Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 54
Hansen to receive honorary Matai title
All Blacks coach Steve Hansen is to be gifted an honorary chiefly title after the historic test in Apia this week.
The title will be bestowed by the village of Vaiala, home of Sky Sport commentator Ken Laban who is helping to organise the traditional gesture.
"Steve is being honored because, as we all know, there will be no game in Samoa without his express approval. If he said no there would be no game," Laban said.
Chiefs are honoured for their leadership, service, humility and impact they have on the village, families and Samoa - Hansen has done all that and more says Laban.
The Vaiala village is also home to Manu Samoa coach Stephen Betham and former sevens coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua. The venue for the All Blacks vs Manu Samoa clash is also on Vaiala land, who gifted it to the government for the building of Apia Park.
The ceremony is to take place on Thursday morning, the day after the historic test.…more
Tana Umaga named head coach for Blues!
Former All Blacks Tana Umaga has just been announced as the new head coach for the Auckland Blues!
He replaces former head coach Sir John Kirwan after his resignation last week Friday, and is unfazed by the work ahead of him. The Auckland Blues have had a rough season, winning only 17 of 58 games - their most disappointing season to date.
"It is going to take a lot of very hard work which will be my focus. I want to let our performances on the field do the talking."
Umaga will begin his stint as head coach later on this year, once his commitments as head coach of Counties Manukau have ended.
Congrats uso!
Images: Getty Images
Samoa deaf rugby team beat Australia
Samoa's deaf rugby team has beaten the visiting Australian team 20-19 in the country's first ever rugby match for deaf players.
The game was used to promote awareness for people with disability and to kick-start Samoa's preparations for next year's deaf rugby World Cup in Australia.
Samoa coach and deaf instructor Petaia Iamafana says the game was a massive opportunity for the players.
"It helps our deaf community here build their confidence, be more involved and be able to compete in the same level of competitions as everyone else and hopefully to open up more opportunities for them in the future because, at the moment, deaf people here are more in homes and doing all the chores at home. This is an eye-opener for their future and their raw talent in rugby and any other sport".
Source: Radio NZ
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Tony Finau qualifies for US Open!
Huge congrats to the doko-uso for being the first player of Pacific descent to qualify for the US Open!
Finau is the first regular player of Tongan or American Samoan descent on the PGA Tour - yet he’s not the only pro athlete in the family. His cousins Haloti Ngata and Sione Pouha both play in the NFL, and his cousin Jabari Parker is in the NBA.
Finau says that it's special for them, because they're doing awesome things for their family.
“The bottom line is we all respect each other in what we’re doing and we know how hard it is to get to the highest level of any sport."
Check out more on Finau's accomplishment here!
Tribute to Jerry Collins
Check out this touching tribute to Jerry Collins by fan Karl Jackson.
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.
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
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!
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Sonny Bill Williams vs Chauncey Welliver
Check out the highlights from SBW's fight with Chauncey Welliver at the NRL Footy Show Fight Night in Sydney last night!
Showing impressive boxing form against his American opponent, the all-rounder outclassed Welliver in eight rounds to win the match by unanimous decision!