Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 1
New 'mana enhancing' inclusive rugby team debuts in Auckland
A new inclusive rugby team based in Auckland is welcoming all players of different backgrounds, ages and sexual orientation, especially Pasifika Rainbow and Takatāpui individuals.
Te Papapa Wolves made their debut last month.
It is the second inclusive rugby team established in New Zealand, taking their place alongside the New Zealand Falcons which was established in 2013.
Photo: Susana Suisuiki
Speaking to Pacific Waves, Te Papapa Wolves co-founder Jay Fa'ata Vaeluaga said the idea of the team was inspired by past rugby players who wanted a Pacific kaupapa inclusive rugby team in New Zealand.
Approaching Auckland Rugby with the idea, Vaeluaga said he was then referred to the Te Papapa rugby club leadership and from there he was able to convince the board to create a team.
Vaeluaga said Te Papapa Wolves is a team rooted in Pacific values.
Having played for mainstream rugby teams in the past, Vaeluaga said his experiences were mostly positive, but because rugby is traditionally a "very masculine, very structured, very patriarchal" sport, he was not able to be his authentic self.…more
Samoa’s New Boxing Stars Shine at Fight for Independence 64
The N.U.S. Gym in Apia was buzzing on Friday night as Fight for Independence 64 delivered a thrilling night of boxing, with Samoan debutants Jolando Ta’ala and Saliuafi Tuautu both kicking off their professional careers with impressive wins over Fiji.
Fresh off being named Best Male Boxer at the Pacific Nations Cup, Ta’ala put on a clinic in the Cruiserweight division, using his speed, footwork and sharp combinations to outclass experienced Fijian opponent Sainivalati Ratu.
In the Light Heavyweight main event, Samoa team captain Tuautu made a statement of his own. The Savai’i fighter dropped Fiji’s Eliseo Cakaunivalu with a huge right hand in the second round before cruising to a unanimous decision victory.
The event was another big step forward for Samoan boxing, with Independent Boxing Samoa and boxing legend David Tua continuing to build pathways for local fighters to transition from the amateur ranks to the professional stage.
"It’s been a privilege and honour to be training our future leaders of Samoan boxing, and I believe moving back here to Samoa is God’s timing.…more
Tongan Olympians’ Son Tolu Koula Set For State of Origin Debut at Same Stadium as His Parents
More than two decades after his mother proudly carried the Tongan flag around Stadium Australia during the opening ceremony of the 2000 Sydney Olympics, Tolu Koula is preparing for a special moment of his own at the same iconic venue.
The son of former Tongan Olympians Ana Siulolo Liku and Tolutau Koula Snr, the dynamic Manly Sea Eagles star will return to the same stadium where his family once represented Tonga on the world stage when he makes his State of Origin debut for the NSW Blues.
“It’s pretty crazy to make my Origin debut where my parents kind of competed at the Olympics,” Koula said.
“It’s pretty special. I didn’t even think of that, so it’s pretty mad.”
One of six debutants named by Laurie Daley in the Blues’ 19-man squad, Koula’s selection caps off a remarkable rise for the 24-year-old who has developed into one of the NRL’s deadliest players whenever the ball enters his hands.…more
Could Ulberg be our new poster boy to the world?
Dr Hoani Smith, Dr Phillip Borell, Lefaoali’i Associate Professor Dion Enari
There’s something bigger here than just another UFC win.
When Carlos Ulberg steps into the Octagon, most see the obvious. Athleticism, composure, and the finish. But this one was different. It was a moment. Because this isn’t just about winning a championship anymore. It’s about building a global presence.
Whether we like it or not, Ulberg is carrying something bigger than himself. He’s carrying us and our country.
New Zealand is known for punching above our weight on the world stage. Names like Jacinda Ardern, Lorde, or Russell Crowe, doing it large on the big stage. They shape how people see us. Ulberg’s starting to do that too. Just in a different arena.
He’s Māori and Samoan. He’s calm, measured, and doesn’t need to be loud to be noticed. In a sport where a lot of people lean into hype, he’s gone the other way, and it’s working. Remember, influence doesn’t just sit with politicians anymore.…more
Tafi Breaks Oceania Clean & Jerk Record as Samoan Weightlifting Stars Shine
John Tafi has broken the Oceania Senior Men’s 71kg clean and jerk record, lifting an incredible 172kg at the IBFC Universal Weightlifting Cup.
The Samoan star delivered a dominant performance in the 71kg division, completing a clean sweep and taking control of the competition from the very beginning.
He opened with a strong 140kg lift in the snatch, immediately putting pressure on his competitors. But it was in the clean and jerk where he made history, powering through the 172kg lift to set a new Oceania record and seal gold in emphatic fashion. The lift not only secured his victory but also confirmed his status as one of the region’s most exciting and in-form weightlifters.
Fellow Samoan representing NZ, Olivia Selemaia continued her impressive rise with a record-breaking lift of her own, hitting 124kg in the clean and jerk in the 69kg division to set a new Oceania mark. The young Samoan Kiwi has been steadily gaining recognition and remains one to watch as she climbs the international rankings.…more
Boxing Samoa Squad Wins 19 Medals at Pacific Nations Cup
“Despite our limited resources, IBS strives to provide our young fighters the international pathways they deserve,” - IBS President Tavu’i Mike Lemisio.
Samoa has dominated the Pacific Nations Cup in Suva, Fiji, bringing home an impressive 19 medals, 12 gold and 7 silver, in a commanding performance across both elite and youth divisions.
The result builds on last month’s Youth World Cup success in Thailand, where Samoa also secured gold and silver, further highlighting the rapid rise of Independent Boxing Samoa (IBS) on the international stage.
Led by Lemisio and head trainer, boxing legend Faumuina To’aletai David Tua, the team’s success reflects weeks of intense preparation, combining high-level training with a strong spiritual foundation. Their efforts were backed by a dedicated coaching and management group working behind the scenes.
“We could only send a small team… but we hope to one day field a full team covering all weight classes and genders for all world events,” Lemisio said.…more
Samoa Wins 6 Gold Medals at World Muay Thai Championship | Exclusive Fighter & Coach Interviews
Samoa’s first-ever Muay Thai team has made history at the 21st World Muay Thai Championship in Thailand, bringing home three gold medals.
In this exclusive video, fighters and coaches (Eti Naseri, Felise Sua Pitone, Nooroa Anguna) share their journey, challenges, and what it means to represent Samoa on the world stage. Featuring insights from the team behind this historic campaign and the next generation inspired by legends like Ray Sefo, Joseph Parker and Mark Hunt.
Credits
Camp Op & Editor: Tui Akauola
Interveiwer: Destiny Momoisea
Gym: Ghost Fist Lee Gar
Pacific athletes shine at Polynesian Track and Field Championships in Auckland
“I really hope the games are inspiring to the youth, and maybe give them more examples of excellence in sport outside of the typical avenues they are used to seeing with maybe rugby, football and so on.” - Alex Rose
More than 100 athletes from across the Pacific gathered in Auckland this month for the return of the Polynesian Track and Field Championships, held alongside the New Zealand Track and Field Championships at Trusts Arena from 5 to 8 March.
The championships returned after a decade away, bringing together competitors from across the Moana in an event that celebrates both sport and culture. Delivered by Athletics New Zealand in partnership with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade, the meet also serves as an important stepping stone ahead of a busy international athletics season, including the Oceania Athletics Championships in Darwin, the Commonwealth Games and the World Under 20 Championships.…more
Dave Rennie: The First All Blacks Head Coach of Pasifika Heritage
"I’m honoured to represent the Cook Islands"
New Zealand rugby has reached a landmark moment. Dave Rennie, of Cook Islands descent through his mother from Titikaveka, Rarotonga, has been named Head Coach of the All Blacks through to the 2027 Rugby World Cup. This makes him the first coach of Pasifika heritage to take the reins of Aotearoa’s most iconic rugby team.
For many of us in the Pacific community, this is more than a coaching appointment—it’s a milestone that reflects the significant impact Pacific peoples have had on rugby in New Zealand. A large percentage of Super Rugby and All Blacks players are of Pacific descent, yet this is the first time one of our own has led the team from the top. Rennie’s appointment sends a powerful message: Pacific people belong at every level of rugby, from grassroots to the pinnacle of the game.
Rennie spoke proudly of his heritage at his first press conference. “She [my mother] was hardworking, inspirational… I know she’d be really proud. I’m honoured to represent the Cook Islands,” he said.…more
Destanee Aiava Blasts ‘Racist and Misogynistic’ Tennis Culture as She Announces Shock Retirement
“Behind the white outfits and traditions is a culture that's racist, misogynistic, homophobic and hostile to anyone who doesn’t fit its mould.” Destanee Aiava slams racsim in professional tennis
When you carry the hopes of your people onto a stage that was never designed with you in mind, the weight is different.
Samoan Australian tennis player Destanee Aiava has announced that 2026 will be her final year in professional tennis, closing a chapter that began when she was just a teenager with a racquet and a dream. For many across the Pacific diaspora, she was more than a ranking - she was representation, a brown girl in white tennis gear, standing in spaces that have historically excluded people who look like her.
In a powerful and deeply personal statement, Aiava reflected on the cost of dedicating her entire life to the sport.
“From the moment I had my first lesson at Casey Tennis Club, my entire life was tennis,” she wrote.…more