officials at next week’s tournament. “We are privledged and honoured and give a small sponsorship to the Savusavu 7s,’ said BLK sales consultant team leader central Suka Taufa. “We are grateful to the organising body for...
Doviverata: We learn valuable lesson ahead of top flight return
The Ro Alivereti Doviverata coached Rewa team has learnt valuable lessons in the Vodafone Vanua Championship this season which will help in their transition back into the Skipper Cup next year. Rewa defeated Nanukuloa 22-13 in the semi-final at Garvey Park in Tavua last Saturday to gain automatic promotion to the top flight together with...
Lakeba ready to learn
The Lakeba Rugby Union is eager to learn all they can when they host Vodafone Vanua Championship finalist Rewa on Lakeba in December. Lakeba Rugby Union president Seniteteva Diloi said they had accepted an approach from the Rewa Rugby Union for the 2021 Skipper Cup entrants to tour the island. “It is a great initiative...
Suva clubs to crown new rugby winner
A new Escott Shield champion will be crowned in this year’s 2020 Suva Rugby Union club games. Defending champion Army Green was bundled out of the competition going down to a strong Ratu Kadavulevu School Old Boys Rugby Club )RKSOB) by 17-12. Suva Rugby secretary Tevita Tuiloa said the results at this year’s club games...
Panthers v Storm: Kikau back on deck; Melbourne unchanged
SYDNEY, 21 OCTOBER 2020 (NRL) – Is a fairytale finish looming for arguably the greatest player of all time, or will youthful exuberance and confidence take a special group of kids to the top? Melbourne and Penrith will meet in the 2020 Telstra Premiership decider having been the two best teams all year, finishing second...
Fijian George Bower and Du’Plessis Kirifi brought into All Blacks squad for Rugby Championship in Australia
AUCKLAND, 21 OCTOBER 2020 (NZ HERALD) – The All Blacks have revealed their squad for the Rugby Championship in Australia – and it includes two somewhat surprising additions. Otago prop and Fijian George Bower and Wellington loose forward Du’Plessis Kirifi, who are both uncapped will join as cover. The moves come due to the head...
Fijian XV coach Seruvakula ready for the challenge
SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2020 (FRU) – Fijian XV coach Senirusi Seruvakula is ready to take up the challenge and lead our first national 15’s women’s team to the Rugby World Cup in New Zealand next year. After his appointment this week, Seruvakula said: “It’s something new for me as a coach.” He added: “I have...
Flying Fijians half-back Frank Lomani ready for the task in Europe
SUVA, 21 OCTOBER 2020 (FRU) – Flying Fijians star half-back Frank Lomani has regarded himself as one of the fortune players who have been given a chance to play in the Autumn Nations Cup in Europe next month. Lomani said “It was a dream of so many former Flying Fijians reps to play in this...
Pacific battle in rugby series
RAROTONGA, 21 OCTOBER 2020 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) – Cook Islands Rugby Union will host a Tri Series between Cook Islands, Samoa and Fiji, starting mid of next month. The top players from these countries residing in Rarotonga will be battling each other in the three-match series to be played weekly. Simiona Teiotu, the president of...
Forwards called into All Blacks squad for Tri Nations
Two new players have been called into the All Blacks squad for the Tri Nations tournament in Australia. Otago and Crusaders prop George Bower and Wellington loose forward and captain Du’Plessis Kirifi will join the squad as prop and loose forward cover respectively, with prop Joe Moody going through HIA (head injury assessment) protocols and fellow prop Nepo Laulala...
Rugby: Women’s World Cup holders NZ top seeds for 2021 draw
WELLINGTON (Reuters) – New Zealand, England and Canada were confirmed as the top three seeds for the women’s 2021 Rugby World Cup after the game’s governing body opted to use rankings from the start of the year with southern hemisphere teams unable to play due to COVID-19 curbs. The draw for the tournament will be...
Bristol can step in if Wasps can’t play Premiership final
(Reuters) – Bristol Bears Director of Rugby Pat Lam has said they are ready to step in and play in the Premiership final if Wasps are unable to do so due to an outbreak of COVID-19. Wasps, who thrashed Bristol 47-24 in the semi-final earlier this month, have recorded 11 COVID-19 positives in two rounds...
20th October
Boost for young team
A non-government organisation – Healing, Counselling and Development Ministry, Fiji – has come onboard as the sponsor of a local rugby sevens team which also includes a business development program for the team members in the long run. Members of the Infinity Nabouwalu Selection Rugby sevens team yesterday received a timely boost from the NGO...
Namosi plots game plan for Nadi in double-header
The Namosi rugby team will ensure that the players are prepared well to successfully defend the coveted Farebrother-Sullivan Trophy against Nadi this Saturday. The match will serve as a double-header in the penultimate round of the Skipper Cup competition. Namosi goes into the fixture on a high note after defeating Lautoka 20-16 at Churchill Park...
Tuisova tears up defence
Flying Fiijan winger Josua Tuisova will enter the Autumn Nations Cup in rampaging form after scoring a hat-trick for Lyon thrashing Bayonne 62-10 at home during the French Top 14 on Sunday. The Votua Village in Ba native scored two tries in the first half and a third in the second and set up two...
Tony Brown replaces Aaron Mauger at Highlanders
Tony Brown has been named as the Highlanders new coach. Brown replaces Aaron Mauger who left after Super Rugby Aotearoa last month following the completition of his three year contract. The former Otago, Highlanders and All Black first five, who was an assistant under Mauger this year, has signed a two year contract. Brown was...
Vanua Championship: Lakeba Rugby eager to host Rewa for two-match exhibition
The Lakeba Rugby Union is looking forward to host 2021 Skipper Cup entrants Rewa in December for a two match exhibition on the island. “We had approached our weka in Rewa in the hopes of lifting the game in Lakeba, as well as strengthening the bonds between our two vanuas,” said Lakeba Rugby Union president Seniteteva...
‘I was about to cry’: Why Kikau feared his season was over
SYDNEY, 20 OCTOBER 2020 (SMH)—A teary Viliame Kikau has revealed he feared he had blown his chance at winning an NRL premiership after being suspended during the finals as Penrith prepare to unleash their most lethal attacking weapon on Melbourne. Kikau, who sat nervously in the ANZ Stadium grandstand as Penrith squeezed past South Sydney...
