Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 47

All Blacks veteran Liam Messam has missed out on representing New Zealand in the rugby sevens at the 2016 Rio Olympics.

Source: NZ Herald

Messam, as predicted on Friday, was omitted from the NZ men's sevens squad to contest the Olympic Games next month when it was announced in Auckland today.

While fellow All Black regular in recent years Sonny Bill Williams was named in the squad of 12 for men's coach Gordon Tietjens, it's understood Messam will now rejoin his old Super Rugby side the Chiefs for the remainder of their 2016 title-chasing campaign.

Williams' sister Niall Williams was named in the women's squad to be coached by Sean Horan, while Kurt Baker was another high-profile omission from the men's team.

The New Zealand women's side will be lead by Sarah Goss, with Kayla McAlister and Portia Woodman key cogs if they are to defeat Australia and win a gold medal.

Liam Messam won't be part of the New Zealand men's sevens side to contest the 2016 Olympic Games in Rio de Janeiro.…more

A look back at the awesome and devastating power that is Mark Hunt!

All Black great Frank Bunce returns to his motherland for a fishing and golfing getaway.

Check out the doko Steven Adams and some of the best highlights from the 2015-16 Season, with all 102 Dunks! 

Check out All Blacks winger Naholo scoring an important try to give his side the lead against the visitors at Eden Park last night!

Source: TVNZ and SKY

In case you missed it, check out the awesome match between Samoa and Georgia held at Apia Park!

Before facing Fiji in Suva for the World Cup qualifier, Samoa have to chance to take on the touring Georgian team.

The Samoan team includes three new caps with another six on the bench, with coach Alama Ieremia saying he's keen to give new players a chance, but he concedes that some of his selections have been forced upon him

Kiwi-Tongan Steven Adams was a crucial player in the Oklahoma City Thunder making it to the NBA Playoffs in the Western Conference.

The Oklahoma City Thunder lost to the Golden State Warriors in an intense conference final in Oakland 88-96. Check out the highlights from the electrifying game 7 decider!

Highlights of the nailbiting series saw Steven Adams take a hit to the groin from opposing Warriors forward Draymond Green in game 3.

Standing at an impressive 2.13m Adams averaging 29 minutes per game in the finals series!

Adams success has drawn out fans all over his home country of NZ starting the trend #StachesforSteven 

The trend appears to have been initiated by one of his biggest, smallest, cutest American fans:

Check out Adams' stats for the 2016 conference finals series against the Golden State Warriors:

The Golden State Warriors will meet The Cleveland Cavaliers in the NBA Playoffs.

Kiwi-Samoan heavyweight Joseph Parker is set to fight Solomon Haumono in what would be the biggest transtasman bout in history.

The fight would likely take place in New Zealand, and the winner would get an IBF title bout against Britain's world champion Anthony Joshua.

Parker, 24, defeated tough French-Cameroonian Carlos Takam in Manukau on Saturday via unanimous decision to become the mandatory challenger for Joshua.

The undefeated Parker (19-0, 16KO) is New Zealand's best heavyweight since David Tua, while Haumono (24-2-2, 21KO) is one of Australia's best-known athletes having previously been a star NRL player.

Haumono, 40, has been publicly challenging Parker for some time and it appears his wish has been granted.

But he will be a heavy underdog against Parker, who many believe is the future of the heavyweight division alongside Joshua.…more

“I went through a depression that I started to think like a serial killer.” So were the thoughts in former heavy weight boxer To’aletai David Tua depressed mind after losing everything – money and assets he earned during his boxing career of which he blamed the people around him which he took to court.

Source: Talamua

Tua was speaking in Apia where he traveled from Auckland, New Zealand to support Marie Grace in concert and her efforts to share their lives stories and experiences to help young Samoans who maybe going through the same problems.

But Tua is now changed focusing on the positive encouraging young Samoans to stay with God and obey their parents.

“It was through the grace of God,” he professed. “I went through very challenging times. As a (professional) boxer, you put your trust in people that you trust will do the right thing. If people kill for a pair of shoes, $20 million dollars is alot of dead people,” he said.…more

The Hayne Plane is back in the skies as headlines go wild at his decision to play for Fiji at the Rio Olympics 2016.

The media has gone crazy with headline after headline about the devastation at Jarryd Haynes decision to represent Fiji at the Olympics in Rio later this year. Some headlines have suggested 'He should play for Australia, he's Australian'. Some have been quite straightforward like Jai Bednall whose headline reads 'Jarryd Hayne's Olympic dream is a joke'

This piece is a celebration of Jarryd Hayne and his brave decision to represent one of the two countires he identifies with. He has proudly represented Fiji in Rugby League and also donned the Green and Gold jersey for the Kangaroos. This time he is pledging his allegiance to Fiji for a shot at Gold at the Rio Olympics! Is that so bad? We don't think so, he is part Fijian?!

Here's what has gone on in the last few days in a nutshell:

• Jarryd Hayne announces retirement from the NFL.…more