Jarryd Hayne training session!
Check out the first footage of Hayne working out with the 49ers!
San Francisco 49ers quarterback Colin Kaepernick - who also worked out with Hayne at a private facility during pre-season - called the NRL ace a “phenomenal athlete” and said he had all the tools to make it in American football.
Hayne has 125 days to prepare for what would be his first taste of American professional football if he makes San Francisco's 53-man roster when it's announced in August.
Tahiti breaks Ukulele Record!
Tahiti has made it into the Guiness Book of Records with the biggest band of Ukulele players in the world!
4750 participants gathered in Papeete at the weekend for the International Festival 'ukulele.
The participants played the song 'Bora Bora e' together in harmony for at least five minutes in order to meet Guinness record standards. And with almost 6,000 people from across the territory turning up, they beat the previous record of 2370 participants set in Britain last July.
Troy Polamalu retires after 12 NFL Seasons
As one of the most popular and highly paid players for the Pittsburgh Steelers, Polmalu is leaving to focus on his most important achievement - his family.
"Thank God football has provided me the ability to be able to sit back and see what the options are. But I'll definitely be the best father I can possibly be."
Born in the US, Polamalu is most famous for his amazing head of hair that was used to sell shampoo, as well as being awarded the 2010 defensive player of the year.
We wish the uso all the best for his future endeavours!
Tonga's first All Black
Did you know that the first Tongan All Black was Walter Batty?
Born in Tonga in 1905 to an English father and Tongan mother, Walter donned the black jersey 92 years ago in 1928.
He played as a loose forward, and was part of the team that took on the British and Irish Lions during their New Zealand Tour in 1930. Batty was also an Insurance Agent by profession, and joined the Royal New Zealand Artillery as a sargeant during the Second World War - where he won the Distinguished Conduct Medal after holding off an attack by Italian tanks until his unit could be reinforced. Singlehandedly. How's THAT for Tongan Power!
Read more on Walter Batty here!
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Here are all the Tongans who have rocked the All Blacks Jersey:
ARTHUR JENNINGS
Played for the All Blacks in 1967
He was also the first Fijian to play for the All Blacks (he is of Fijian & Tongan heritage) and is the uncle of current Mate Ma'a Tonga representatives Michael and his brother Robert.…more
Heilala helps Tonga rebuild
Check out the awesome work still going on to help rebuild Tonga's Tongatapu and Ha'apai islands!
Founded in 2014, Heilala is non-profit organisation that helps disadvantaged communities around the world. Over the years, they have witnessed millions of dollars' worth of furniture, equipment and IT simply sent to landfill, and decided to established a not-for-profit organisation that does something worthwhile with all of that invaluable merchandise.
Heilala worked with the Government of Tonga to rebuild Ha'apai's infrastructure with retired and donated products from Australia.
To donate or contact Heilala, check out their website!
The Rock Shakin' it Off on Lip Sync Battle
Check out Dwayne 'The Rock' Johnson rockin' it out to this Tay-Tay classic!
Proving that he's not only the man in the ring and in action movies, The Rock lays the smackdown on Jimmy Fallon on the new show Lip Sync Battle. Maybe he's getting ready for his role in the upcoming Disney movie Moana!
Girl on a Corner
After their sell-out season as part of the Auckland Arts Festival and Pride Festival, Girl on a Corner is back for a return season!
Early one morning in 1997 Eddie Murphy picked up Shalimar Seiuli, a Samoan fa'afafine, on Santa Monica Boulevard. Their encounter sparked an epic Hollywood media scandal. The next year Shalimar was dead. In Victor Rodger's Girl on a Corner, Shalimar gets to tell her brief life story and offer some variations on what may or may not have happened.
Girl on a Corner is the bold new work from the award-winning writer of Sons, My Name is Gary Cooper, Black Faggot and At The Wake.
Directed by Arts Laureates Anapela Polataivao and Vela Manusaute of the legendary Kila Kokonut Krew and stars Hope Lelei Prescott-Faletau as Shalimar, with Aleni Kilakokonutkrew Tufuga , Mika-Toloa Joanna Taufa Fisiinaua, Gabriel Halatoa, Sandy Fakaua and Hans Masoe.
Celebrating the life and work of Papa Joe Williams
Dr Joseph Williams MBChB, MPH, QSM,QSO
Te mamae nei te ngakau no tatou metua, Papa Joe Williams, tei takake atu na roto ite moe roa. Na te Atua te aroa kite kopu tangata e kia tatou katoatoa i roto i teia taime tumatetenga
It is with the deepest sadness that the Pasifika Medical Association announces the passing of their respected and much-loved Patron Dr Joseph Williams MBChB, MPH, QSM, QSO.
Dr Williams has served his country, the Cook Islands, his community in New Zealand and his many patients for more than 60 years. He spent 25 years in the Cook Islands and served as Minister of Health and Education in 1974 to 1978, Minister of Health, Tourism, Transport and State-Owned Enterprises from 1994 to 1996 and Prime Minister in 1999.
Dr Williams was born in Aitutaki, went to Northland College, graduated from Otago Medical School in 1960 and later completed a Master in Public Health at the University of Hawaii.…more
Australian Government moves to ban Kava imports
In a move that has shocked the Pacific Island community in Australia, the current allowance of 2 kilograms of kava per person will end in a bid to stop it's abuse.
Kava is already illegal in Northern Territory and Western Australian Aboriginal communities like Arnhem Land because of the health, social and financial impacts.
What do you think? Do you think that it's fair for a Pacific legacy to be banned? Read more on the story here!
Junior Seau - Pro Football Hall of Fame
The late Junior Seau will be inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame.
"One by one, the newest members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame stepped onto the stage as their names were called. When the eighth man elected Saturday, the late Junior Seau, was announced, his two sons stood with the group."
Photo Cred: Samoa Observer
Seau retired from pro football after the 2009 season. A standout on San Diego's only Super Bowl team, he was later inducted into the Chargers Hall of Fame and the team retired his number 55. Seau committed suicide with a gunshot wound to the chest in 2012 at the age of 43. Later studies by the National Institutes of Health (NIH) concluded that Seau suffered from chronic traumatic encephalopathy (CTE), a type of chronic brain damage that has also been found in other deceased former NFL players.
Your legacy lives on! Malo Lava Junior!