The Fiji Times

Joshua and Fury’s ‘super bout’ in doubt

Tyson Fury has been ordered to fight Deontay Wilder for a third time, casting doubt over a proposed August super bout with Anthony Joshua. Fury, 32, won the WBC world heavyweight title from Wilder in a rematch in February 2020 after an initial draw. The pair were due to fight again but delays caused by...

Tactix and Stars winners in ANZ Premiership

In an extra-time cliffhanger that went down to the final seconds, the Mainland Tactix reversed their one-goal loss to the Northern Mystics a fortnight ago in the ANZ Premiership and pulled off a 64-63 victory at Christchurch Arena. In a high-scoring fast-paced round five fixture, Mystics goal shoot Grace Nweke shot 59 from 64 attempts,...

Hannah Wilkinson is the unlucky Football Fern who’s now on song for Tokyo

Football Ferns striker Hannah Wilkinson is hoping to bring up 100 caps for her country at the Tokyo Olympics. She’s done it the hard way in a career full of ups and downs. It’s almost midnight and Hannah Wilkinson can’t sleep. It’s freezing outside in the northwest of Germany as she looks out her window...

Zac Guildford selected for Wairarapa Bush squad following assault sentencing

Former All Black Zac Guildford has been selected for the Wairarapa Bush training squad, just a month after his name suppression bid for punching a woman in the face was declined. The 32-year-old, who calls Wairarapa his “home” where he feels “most grounded”, said he still enjoys playing rugby and the game gives him a...

Warriors wing Ken Maumalo gives his support to NRL’s crackdown on hits to head

Warriors wing Ken Maumalo says he backs the NRL’s controversial new stance on head high tackles. Last weekend wad the Magic Round and depending on people’s view, it was ruined by the referees’ clampdown on foul play. In total, there were 14 players sin-binned and three sending offs over the eight games. It led to...

More than 200 attend event as teqball takes hold in American Samoa

PAGOPAGO, 18 MAY 2021 (INSIDE THE GAMES)—More than 200 people took part in a teqball event organised in American Samoa. Training sessions and activities were run by the American Samoa Teqball Federation as part of its efforts to boost the sport in the territory. Most of those in attendance were under the age of 23, with the...

Va’a, tennis and weightlifting officially added to 2022 Pacific Mini Games

SAIPAN, 18 MAY 2021 (INSIDE THE GAMES)—Weightlifting, tennis and va’a have been formally added to the programme for the next Pacific Mini Games, scheduled to take place in June 2022 in the Northern Mariana Islands (CNMI). The host nation had been advocating for adding weightlifting and tennis, believing it would boost the CNMI’s medal hopes, and outrigger canoe...

Samusamuvodre inks deal with USA club

Former national Under-20 and Fiji Warriors captain Tuidraki Samusamuvodre has signed or the New England Free Jacks side for the 2021 Major League Rugby in the USA. The backline player was also part of the Flying Fijians at the 2020 Autumn Nations Cup. “I’m delighted to be joining the New England Free Jacks and very...

All Blacks line up Tonga, Fiji in July

WELLINGTON, 18 MAY 2021 (AAP) – New Zealand will host pan-Pacific clashes in July, with Fiji, Tonga and Samoa all visiting for rugby Tests. Despite a fierce off-field battle with their governing body, the All Blacks have locked in their return to international competition with three Tests against Pacific opposition in July. New Zealand will...

Clayton Lewis re-signs with Wellington Phoenix ahead of homecoming game

Local lad Clayton Lewis should get to experience more than just one game at Sky Stadium after signing a two-year contract extension with Wellington Phoenix ahead of Saturday’s homecoming fixture. The New Zealand international has been rewarded for his strong debut season in the A-League after cementing himself as a regular starter in central midfield...

Super Rugby: Would it have been so bad if Force had beaten the Chiefs

Quoting Oscar Wilde at a time like this may add to Domingo Miotti’s discomfort. “There is only one thing in life worse than being talked about, and that is not being talked about,’’ stated Wilde. If Irish poet Wilde hadn’t flipped off his twig in 1900, Western Force first five-eighth Miotti might have pushed out...

Nick Willis looking forward to quiet Olympics

Strict Covid-19 rules will kill the party vibe at the Tokyo Olympics Athletes’ Village and that is just fine for New Zealand’s veteran middle distance runner Nick Willis, who will relish some peace and quiet before competing at his fifth Games. Athletes will check in soon before their event and check out quickly after to...

Serena Williams posts first win in more than three months as French Open looms

Serena Williams earned her first victory in more than three months by beating 17-year-old qualifier Lisa Pigato 6-3, 6-2 on Tuesday morning (NZ time) in the first round of the Emilia-Romagna Open. Williams, who accepted a wild-card invitation for the Parma tournament after losing her opening match at the Italian Open last week, dominated after...

Feisty Black Caps ready to duke it out with England and India

New Zealand fast bowler Neil Wagner believes some meticulous planning has the Black Caps positioned to hit the ground running for their tour of England. It’s a crucial visit with two tests against England leading into the World Test Championship final against India. Wagner and Tim Southee, Ross Taylor and BJ Watling, left Auckland on...

French rugby gives green light to transgender women

The French Rugby Federation (FFR) is going against World Rugby guidelines and will allow transgender women to play women’s rugby next season. World Rugby said last year that after considerable research, it concluded “that safety and fairness cannot presently be assured for women competing against trans women in contact rugby”. However, it added that it...

All Blacks to play Tonga at Mt Smart Stadium

The All Blacks will play at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland for the first time when they host Tonga in July. New Zealand Rugby has confirmed the dates and venues for the Tests against Tonga and Fiji. Italy were originally scheduled to tour here, but cancelled due to concerns around travelling during the coronavirus pandemic....

Wounded PNG Hunters welcome much-need break

The Papua New Guinea Hunters rugby league team are looking forward to a break after using every available player in Sunday’s 48-14 defeat by the Souths Logan Magpies. The visitors only trailed 12-10 at the interval but conceded six second half tries against a Magpies team that featured NRL players Tom Dearden, Tesi Niu and...

Samoa Rugby Union completes rebrand to Lakapi Samoa

The Samoa Rugby Union has officially rebranded itself as Lakapi Samoa, in a move it claims will “revitalise” and “reinvigorate” the organisation. The revamp, which includes a new logo depicting the Teuila flower, was first announced six months ago at the Union’s 2020 Annual General Meeting where affiliated members unanimously approved the adoption of a...

Home grown Bati – Local based players fight for RLWC selection

THE Fiji Bati team to the 2021 Rugby League World Cup in England later this year is expected to include some local based players. And with the continued good performance by the Kaiviti Silktails in the Ron Massey Cup competition in Sydney, Fiji National Rugby League acting chief executive officer, Don Natabe, said he was...

It’s a Pasifika July, with All Blacks to meet Fiji and Tonga, NZ Maori to face Samoa

New Zealand Rugby have confirmed a Pasifika-themed July international schedule, with the All Blacks, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and New Zealand Māori gathering for a busy month of matches in Aotearoa. In the end the compromise, with its Pacific cultural twist, was the best that could be managed after Italy withdrew from its scheduled two-test tour...

Goalkeeper Alisson scores Liverpool’s winner

Liverpool goalkeeper Alisson made the 80m journey into West Bromwich Albion’s penalty area, more in hope than any expectation of scoring the stoppage-time goal that would keep alive his team’s chances of qualifying for the Champions League. After all, he’d never scored a goal in his career. No Liverpool ‘keeper had in the club’s 129-year...

Chiefs re-sign front rowers Samisoni Taukei’aho and Aidan Ross

Front rowers Samisoni Taukei’aho and Aidan Ross have inked new deals with the Chiefs. Hooker Taukei’aho has recommitted to the Hamilton-based franchise through 2024, while loosehead prop Ross has signed through 2023. Taukei’aho has developed into a powerful rake with a devastating running game since joining the Chiefs as an injury replacement in 2017. The...

New Zealand men’s rowing eight qualifies for Tokyo Olympics

The New Zealand men’s rowing eight is off to the Tokyo Olympics – and in the hunt for a medal. Needing a top-two finish in their field of four at the Olympic qualifying regatta in Lucerne, Switzerland, the Kiwi crew won the final on Sunday night (NZ time) to book their spot for the Games...

Steel hold on for win after Taneisha Fifita ordered off

The Central Pulse’s title defence is in tatters following their fourth loss from five games to start the ANZ Premiership season. For the second time in three weeks, the Southern Steel prevailed over the Pulse, winning their first away game of the season 56-52 in Porirua on Sunday. The Pulse have lost three straight games...

Lakers’ LeBron James set to return vs. Pacers

The Los Angeles Lakers will have LeBron James back in the lineup for Saturday’s pivotal road game against the Indiana Pacers, coach Frank Vogel said Saturday. James participated in the team’s Friday practice and had been listed as questionable before Vogel’s announcement. James has missed six consecutive games since a brief, two-game return from a...

‘Dear Kobe, thank you’: Lakers legend Bryant enshrined in Hall of Fame

Los Angeles Lakers legend Kobe Bryant was inducted posthumously to the Naismith Memorial Basketball Hall of Fame on Saturday, as the class of 2020 was enshrined after months of delay due to the COVID-19 pandemic. The five-time NBA champion died last year aged 41 in a helicopter crash alongside his daughter and seven others, shocking...

Missed conversion costs Brumbies

Noah Lolesio missed the chance to earn the Brumbies a draw with the Crusaders in Christchurch on Saturday when he dragged his late conversion attempt wide, handing the New Zealanders a 31-29 trans-Tasman Super Rugby win. Tries from Tom Banks and Rob Valetini hauled the Brumbies back into the game after the Crusaders, winners of...

Federer calls for end to Tokyo Olympics uncertainty

Tennis star Roger Federer has called on Olympics organisers to end the uncertainty around the Tokyo Games, with the 20-times Grand Slam winner saying he was still in two minds whether to compete. The Olympics are set to run from July 23 to Aug. 8 after being postponed in March last year over the coronavirus...

Rookie kayaker qualifies NZ Olympic spot

Just 10 months after he first sat in a kayak, Corbin Hart has qualified a New Zealand boat in the KL3 200m for the Tokyo Paralympics. Hart, 26, finished seventh in the A final at the canoe-kayak sprint and paracanoe World Cup in Szeged, Hungary today. It was his first ever international regatta and just...

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