Rugby – Tonga

Former All Black George Moala will miss all of Tonga’s World Cup pool matches at the Rugby World Cup in France next month.

World Rugby has announced that Moala will have to sit out five matches after being red-carded for a spear tackle in the ‘Ikale Tahi’s first test match against Canada in Nuku’alofa on August 10.

It comes after England’s Owen Farrell had his red card rescinded for a similar offence against Wales leading to anger among many players and commentators.

The disciplinary committee felt the offence warranted a sanction of 10 matches but reduced this to five.

Super Rugby – schedule

The 2024 Super Rugby competition will kick-off on February 23 with the repeat of the 2023 final between the Crusaders and the Chiefs.

Pacific teams the Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika play their first games the following day.

The Drua meet the Blues in round one and Moana Pasifika faces the Highlanders.

The two teams then clash in round two, when all the 12 teams head to AAMI Park in Melbourne for the ‘Super Round’.

Futsal – Solomons

Solomon Islands futsal coach Damon Shaw says a lack of fitness is the main reason for the team’s poor run of results ahead of October’s Oceania Futsal Cup.

In the recent Continental Cup in Bangkok, the Kurukuru suffered heavy defeats against Myanmar, Thailand and Mozambique.

Shaw told the Oceania Football Centre the team needs to improve its fitness to compete at a high level.

He said this would take time and he still believed in the talent and ability of his team.

The Englishman also said true champions show themselves after defeat and he expects the Kurukuru to bounce back.

Rugby league – Oceania series

A new Pacific Rugby League Championship event will kick-off in October, with matches spread out in Australia, Papua New Guinea and New Zealand.

Losing 2022 Rugby League World Cup finalist Samoa will play against Australia and New Zealand.

Tonga, who are touring England this spring, will meet New Zealand A in a one-off match while the Cook Islands, Fiji and Papua New Guinea have a round-robin schedule.

The women’s competition will feature a full schedule involving Australia, New Zealand, Cook Island, Tonga, Fiji, Samoa and Papua New Guinea.

Rugby league – Samoa

Rugby League Samoa has a new executive committee to take them into the 2025 Rugby League World Cup.

This follows the annual general meeting held in July.

Fiu Faaolatane Ponifasio Vasa is the new president, while other new committee members are vice pesident Toilolo Klaus Stunzner, Laulu Lafao Leauanae Tuugatiti Leo Leauanae as secretary and Tavui Mike Lemisio as treasurer.

Cricket – Cook Islands

The Cook Islands Cricket Association has named its squad for the East Asia Pacific qualifying tournament, to be played from September 1 in Vanuatu.

This is the first step towards qualification for the ICC Women’s T20 World Cup to be played in Bangladesh in 2024.

The 14-member team will be captained by June George and coached by Tomakanute Ritawa.

The association says the team has an average age of 27 and is a mix of locally-based players and New Zealanders with Cook Islands heritage.

Boxing – exhibition

The much-anticipated exhibition fight in Port Moresby between ageing ex-champions Manny Pacquiao and Anthony Mundine appears to be off.

The fight, which could have raked in millions for the local economy, was originally slated for June, then rescheduled for September.

However, Pacquiao, a world champion in eight weight divisions, has talked of his next project, an exhibition fight in the new year.

Media in Manila is reporting the Pac-Man as preparing for a match-up against Muay Thai legend Buakaw Banchamek.

Asked by local media about his plans to return to the ring professionally, Pacquiao talked of a “tune-up” exhibition match without mentioning Mundine, the Australian former super-middleweight champion.