Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 13

Four of our Pasifika teams made the Quarter finals in this Rugby League World Cup - Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga.

In case you missed the games you can check out the higlights from all 3 test matches here starting with the intense battle between Toa Samoa and Mate Ma'a Tonga in the video above.…more

Roman Reigns tried to fix the issues between Jey Uso and Sami Zayn on Smackdown but what followed was a hilarious moment when the Samoan members of The Bloodline all broke character and started laughing thanks to one word.

Check out what it was in the video above.

Tua Tagovailoa explains the differences between Mike McDaniel and his previous coaches, what it was like navigating his concussion saga, and shares the love and support he received from all over the country.

By Thomas Law 

Nine years ago, the Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tonga came to the 2013 World Cup as unfancied additions to make up the numbers. This time they all have genuine aspirations of reaching the knockout stage, with some even having ultimate victory in their sights.

The change in rugby league’s eligibility laws – allowing players to ‘switch’ between nations from year to year, and maintaining State of Origin eligibility for non-Australia internationals (bar New Zealand and England) paved the way for a revolution in the international game. But it took brave players like Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita back in 2017 to turn down the nations of their birth, and with it far larger paycheques, to represent their heritage.…more

On Sunday 16th October, Titi Motusaga will walk out into the Rod Laver Arena in Melbourne on the undercard of the Devin Haney vs George Kambosos Jnr rematch.

The 31yr old former Kickboxer will take on fellow kiwi and Commonwealth Games champion David Nyika for only his 5th professional boxing match and the Samoan cruiserweight fighter is relishing the opportunity.  While both fighters have identical professional records, this fight will be a big step up for Motusaga while at the same time Nyika's toughest opponent yet.

Get to know Titi 'The Taxman' Motusaga here - he talks to us about where he grew up, getting his pe'a and being proud of his Samoan heritage, sparring UFC team mates Carlos Ulberg and Israel Adesanya, needing to work a 9-5 while on the come up as a pro boxer and more.…more

In this episode of Behind The Jersey, NZ sports reporter Kirstie Stanway speaks in-depth to Black Fern Niall Williams about her journey both on and off the field.

She shares the high’s of playing the sport she loves and the low’s of missing out on competing on the world stage at the Tokyo Olympics due to injury which then left her questioning her belonging.

This is the first time she has shared her story.

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Find Help Here - findahelpline.com or Call/ Text 1737. You don't have to do this alone.

This Sunday morning (from 6am NZT), Samoan heavyweight boxer Joseph Parker takes on the current world WBO #1 contender Joe Joyce for the WBO Interim Heavyweight Championship title.

The fight will represent a shootout to determine who will be made mandatory challenger for the winner of the forthcoming rematch between Oleksandr Usyk and Anthony Joshua.

Parker who is the former WBO world champion won the title in 2016 with a points victory over Andy Ruiz in Auckland. He successfully defended against Razvan Cojanu and Hughie Fury before suffering defeat in a unification battle with Anthony Joshua in Cardiff in March 2018.

The 30-year-old is currently on a six-fight winning streak, following a points loss to Dillian Whyte in July 2018, with the run including successive victories over Dereck Chisora, both in Manchester.

He talks here about living and training in the UK with Tyson Fury at Tyson's gym, his new trainer Andy Lee, his training camp, how he's feeling going into the fight and more.

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Credits: 

Cover photo & Video footage:  UK Promoters Queensbury & Duco Events 

Editor:  Joseph Taouma 

* PG recommended - coarse language 

Roman Reigns (ex-NFL player turned face of the WWE) joins the 'Impaulsive' podcast boys to discuss fighting The Rock at WrestleMania, viral mic catch & legendary rivalry vs Brock Lesnar, retiring from NFL due to leukemia, infamously forgetting his lines vs John Cena, ruthless moments from WWE fans, Logan’s challenge to Roman & more.

Tongan Heavyweight boxer Hemi Ahio will follow in the footsteps of legendary Samoan boxer David Tua and showcase his talents along with Cruiserweight boxer & Commonwealth Gold medalist David Nyika, to a bumper live free-to-air TV audience in October.

TVNZ will screen both NZ boxers fights on the undercard of the undisputed lightweight championship rematch between Aussie former unified world champion George Kambosos Jr and American current undisputed world champion Devin Haney in Melbourne on October 16.

The last time a boxing world title fight screened free-to-air in New Zealand was Tua’s unsuccessful tilt against Lennox Lewis in November 2000. The broadcast was viewed by a record 1.3 million people, which at that time translated into an incredible 82% of all TV viewers – 200,000 more than watched the royal wedding of Charles and Diana.

Undefeated heavyweight knockout artist Ahio is out to break into the world rankings – ahead of a blockbuster world title fight – so fight fans are in for a rare treat.

“There’s a lot more to New Zealand heavyweight boxing than Joseph Parker,” Ahio said.…more

Sonny Bill Williams will fight Mark Hunt in an explosive heavyweight showdown at Sydney's Ken Rosewall Arena on November 5.

Stan Sport on Thursday confirmed details of the bout between dual code legend Williams and MMA great Hunt with the high profile pugilists set to come face to face at a 10am AEST press conference.

The fight - available for Stan customers to purchase on Stan Event - will be the first for Williams since his emphatic round one knockout of Barry Hall in March.

Now Sonny will step up again and face one of the country's most dangerous knockout artists on Stan Event.

Mark Hunt has taken on the best in the world and shown the power and determination to finish on top, and now he has a chance to stop a rising boxing superstar in his tracks.

More info in the full article via Wide World of Sports here