Coco Talanoa — Sports / Page 32

In 2011 Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu received a six-month suspended ban from the Rugby World Cup for tweeting that top referee Nigel Owens was biased & racist as well as comparing the treatement of Samoa and other Tier 2 countries at the Cup to slavery and much more.

He explains his frustration with the biased policies of World Rugby to both Close Up (video above) and John Campbell (video below).

"I just want the next generation of Samoan rugby players to be given a level playing field, I want them to stop treating the tier-two teams like crap." - Eliota said in his interview with Close Up 

Sadly the issues Eliota raised in 2011 are still major talking points at this Rugby World Cup in 2019 - biased reffing against the Tier 2 teams in particular when playing Tier 1 teams and an obvious bias towards the Tier 2 teams giving them only three or four day breaks between matches when Tier 1 teams like the All Blacks have up to a week rest in between games.

The NRL share this heart-warming real-life story about Fijian Parramatta Eels rugby league player Maika Sivo and his father, Joeli.  It centres around the fact that Joeli Sivo has never seen his son play in the flesh.

Sivo senior has never left Fiji, nor does he own a passport.  Maika Sivo, who came from humble beginnings and only recently started playing rugby league for the first time four years ago, is now one of this season’s top try-scorers.

At UFC 243 Eugene Bareman & his team from City Kickboxing New Zealand will have 3 fighters facing off in the Octagon - 2 of them are the co-main event.  

NZ born Eugene is half Samoan/half Dutch and grew up in West Auckland. He has 2 other brothers & his sister, Sarai Bareman, is the Chief Womens Football Officer for FIFA & was recently named in Sportspro as one of the top 10 people on the planet who would have the greatest influence on sport in 2019!

Eugene first took over City Kickboxing Gym 11 years ago with K1 fighter Doug Viney (they bought the gym off the owner Duane Marshall) & now have 5 NZ based UFC fighters on their books Adesanya, Kai Kara France, Dan Hooker, Shane Young & Brad Riddell as well as King in the Ring champ Carlos Ulberg and Heavyweight boxers Hemi Ahio & Junior Fa.

As well as a coach he's still fighting himself and has had 48 fights across all the different disciplines & recently received a black belt in Atos Jiu-Jitsu.…more

All Blacks Loose Forward Ardie Savea recently started a podcast as a space to bridge the gap between the listeners and professional athletes.  Along the way he shares his journey and thoughts as well as interviews other people "so we can all learn and grow".

In this episode he interviews All Blacks Prop forward Angus Ta'avao (Samoan/Australian) who shares his journey through rugby, family, life, the uncertainties of being a professional athlete and finally making the All Blacks at the age of 28.

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Subscribe to Ardie's podcast on any of the platforms below and check out his clothing line here:

https://ardiesaveaclothing.co.nz/

All 3 of our Pacific teams have started their 2019 Rugby World Cup campaigns with Samoa taking on Russia last night.  All of them are looking to make it past the Pool rounds of the tournament and will need vital bonus points and good for/against points differential to get them there.

Our week 1 extended highlights thanks to the Rugby World Cup include Fiji vs Australia (vid above), Tonga vs England and Samoa vs Russia (video highlights below)

Tonga vs England

Samoa vs Russia 

With Fiji set to take on Uruguay tonight and USA still to play in Tonga's pool we only have Pool A's standing so far and Samoa have taken a good lead.

Our 3 Pacific Islands rugby teams have bowed out of the 2019 Rugby World Cup at the end of Pool Play.  

We've put together a Pacific Islands player guide so you can see which other teams have Pacific Islanders playing in them that you can now support with our island nations no longer in the playoffs mix.

We've counted 55 players of Pacific Islands heritage playing for 8 other countries so if any one of those countries win the Rugby World Cup - we've all won! 

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FIJI 

Fijians you can support in other country's teams:

AUSTRALIA 

Isi Naisarani, Samu Kerevi, Tevita Kuridrani & Marika Koroibete

ENGLAND 

Joe Cokanasiga 

FRANCE 

Virimi Vakatawa & Alivereti Raka 

JAPAN 

Michael Leitch 

NEW ZEALAND 

Sevu Reece 

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TONGA 

Tongans you can support in other countries teams:

AUSTRALIA 

Folau Fainga'a, Tolu Latu, Adam Coleman, Sekope Kepu & Taniela Tupou

ENGLAND 

Billy Vunipola & Mako Vunipola 

JAPAN 

Asaeli Ai Valu, Uve Helu, Amanaki Lelei Mafi, William Tupou, Ataata Moeakiola, Lomano Lemeki & Isileli Nakajima Vakauta

NEW ZEALAND 

Shannon Frizzell, Richie Mo'unga,  Atunaisa Moli & Ofa Tu'ungafasi, 

USA 

Paul Lasike & Olive Kilifi 

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Video above - Interview with Papali'itele Pita "Fats" Fatialofa by Asia Women's Rugby on his team's performance and women's sevens in Samoa at the Asia Pacific Women's Sevens 2013

World Rugby announced that six legends of the game in Richie McCaw (New Zealand), Shiggy Konno (Japan), Os du Randt (South Africa), Peter Fatialofa (Samoa), Graham Henry (New Zealand) and Diego Ormaechea (Uruguay) would be inducted into the World Rugby Hall of Fame in 2019.

The World Rugby Hall of Fame presented by Tudor recognises those who have made an outstanding contribution to the game of rugby throughout their careers, while also demonstrating rugby's character-building values of integrity, passion, solidarity, discipline and respect.

The 2019 inductees were honoured at the World Rugby Awards in Tokyo on the 3rd November, the day following the Rugby World Cup 2019 final. The ceremony was held at The Prince Park Tower during a night dedicated to the game with important members of the rugby family.

Peter's wife Annie attended to accept the award on his behalf.…more

Catch all the highlights from the epic clashes between the NZ Barbarian Legends & Pacific Legends, the All Blacks vs Tonga & the Australian Wallabies vs Manu Samoa.

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All Blacks vs Ikale Tahi (Tonga) 

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Australian Wallabies vs Manu Samoa 

Mate Ma'a Tonga & Brisbane Broncos star Joe Ofahengaue and partner Sofi Leota share her private battle to fight breast cancer with League Life.

The original story was filmed back in 2018 when Sofi was diagnosed with Breast Cancer at the age of 23.

In this more recent interview on the Podcast 'Upfront about Breast Cancer' Sofi talks to the host about about fertility, losing your hair, connecting with other young women with breast cancer on social media and the challenges of being diagnosed with breast cancer at a young age.

Manu Samoa - once upon a time in the 90s - they were the darlings of world rugby. But since the game turned professional, the team has failed to make even the World Cup quarter finals.

Many Pacific players are turning down the chance to represent their nations to keep big money contracts in Europe, and secure their futures. Has professional rugby killed the international game for Tier 2 nations like the Samoa? And, what sacrifices do Pasifika players have to make? John Campbell is inside the Manu Samoa camp as they prepare their David vs Goliath fight of the Rugby World Cup.