Four players of Samoan heritage have been named in the New Zealand Kiwis starting squad to face Australia tonight, with the Kangaroos also bringing Samoan and Tongan heritage to the opening clash of their RLWC 2026 campaigns.

Jamayne Isaako, Ronaldo Mulitalo, Moses Leota and Isaiah Papali’i will feature in the Kiwis starting line-up, while the wider squad includes further players of Māori and Pacific heritage.

Erin Clark, who is of Samoan and Māori heritage, and Naufahu Whyte, who is of Samoan and Tongan heritage, have been named on the interchange bench.

Kano Kini and Jacob Laban, both of Samoan and Māori heritage, are listed among the reserves.

Australia will also have Pacific representation on the field, with Samoan Tino Fa’asuamaleaui named in the Kangaroos starting side.

Tongan heritage is represented by interchange players Keaon Koloamatangi and David Fifita, who also has Torres Strait Islander heritage.…more

“If more pacific islanders did grappling sports we would have more champions.”

At just seven years old, Achillea Hennessy has already won four world championship titles in jiu-jitsu, but her father Trevor believes her achievements point to something much bigger.

The young athlete recently claimed her fourth world title at the Sport Jiu-Jitsu International Federation (SJJF) World Championships in Tokyo, Japan, winning the 7-8-year-old girls’ medium-heavyweight division.

We spoke to her father Trevor, who shared how Achillea’s journey began, the challenges she faced competing against older children and why keeping her Pacific heritage at the centre of family life matters to him.

Achillea has strong Pacific ties through both sides of her family. Her paternal grandmother is from Lakeba, Lau, while her mother is fully Tongan.

Trevor says keeping that connection to their culture is important to the family.

“Her Tongan heritage is something that means a lot to me personally.…more

The girl to watch: 17-year-old Alaina Lauitiiti is a force in women’s rugby league

“My parents and their hard work to provide for our family. Look up to my mum's work ethic and dad's generosity.”

For 17-year-old Alaina Lauitiiti, her biggest inspirations are the people who raised her.

But on the rugby league field, the Papatoetoe teenager is quickly becoming an inspiration in her own right.

At an age when most players are still finding their feet in the sport, Alaina has already stepped into women’s rugby league and won the Steele-Shanks Premiereship cup!

She was the youngest player in her Otahuhu women’s side this season, going up against experienced players years older than her while consistently finding the try line and becoming a standout defender and ball carrier.

And according to her teammates, her age is one of the most surprising things about her game.

“I loved playing alongside Alaina. She is such a strong defender and carrier of the ball,” fellow Otahuhu player Georgia Wharton-Benedict says.…more

“Growing up Pacific Islander, all we had was each other; all the sacrifices our people had to make to give us the opportunity to play at the next level, especially at Stanford, make this a dream come true!”

Those are the words of Stanford sophomore linebacker Landon McComber, who says the university’s upcoming Pacific Islander Heritage Celebration is about much more than football.

Stanford Football will celebrate Pacific Islander heritage during its season opener against Hawai‘i on Saturday, unveiling a special collaboration that brings Pacific culture into its game-day look.

The Cardinal will take to the field in its traditional white helmets featuring a unique stripe across the centre, incorporating a tribal pattern celebrating Pacific Islander heritage.

The team will also wear red facemasks, marking the first time Stanford has featured the look with its white helmet since its 2017 game against Notre Dame.

Off the field, Stanford has teamed up with Island Avenue to create a special Pacific-inspired apparel collection, including tracksuits, shirts, hats and more.…more

For Saula Ma’u, it took just two weeks to go from playing for Otago to pulling on the black jersey he had dreamed about his whole life.

The Highlanders prop made his All Blacks debut in Johannesburg, coming off the bench during New Zealand’s thrilling 41-35 win over the British & Irish Lions.

And after the final whistle, Ma’u struggled to hold back the emotion.

The 23-year-old was called into the All Blacks squad as an injury replacement for Ollie Norris, with his opportunity coming far sooner than he could have imagined.

“It was unreal. A couple of weeks ago I was back at home playing for Otago, and then two weeks later, I'm playing for the All Blacks,” Ma’u said.

For a young prop who had spent years chasing the dream of representing New Zealand, stepping onto the field in an All Blacks jersey was a moment he will never forget.…more

The Pacific stars joining the PNG Chiefs for 2028 

The PNG Chiefs are already making a major statement ahead of their historic entry into the NRL in 2028, building a squad with strong connections to Papua New Guinea and the wider Pacific.

Among the club's first signings are some of rugby league's biggest Pacific names, including Samoan stars Jarome Luai and Brian To'o, Papua New Guinean icon Alex Johnston, and New Zealand international Joseph Manu, who has Māori and Cook Islands heritage.

🇼🇸 Jarome Luai | Player 001

The four-time premiership winner and Samoan international was announced as the Chiefs' inaugural signing, becoming Player 001.

Luai has signed through 2029, with an option for 2030, and will be one of the key figures around whom the new club builds its inaugural squad.

The Chiefs say Luai's Pacific identity, family values and pride in his heritage reflect the culture they want to establish from day one.

🇵🇬 Alex Johnston | Player 002

For Papua New Guineans, perhaps the most significant signing so far is Alex Johnston.…more

By Iliesa Tora Via RNZ 

All players playing at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup will be paid AU$850 per week as a standard match fee, but individual federations can pay their players more if they can afford to.

The International Rugby League clarified this to RNZ Pacific on Thursday, following reports that some member associations are concerned that Australian players are reportedly due to receive AU$40,000 flat payment per player.

That deal is being reported to have been made between the Australian Rugby League Commission (ARLC) and the Rugby League Players' Association (RLPA).

That match fee will be equally paid to both male and female players in both the Kangaroos and the Jillaroos teams.

In contrast, players from Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga will receive AU$2,550 for three weeks; AU$3,440 if their team makes the top four; and AU$4,250 if they reach the final.

International Rugby League Secretary General Danny Kazandjian

IRL

RLWC 2026 is being held in October, joint hosted by Australia, PNG and New Zealand.…more

Samoan heavyweight Joseph Parker says he is feeling "relieved" and grateful after his suspension was lifted, clearing the way for his return to the ring later this year.

The former WBO heavyweight world champion had been provisionally suspended by UK Anti-Doping (UKAD) after a voluntary drug test following his October 2025 fight against Britain's Fabio Wardley returned a positive result for a cocaine metabolite.

UKAD investigated the result and found the positive test came from contamination linked to Parker's nutritionist, who admitted to using cocaine regularly. They found it was not connected to Parker taking the substance himself or trying to gain an advantage in boxing, allowing him to return to the sport.

Speaking ahead of this weekend's David Nyika vs Floyd Masson fight card in Auckland, Parker said the decision had brought relief not only to himself, but to the people who stood by him throughout the process.

"A sense of relief, sense of gratitude for all those who stuck by me and for those who've helped get me to where I am today, and just happy," Parker said.…more

As the curtain closes on the 2026 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, we take a look at some of our Pacific athletics stars who narrowly missed the podium but still made history, producing national records, personal bests and season's bests on the international stage.

Max Teuruaa – Cook Islands

(Pictured in thumbnail)

Cook Islands decathlete Max Teuruaa delivered a standout performance in Glasgow, setting a new national record in the men's decathlon.

Teuruaa finished the event with 6,434 points, surpassing his previous national record of 6,337 points. He also equalled the Cook Islands national pole vault record, clearing 4.00m during the decathlon competition.

Kenaz Kaniwete – Kiribati

Kiribati sprinter Kenaz Kaniwete made history in the men's 100m, breaking his own national record with a time of 10.89 seconds.

His performance was another milestone for Kiribati athletics, showcasing the continued growth of Pacific sprinting on the international stage.

Alex Rose – Samoa

Samoan discus thrower Alex Rose came close to a medal finish, placing fourth in the men's discus competition.…more