Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 28

In 2018, Tua Tagovailoa and his family returned home to Hawaii for the first time since moving to Alabama the year before.

Take a behind-the-scenes look, as the Tagovailoas reunited with family and friends for a celebration-filled week.

Check out the full five-part series, TUA | Homecoming here - you'll be transported to Tua's hometown of Ewa Beach and meet the people who helped raise him.

Para athlete Ben Tuimaseve has a dream of ‘cracking it’ in Tokyo next year.

When Paralympics New Zealand asked Ben why he is taking on this challenge and pursuing his Paralympic dream he said: “I just have to do it, I have to jump and as a Pacific Islander represent my people because no one I know has had a chance to do something like this. What’s the worst that is going to happen? I’d be healthier and just fall into a solid foundation of love. I have to be able to say I gave this an honest crack.”

Ben is grateful for the incredible family network that he has – his village aka the choir. Although the entire family are 100% behind his Paralympic dream, he highlights Jayde Tuimaseve (Sister), Marama Takai (Cousin), Christian Tukutama (Cousin). He draws on his love of music to describe his support network: “They are the background vocalists of the band, my support to staying in key when trying to crack Tokyo.”

Sky Sport NZ catches up with young Blues sensation Caleb Clarke & his former All Blacks’ and Blues legend father Eroni Clarke to find out about life and rugby growing up.

Via RNZ Pacific 

The new Manu Samoa rugby coach Seilala Mapusua has a plan to revive the perennial underachievers, although he's not quite sure when he'll be allowed back into the country.

The Moto'otua-born midfielder played 26 tests in the blue jersey and was part of the team that famously upset Australia in 2011.

But recent seasons have been a hard slog for Samoa, with the Manu slipping to 15th in the world rankings, below Pacific neighbours Fiji and Tonga, and winning just seven of 28 test matches over the past four years.

Mapusua is light on head coaching experience - having led the Otago Under 19s over the past two years - but felt now was the right time to put himself forward.…more

The inspirational story of former Blues player Matt Johnson.

After three heart surgeries, he almost died two months ago. Johnson and partner Taylah share his survival tale on Sky Sport's The Breakdown

Coco Congrats to Blues captain and All Black, Patrick Tuipulotu who scooped up the major honours at the Blues Awards announced at a function last night in Auckland.

Tuipulotu was awarded the Blues Most Valuable Player of the Year honour as well as the prized Mealamu Medal, awarded to the person who makes the biggest contribution to the culture of the organisation.

The towering figure has been arguably the form lock and one of the leading forwards in the Super Rugby Aotearoa competition.

Read more here

By Lefaoali'i Dion Enari 

Seeing the Samoan language spoken on prime time television was a proud moment for all Samoans around the world. Although we see many brown faces on the Super Rugby field, very rarely do we hear our language in these spaces.

Growing up watching rugby on T.V, the only time I would see our language, was either during snippet crowd shots or when the Manu Samoa Captain would speak. These instances would generally be from Island born Samoans who felt more comfortable speaking in their first language and knowing that in doing so, they would be reaching out to the elders and every proud Samoan, at home and across the globe.

Now, there is an influx of New Zealand and Australian born Samoan rugby players’ reclaiming their mother tongue. Many of this group were raised speaking English as a first language, with little to no formal education in Samoan.  Despite this, many in this group still value its importance.…more

Iconic surfer Derek Ho has died at age 55 of a suspected heart attack.  He was admitted to hospital, slipped into a coma and passed away on Friday night (Hawai'i time).

Derek Ho, known for decades around the surfing community as "Uncle D" became the first Hawaiian native to claim a world championship under the banner of the Association of Surfing Professionals, now known as the World Surf League.  He is one of the most decorated Hawaiians in competitive history, winning the World Title in 1993, the Pipe Masters in 1986 and 1993, and the Triple Crown in 1984, 1986, 1988, and 1990. 

Born in 1964, Uncle Derek had remained one of surfing's most widely, internationally beloved figures, as well as a Pipe standout into his mid-50s. 

Ho was surfing royalty and revered for his feats at the infamous Pipeline break on Oahu's North Shore. He was the brother of professional surfer Michael Ho, 2nd cousin to popular Honolulu nightclub entertainer Don Ho and the uncle of current elite professional surfers Mason and Coco Ho.…more

The Big O by Patrick Skene is the story of Olsen Filipaina, a New Zealand Hall of Fame rugby league legend who was a pathfinder for the Maori and Pasifika players who today dominate the Australian National Rugby League.

In a career that saw him play 29 Tests for New Zealand and more than 100 first grade NSWRL games, Filipaina was an object of fascination for the rugby league community.

To fans he was "the Galloping Garbo", a working-class hero who thrilled crowds in between shifts as a garbageman. To opponents, who feared his Polynesian power game, he was The Big O. To coaches and critics, he was simply "Olsen the enigma". Featured in the book are some of the pivotal figures of 1980s Australia and New Zealand sport including Sir Graham Lowe, Arthur Beetson, Roy Masters, Sir Peter Leitch, David Tua, Sir Bryan Williams, Wayne Pearce, Sir Michael Jones, John Ribot, Mark Graham, David Lange and NRL Immortal Wally Lewis who for the first time opens up about being outplayed by Filipaina in the 1985 Test series.…more

Golden Hoops has put together a fun compilation of Steven Adams being an absolute legend 

Click here for Steven Adams sharing his experience coming back to New Zealand during the NBA hiatus this year (due to Covid19) 

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And you can check out Part 2 of him being an absolute legend below -