In this bulletin:
1. RUGBY — Sunday the theme of Super Rugby Pacific draw as 2027 fixtures revealed
2. RUGBY — The ten must-watch fixtures in the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific draw
3. RUGBY LEAGUE — PNG Chiefs in war over name as NZ Rugby threatens legal action
4. RUGBY — Flying Fijians must start fast, finish strong
5. NETBALL — Fiji Pearls beat Cook Islands
6. FOOTBALL — MSG Prime Ministers Cup brings region together through sport
7. FOOTBALL — Melanesia’s football rivals reunite for another battle for regional honours
8. FOOTBALL — FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ qualification on the line in OFC U-16 Women’s Championship semi-finals
9. RUGBY — PNG Seven prepare for Dakar youth Olympics
10. IHF NATIONS TROPHY OCEANIA CHAMPIONS — Australia crowned inaugural Women’s IHF Nations Trophy Oceania Champions
11. ONOC — ONOC Vice President Emma Waiwai calls for sport to drive equality, safety and leadership for women and girls
PAC – RUGBY: RUGBY.COM.AU PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
Sunday the theme of Super Rugby Pacific draw as 2027 fixtures revealed
SYDNEY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (RUGBY.COM.AU)—The 2027 Super Rugby Pacific draw has been unveiled, headlined by a host of Sunday fixtures as part of the expanded 17-round, 80 game regular season.
A total of ten Sunday games, six more than last season, and a full Easter slate are among the changes from last year.
The Queensland Reds and NSW Waratahs will host two of these Sunday games each, with the Reds taking on the Chiefs (Round Two) and Fijian Drua (Round Seven) as the Waratahs welcome the Crusaders (Round Nine) and Western Force (Round 12) to Allianz Stadium.
The Force get their chance to host on Sunday the following round as part of a revamped home schedule that includes multiple Friday fixtures for the first time in five years.
The season will kick off on Friday, 12 February , as the Crusaders host the Reds at One NZ Stadium in Christchurch.
Following this, Michael Cheika will make his Waratahs return, travelling down to Canberra to take on the ACT Brumbies.
The Blues and Hurricanes headline the Saturday slate of games, which begins with the Fijian Drua facing the Highlanders and finishes in Perth with a clash between the Force and Chiefs.
Eight teams will have the bye in Round 11, leaving the Reds to host the Blues on the Anzac Day weekend, the day before the maiden Bledisloe Cup Test on 25 April.
The top six teams at the end of the 2027 regular season will contest a revamped three-week Finals Series, with the top two progressing directly to the Semi-Finals and teams ranked third and fourth hosting sudden-death Elimination Finals.
The Grand Final will be contested on 26 June, with the Hurricanes out to defend their 2026 crown.
“We’re delighted to deliver a 2027 draw that gives fans more to look forward to than ever before – Sunday footy, an epic Easter weekend, Super Round back in Christchurch and a history-making Anzac weekend in Brisbane,” Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley said.
“Every team begins the season with a clear ambition to win the title. But the stakes will be even higher next year, with the opening half of the season shaping as a shootout for Test jerseys ahead of the inaugural Anzac Bledisloe and the Rugby World Cup coming sharply into view beyond it.
“Throw in all the traditional and emerging rivalries, and a new Finals Series where every game is sudden death, and there will be more at stake in every Super Rugby Pacific fixture, from the opening whistle through to the Grand Final.
“Over the last three seasons our competition has experienced growth across all key metrics and we’re confident that we’ve delivered a fan-focused draw for 2027 that will continue to build on that positive momentum.”
2027 SUPER RUGBY PACIFIC DRAW
*All times AEDT/AEST
ROUND ONE
Friday February 12: Crusaders v Queensland Reds, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)
Friday February 12: ACT Brumbies v NSW Waratahs, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)
Saturday February 13: Fijian Drua v Highlanders, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)
Saturday February 13: Blues v Hurricanes, Eden Park, Auckland (5:05 pm)
Saturday February 13: Western Force v Chiefs, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)
ROUND TWO
Friday February 19: Crusaders v Hurricanes, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)
Friday February 19: Western Force v ACT Brumbies, HBF Park, Perth (8:00 pm)
Saturday February 20: Highlanders v Blues, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)
Saturday February 20: NSW Waratahs v Fijian Drua, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)
Sunday 21 February: Queensland Reds v Chiefs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (4:05 pm)
ROUND THREE
Friday February 26: Hurricanes v Western Force, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:05 pm)
Saturday February 27: Fijian Drua v Queensland Reds, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)
Saturday February 27: Chiefs v NSW Waratahs, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:05 pm)
Saturday February 27: ACT Brumbies v Highlanders, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)
Sunday 28 February: Blues v Crusaders, Eden Park, Auckland (2:00 pm)
ROUND FOUR
Friday March 5: Highlanders v Western Force, TBC (5:35 pm)
Friday March 5: NSW Waratahs v Hurricanes, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:45 pm)
Saturday March 6: Blues v Queensland Reds, Eden Park, Auckland (2:35 pm)
Saturday March 6: Crusaders v Chiefs, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:05 pm)
Saturday March 6: ACT Brumbies v Fijian Drua, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)
ROUND FIVE
Friday March 12: Crusaders v Highlanders, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)
Friday March 12: Western Force v Queensland Reds, HBF Park, Perth (8:00 pm)
Saturday March 13: Hurricanes v Fijian Drua, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (2:35 pm)
Saturday March 13: Chiefs v Blues, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:05 pm)
Saturday March 13: NSW Waratahs v ACT Brumbies, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)
ROUND SIX
Friday March 19: Hurricanes v Crusaders, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:35 pm)
Friday March 19: ACT Brumbies v Western Force, Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka, Canberra (7:35 pm)
Saturday March 20: Fijian Drua v Blues, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)
Saturday March 20: Highlanders v Chiefs, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)
Saturday March 20: Queensland Reds v NSW Waratahs, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)
ROUND SEVEN (EASTER)
Friday March 26: Crusaders v Blues, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)
Saturday March 27: Highlanders v ACT Brumbies, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)
Saturday March 27: Western Force v NSW Waratahs, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)
Sunday March 28: Chiefs v Hurricanes, Stadium Taranaki, New Plymouth (2:00 pm)
Sunday March 28: Queensland Reds v Fijian Drua, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (4:10 pm)
ROUND EIGHT (SUPER ROUND)
*Note – Daylight savings concludes on Sunday in Australia and NZ
Friday April 2: Crusaders v ACT Brumbies, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)
Saturday April 3: Chiefs v Western Force, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (3:05 pm)
Saturday April 3: Blues v NSW Waratahs, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)
Sunday April 4: Highlanders v Fijian Drua, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (12:00 pm)
Sunday April 4: Hurricanes v Queensland Reds, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (2:30 pm)
ROUND NINE
Friday April 9: Blues v Chiefs, Eden Park, Auckland (5:35 pm)
Saturday April 10: Fijian Drua v Western Force, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)
Saturday April 10: Hurricanes v Highlanders, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:05 pm)
Saturday April 10: ACT Brumbies v Queensland Reds, Corroboree Group Oval, Manuka, Canberra (7:35 pm)
Sunday April 11: NSW Waratahs v Crusaders, Allianz Stadium Sydney (2:00 pm)
ROUND 10
Friday April 16: Chiefs v Fijian Drua, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:35 pm)
Friday April 16: ACT Brumbies v Hurricanes, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:35 pm)
Saturday April 17: Highlanders v NSW Waratahs, TBC (5:05 pm)
Saturday April 17: Western Force v Crusaders, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)
BYES: Blues, Queensland Reds
ROUND 11
Saturday April 24: Queensland Reds v Blues, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)
BYES: ACT Brumbies, Chiefs, Crusaders, Fijian Drua, Highlanders, Hurricanes, NSW Waratahs, Western Force
ROUND 12
Friday April 30: Fijian Drua v Hurricanes, TBC, Fiji (5:35 pm)
Saturday May 1: Chiefs v Crusaders, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (2:35 pm)
Saturday May 1: Blues v ACT Brumbies, Eden Park, Auckland (5:05 pm)
Saturday May 1: Queensland Reds v Highlanders, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)
Sunday May 2: NSW Waratahs v Western Force, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (TBC)
ROUND 13
Friday May 7: Blues v Fijian Drua, Eden Park, Auckland (5:35 pm)
Friday May 7: ACT Brumbies v Crusaders, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:45 pm)
Saturday May 8: Hurricanes v Chiefs, TBC (5:05 pm)
Saturday May 8: NSW Waratahs v Queensland Reds, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)
Sunday May 9: Western Force v Highlanders, HBF Park, Perth (4:05 pm)
ROUND 14
Friday May 14: Chiefs v Queensland Reds, FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton (5:35 pm)
Saturday May 15: Fijian Drua v ACT Brumbies, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)
Saturday May 15: Crusaders v NSW Waratahs, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:05 pm)
Saturday May 15: Western Force v Blues, HBF Park, Perth (7:35 pm)
Sunday May 16: Highlanders v Hurricanes, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (2:00 pm)
ROUND 15
Friday May 21: Fijian Drua v Crusaders, TBC, Fiji (5:35 pm)
Friday May 21: Queensland Reds v Western Force, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:45 pm)
Saturday May 22: Chiefs v Highlanders, FMG Stadium Hamilton, Waikato (2:35 pm)
Saturday May 22: Hurricanes v ACT Brumbies, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:05 pm)
Saturday May 22: NSW Waratahs v Blues, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)
ROUND 16
Friday May 28: Crusaders v Western Force, One NZ Stadium, Christchurch (5:35 pm)
Friday May 28: ACT Brumbies v Chiefs, GIO Stadium, Canberra (7:45 pm)
Saturday May 29: Fijian Drua v NSW Waratahs, TBC, Fiji (2:35 pm)
Saturday May 29: Blues v Highlanders, Eden Park, Auckland (5:05 pm)
Saturday May 29: Queensland Reds v Hurricanes, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:35 pm)
ROUND 17
Friday June 4: Hurricanes v Blues, Hnry Stadium, Wellington (5:35 pm)
Friday June 4: Queensland Reds v ACT Brumbes, Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane (7:45 pm)
Friday June 4: Western Force v Fijian Drua, HBF Park, Perth (9:55 pm)
Saturday June 5: Highlanders v Crusaders, Forsyth Barr Stadium, Dunedin (5:05 pm)
Saturday June 5: NSW Waratahs v Chiefs, Allianz Stadium, Sydney (7:35 pm)…PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY: RUGBY.COM.AU PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
The ten must-watch fixtures in the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific draw
SYDNEY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (RUGBY.COM.AU)—The 2027 Super Rugby Pacific Draw has launched, with an expanded 80-game regular season locked in for the year ahead.
It’s thrown up a host of exciting fixtures as the build-up to the 2027 Rugby World Cup means every game counts even more.
From local derbies to revenge matches, there’s plenty to like for fans.
Rugby.com.au selects ten must-watch fixtures in the 2027 Super Rugby Pacific Draw.
Round One: Brumbies v Waratahs
Starting with a bang, old rivals ACT Brumbies and NSW Waratahs resume the rivalry in Canberra.
It’s a blast from the past for the Waratahs, welcoming back prodigal son Michael Cheika to the fold as coach.
New recruit Angus Crichton is also set for his Super Rugby debut, whilst Luke Reimer and Triston Reilly continue the tradition of transfers between the two clubs, both with a point to prove.
Round One: Blues v Hurricanes
Whilst on the opening round, the defending champions Hurricanes are set for a brutal opener against the Blues in Auckland.
The Hurricanes blew away the Blues in the semi-finals and enter 2026 with a target on their backs.
The Blues will be amongst those hunting them down and, if the rumours are true, could be doing it with one of the Hurricanes’ favourite sons, Ardie Savea, whose future remains unconfirmed at this stage.
Round Two: Highlanders v Blues
The Highlanders will be out to celebrate 15 years of Forsyth Barr Stadium in style as they open their home slate against the Blues.
Both teams played one of the best games in 2026, with the Blues taking out a 47-40 thriller at Eden Park.
The Highlanders pulled off a remarkable home upset to start last year and the anniversary of the ‘Zoo’ will likely deliver another classic for the Gordon Hunter Memorial Trophy
Round Six: Reds v Waratahs
Natural rivals, there’s always a bit of spice between the Reds and Waratahs when it comes to derby matches.
The Waratahs managed to turn the tide to start 2026, with the Reds coming home late for revenge after a denied Triston Reilly try shifted momentum.
Any Queensland-NSW game is a must-watch, with fireworks expected from the get-go.
Round Seven: Chiefs v Hurricanes
A Grand Final rematch match-up between two of the best teams in the world, there’s not much more you need to say.
It headlines the return of a full Easter weekend slate for Super Rugby, ending the split-round format.
The Chiefs also return to Taranaki for the first time in 2023, ensuring a packed out crowd for a world-class game.
Round Eight: Crusaders v Brumbies (Super Round)
Super Round returns to Christchurch and begins with a bang with the Crusaders kicking it off against the Brumbies.
The return of the concept was a massive success and keeping it in Christchurch was pivotal.
The Crusaders and Brumbies have a storied history, with the Brumbies ending their drought last year in James Slipper’s 200th.
Round Nine: Brumbies v Reds
An all-Australian derby that always delivers, this fixture takes on more significance with the Bledisloe Cup game on ANZAC Day on the horizon.
The reality is Round Nine will likely be the last chance for players to stake their Test claims. Whilst it hasn’t been announced, you’d expect players to be in camp across Round 10.
This heaps more importance on impressing early in the season, with a clash between the two premier sides in Australia critical for Test hopefuls.
Round 11: Reds v Blues
The Anzac Weekend rivalry between the two sides only intensifies after the announcement that they will play in a standalone round, the day before the Bledisloe Cup Test.
The match is already must-win given the context of new coach Vern Cotter facing his old side.
But with all eyes on Brisbane this weekend, it offers a chance for early trans-Tasman bragging rights.
Round 12: Chiefs v Crusaders
Regardless of players backing up, this match is always a banger.
The Chiefs and Crusaders are natural rivals, with the Chiefs ending the Crusaders’ season last year in a thumping semi-final win.
Kicking off the road to the finals, it’s the type of match-up that could decide top-two hopes, which this year is even more important with the automatic bye.
Round 17: Force v Drua
A gaze into the crystal ball: the final-round match between the sides could decide who plays finals football.
The Force will enter 2027 hungry for their first finals appearance after narrowly missing out in previous years.
As for the Drua, they have snuck in previously but will back themselves away from home to hunt for a top six spot….PACNEWS
PNG – RUGBY LEAGUE: SMH PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
PNG Chiefs in war over name as NZ Rugby threatens legal action
SYDNEY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SMH)—The NRL has been warned it will be dragged to court in an escalating dispute with New Zealand Rugby unless it changes the name of the new Albanese government-backed team in PNG from the Chiefs.
Formed with a $600 million (US$427 million) Australian taxpayer package devised to counter the influence of China in the Pacific, the Chiefs are due to enter the NRL in 2028 as the competition’s 19th club.
However, a mounting trademark feud with New Zealand Rugby, which owns the Chiefs franchise in Super Rugby Pacific, threatens to blow up the unveiling of the PNG side’s logo and jersey, which is scheduled to take place at an event in Port Moresby next month.
In a letter to the NRL this week, NZ Rugby said the Chiefs was not an acceptable name for the incoming team and asked league officials to reconsider it.
NZ Rugby told the NRL it wanted to discuss the clash of names with the rival code before the logo and jersey launch but was prepared to defend its position if the 13-a-side game pressed ahead with calling the PNG organisation the Chiefs. If NZ Rugby sued and won, the NRL could be forced to change the new team’s name.
“The Chiefs have been a professional rugby club since 1996 and has an established identity and fan base, both in the Pacific region and globally. This 30-year identity includes the Chiefs name, logo and distinctive colours,” NZ Rugby said in a statement to this masthead on Friday.
“NZR can confirm we have corresponded with the NRL, including this week, about the decision last year to similarly name and brand a new rugby league team. NZR’s focus is on protecting the Chiefs trademark and working with all parties towards a positive outcome.”
The NRL, which owns the PNG Chiefs, did not comment.
Rugby’s Chiefs, who play in Hamilton, wear the same black, red and yellow colours as those worn by PNG teams and which appear in the PNG Chiefs social media channels.
When they join the NRL the PNG side will play away games in Auckland, only an hour from the Waikato region, and could end up running out in Hamilton itself by 2029 if a reported bid to base a second New Zealand team there is successful.
NZ Rugby claims the NRL’s use of the same name infringes on its long-standing registered trademarks for the Chiefs in New Zealand and Australia and has sought additional word mark protections for the Chiefs with IP Australia, the agency which administers intellectual property rights in Australia.
There is geopolitical sensitivity over the name, given it was endorsed by PNG Prime Minister James Marape last October following a public survey and talks between the PNG and Australian governments, the NRL and the club’s board.
“Our thousand tribes were governed by chiefs,” Marape said at the time. “The name truly reflects our history where chiefs, both male and female, held our nation together.”
But the NRL has a headache on its hands about using the name.
Two days after Marape’s announcement, the NRL applied to IP Australia to register the PNG Chiefs as a trademark.
Nearly a year later, the NRL is yet to have it approved amid strong objection from NZ Rugby.
The NRL has argued unsuccessfully that the same team names already exist in different sporting leagues and the PNG Chiefs would not be confused with that of rugby’s Chiefs, whose logo features a Maori man holding a traditional weapon.
“For example, there are many different sports teams from different locations that share names like Tigers, Panthers, Lions, Bears and Broncos, just to name a few,” the NRL’s lawyers said in a February submission.
“There also are and have been many ‘Chiefs’ sports teams aside from those related to NZRU or the Applicant, including for example Exeter Chiefs (Rugby Union), Kansas City Chiefs (American Football), Chiefs Esports Club (Esports), Atlanta Chiefs (Soccer), Kaizer Chiefs (Soccer), Bulawayo Chiefs (Soccer) and Syracuse Chiefs (Baseball).”
That fell flat with IP Australia, which determined rugby’s Chiefs did not have a geographical identifier and there “remains a reasonable chance that consumers unfamiliar with one or both teams would infer that they are the same”.
The PNG Chiefs this week heralded a major sponsorship with Bank South Pacific as the largest in NRL history.
Chief executive Lorna McPherson said their logo “represents where we have come from as a nation, the values we will stand for as a club, and the future we want to build together for all Papua New Guineans”
“This is a logo that belongs to the entire PNG Chiefs community,” she said. “It is a mark of pride for Papua New Guinea and for everyone who has believed in what this club can become, and we are incredibly excited to walk into the next era of the Chiefs in this way.”….PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY: FIJI SUN PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
Flying Fijians must start fast, finish strong
TOKYO, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI SUN)—The Flying Fijians will need to be more physical from the opening whistle, take their chances and finish matches more ruthlessly when they face Japan in the Asahi Super Dry Pacific Nations Cup final on Saturday night.
Captain Tevita Ikanivere says Fiji’s 45-29 semi-final win over Canada exposed areas that must be improved before the defending champions return to Tokyo.
“We need to be better at that. I think we need to be more physical at the beginning of the game to stop the opposition from having a crack,” Ikanivere told RugbyPass.
Fiji made a blistering start against Canada, scoring after just 21 seconds through Kitione Salawa after he charged down a clearance. Frank Lomani added another try in the fourth minute.
However, Canada fought back and exposed gaps in Fiji’s performance, holding more than 55 per cent possession and 62 per cent territory.
Fiji responded strongly in the opening 20 minutes of the second half, scoring 19 unanswered points before Canada again hit back with two late tries.
Ikanivere said Fiji could not afford similar lapses against Japan.
“We just made a mistake and didn’t work hard enough to solve – mistakes are bound to happen, but it’s how we bounce back.”
Player of the Match Motikai Murray scored twice, while Ikanivere was one of six Fiji try-scorers as the Flying Fijians booked their place in the final.
Despite the convincing scoreline, Ikanivere believes Fiji left points on the field and must be more clinical in Tokyo.
“We’re thrilled we got the win, got back to our winning ways but there’s still a lot of things, opportunities we didn’t execute on today,” he said.
“Points were left out there. I don’t think it will be good enough come next week.”
Fiji are chasing a third straight Pacific Nations Cup title. They won the tournament in Japan two years ago before successfully defending their title in Utah last year.
Ikanivere said the team’s response to mistakes will be crucial against Japan.
“The first 20 minutes of the second half was good. We made mistakes and everybody solved it together, everybody made an effort. That’s how we’re supposed to start the game and be more ruthless and finish off games better.”
Japan backrower Ben Gunter is wary of the Flying Fijians.
“It’s going to be a massive step up for us. It’s going to be a good challenge, it’s definitely something we need.
“For the last couple of years we’ve been facing them in the final and we’ve been falling short. We need to really turn that around. We know what’s coming, but so do they,” Gunter told RugbyPass on their expectation of the final.
The match kicks off at 10:05pm….PACNEWS
PAC – NETBALL: FBC SPORTS PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
Fiji Pearls beat Cook Islands
NUKU’ALOFA, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FBC SPORTS)—The Fiji Pearls defeated Cook Islands in their first Netball World Cup 2027 Qualifiers Oceania at the Tonga High School Indoor Stadium yesterday.
Fiji beat Cook Islands 65-63 in a closely contested game.
Cook Islands were leading 36-32 at half time.
It was the second loss for the Cook Islanders after going down 81-55 to Tonga.
Fiji Pearls meet Samoa today and Tonga on Thursday before their last game on Friday against Papua New Guinea.
The top two teams at the end of the competition will compete at the Netball World Cup 2027 in Sydney, Australia….PACNEWS
PAC – FOOTBALL: FBC SPORTS PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
MSG Prime Ministers Cup brings region together through sport
SUVA, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FBC SPORTS)—The MSG Prime Ministers Cup is set to do more than produce football rivalry, with Fiji Sports Council acting board chair Peter Mazey highlighting the tournament’s role in bringing Melanesian nations together through sport.
Fiji is hosting this year’s competition as part of its role as chair of the Melanesian Spearhead Group, with the tournament also featuring the women’s national teams.
Mazey says the competition provides an important platform for the region to tackle challenges facing its young people, while using sport to strengthen relationships between neighbouring nations.
“We all have the same challenges, and we have solutions among talking among ourselves. By talking and getting together, we are able to address these issues because we have the same backgrounds, the same culture.”
He says Fiji is committed to hosting more international sporting events, with competitions being staged across the country rather than being centred only in Suva.
The MSG Prime Ministers Cup was previously known as the Melanesian Cup before its name was changed.
Vanuatu hosted the tournament in 2022, followed by New Caledonia in 2023, Solomon Islands in 2024 and Papua New Guinea last year, when the women’s competition was introduced.
Fiji will host the tournament this year, with the inclusion of the women’s national team continuing as part of the competition.
The competition starts on Thursday with Solomon Islands and Vanuatu playing the first match at 4pm….PACNEWS
PAC – FOOTBALL: OFC PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
Melanesia’s football rivals reunite for another battle for regional honours
SUVA, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OFC)—First held in 1988, Melanesia’s oldest international football championship returns for the fifth successive year when the men’s MSG Prime Minister’s Cup kicks off at HFC Bank Stadium in Suva on Thursday.
Formerly known as the Melanesian Cup between 1988-2000, the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup is a continuation of the event and was recently revitalised in 2022 to continue the football tradition between the nations of the region.
Tournament hosts Fiji are joined by defending champions Vanuatu, New Caledonia, Solomon Islands, and Papua New Guinea, with all five nations to play each other once in a round-robin format, before the top two on the competition standings compete for the prestigious trophy on 03rd October.
All five competing sides may be rebuilding towards competitive continental action over the next World Cup cycle, but the chance to win their region’s most prestigious sporting prize remains a coveted opportunity.
Fiji
MSG Prime Minister’s Cup titles: 5 (1988, 1989, 1992, 1998, 2000)
Current FIFA Men’s Ranking: 155
The competition’s most successful nation with five titles, it has now been 26 years since Fiji were last crowned kings of Melanesia – having failed to win the trophy since the competition was re-established in 2022.
Hosting the tournament for the first time since last winning it in 2000, Fiji will be hoping to make the most of home advantage with head coach Stephane Auvray leading the national team on Fijian soil for the first time.
Dual coach of Bula FC in the OFC Pro League, Auvray has won only one of his six international matches since taking charge in October last year, a run that includes Fiji’s two defeats at the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in 2025. Earlier this year, they drew one and lost one in a two-game series with Vanuatu in Port Vila.
He insists he is still rebuilding the national team’s set-up though, with this year’s focus on identifying the players that will represent Fiji in the FIFA World Cup 2030™ Oceania Qualifiers and future competitions.
Vanuatu
MSG Prime Minister’s Cup titles: 2 (1990, 2025)
Current FIFA Men’s Ranking: 160
Given a hero’s welcome upon their return to Port Vila, memories of last year’s MSG Prime Minister’s Cup title will still be vivid for Vanuatu, defeating Papua New Guinea on penalties in the final to win the trophy for the first time in 25 years.
The architect behind that historic triumph, German coach Lars Hopp, will not be there to defend their crown in 2026 though, with Vanuatu’s all-time top goalscorer and Vanuatu United FC assistant Richard Iwai stepping up.
Iwai scored 20 goals in 34 international caps between 2000 and 2011 and has since gone on to manage some of Vanuatu’s most successful clubs.
The squad he has selected for their MSG Prime Minister’s Cup title defence will feature several notable absentees, including OFC Pro League Golden Boot winner Alex Saniel, star defender Brian Kaltack, and Vanuatu United FC center-backs Jason Thomas and Michel Coulon.
Nevertheless, Azariah Soromon, Kathy Iamak, John Alick, Kaloran Firiam, and Tony Kaltack, will provide the experience in a new-look squad, attempting to draw upon the performances they displayed at last year’s tournament.
New Caledonia
MSG Prime Minister’s Cup titles: 0
FIFA Men’s Ranking: 151
A new era for New Caledonian football beings under new coach Felix Tagawa in Suva this month, five months after Les Cagous had their FIFA World Cup 2026™ qualifying hopes cut short at the intercontinental stage.
They pushed Jamaica all the way in a 0-1 defeat in Guadalajara back in March ,but must now click the reset button on their national team set-up with the start of a new cycle, and the departure of Johan Sidaner.
Returning to the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup after skipping last year’s edition, New Caledonia have been runners-up on four occasions (including in 2024) but are the only Melanesian nation to have never lifted the trophy.
Breaking that hoodoo will be Tagawa’s first assignment, who takes over after spending 13 years in charge of New Caledonian club Hienghene Sport, whom he led to a famous OFC Men’s Champions League title in 2019. Tagawa is also a former Tahitian international and spent time in Australia during his playing career.
Like the rest of the competing nations, they have named a fresh-faced side that features only domestic-based players from the New Caledonian Super Ligue, and only two who were named for the intercontinental play-offs earlier this year.
Solomon Islands
MSG Prime Minister’s Cup titles: 2 (1994, 2023)
Current FIFA Men’s Ranking: 153
It’s been almost two years since the Solomon Islands last won an international match, 4-1 over Vanuatu at the 2024 edition of the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup, a stretch they’d dearly like to end over the next month in Fiji.
They have won the tournament twice, including as recently as 2023 when they won all three matches on their way to the title, but still have a relatively new man at the helm in dual Solomon Kings coach Ben Cahn.
Cahn’s first international window in charge of the Solomon Islands at the FIFA Series in Indonesia in March was a tough one, losing both matches against opposition from outside Oceania including a heavy 10-2 defeat to Bulgaria, the Solomon Islands heaviest international defeat since 1997.
Representatives from the nation have regularly competed at the latter stages of OFC tournaments this year though, and the squad that Cahn pulls together for the tournament should be confident of returning to winning ways.
Papua New Guinea
MSG Prime Minister’s Cup titles: 2 (2022, 2024)
Current FIFA Men’s Ranking: 168
The competition’s most successful team since the re-establishment of the MSG Prime Minister’s Cup in 2022, Papua New Guinea have reached three of the last four finals and won two titles.
They came close to defending their trophy last year on home soil in Port Moresby but were beaten in dramatic circumstances by Vanuatu on penalties in the decider. Unlike the four other competing nations involved though, they haven’t played a single international match since last year and again have a new coach at the helm.
Bob Morris has returned for a second stint in the hot seat for the Kapuls, having also previously led them between 2019-2021, and served as an assistant coach between 2021-2023. A former Papua New Guinea international himself as a player, Morris does at least bring familiarity and experience to the national team set-up.
He’s been able to select a strong squad for their campaign in Fiji too, including several experienced players like Dave Tomare, Ronald Warisan, Tommy Semmy, Ati Kepo, and Rex Naime, to balance the freshness of recent age-group representatives Bomcege Basananuc and David Tita.
Fixture Schedule
All matches are being played at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.
Matchday 1 | Friday September 18
Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu | 2pm local time
Fiji v Solomon Islands | 7pm local time
Matchday 2 | Monday September 21
New Caledonia v Solomon Islands | 4pm local time
Fiji v Vanuatu | 7pm local time
Matchday 3 | Thursday September 24
Solomon Islands v Vanuatu | 4pm local time
Papua New Guinea v New Caledonia | 7pm local time
Matchday 4 | Sunday September 27
Vanuatu v New Caledonia | 4pm local time
Fiji v Papua New Guinea | 7pm local time
Matchday 5 | Wednesday September 30
Papua New Guinea v Solomon Islands | 4pm local time
Fiji v New Caledonia | 7pm local time
Matchday 6 | Saturday October 3
Final | 4pm local time…PACNEWS
PAC – FOOTBALL: OFC PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ qualification on the line in OFC U-16 Women’s Championship semi-finals
HONIARA, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OFC)—Qualification for FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup 2027™ will be at stake when the semi-finals of OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2026 are played in Honiara on Wednesday evening.
New Zealand will play Papua New Guinea in the first semi-final at 4pm local time, before New Caledonia face Fiji at 7pm local time, with the winners to qualify for the global finals in Morocco next year, and advance to the continental final.
Ahead of Wednesday’s crunch matches, the coaches and the captains of the four semi-finalists gathered to give their thoughts in Honiara.
Semi-final 1: New Zealand v Papua New Guinea
Ten years after their last appearance at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, Papua New Guinea are back in the semi-finals, a decade after finishing runners-up to New Zealand in the final in 2016.
Their rise back to the top four has been remarkable, having received a late call-up to join the tournament following Tahiti’s withdrawal. They also had to recover from an opening defeat to New Caledonia to sneak into the semi-finals as runners-up from Group B, beating Samoa 2-0 on the final matchday of group stage action.
Qualifying for the FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup for the first time will be a whole other challenge though, and defeating New Zealand is something no nation has achieved previously in tournament history.
The Young Football Ferns have never lost or drawn one of their 31 matches since the inaugural edition of the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship in 2010, winning all seven titles, and qualifying for all nine FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup’s.
They’ve been dominant again in the Solomon Islands, topping Group A without conceding a goal, despite leaving it late to defeat Fiji 1-0.
As mentioned, these two nations last met in the final in 2016, New Zealand cruising to an 8-0 victory at the CIFA Academy in the Cook Islands – with Hannah Blake and Jacqui Hand both scoring hat-tricks. Prior to that, the Young Ferns also recorded consecutive 9-0 wins in 2010 and 2012.
With so much on the line, Papua New Guinea will need to produce something extraordinary if they are to end New Zealand’s impressive unbeaten run.
New Zealand head coach Alana Gunn said: “We definitely won’t be complacent. We learnt that lesson against Fiji, and we watched Papua New Guinea play their final group stage match with a lot of passion. The conditions are hard here and the opposition are fierce.”
“This match means a lot for Papua New Guinea and we’re expecting nothing but a fight. The players are well aware of our history at this tournament, and we don’t want to be the first team to lose a match, so it does add pressure. How we manage that is all part of the experience of coming to this tournament.”
Papua New Guinea head coach Susan Steven said:
“It means so much to us. The purpose throughout the campaign has been to continually develop the players on and off the field, and now they are into a match that carries a lot of significance for them and the country.”
“Most of the players in the team come from our districts in Papua New Guinea, and it’s been wonderful for them to come this far. We want to inspire the next generation of girls in our country, and show them that we can compete.”
Semi-final 2: New Caledonia v Fiji
At least one debutant from Oceania will be guaranteed at next year’s FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup when New Caledonia face Fiji in the second semi-final at the National Stadium on Wednesday evening.
Both nations have never previously appeared on the world stage at this level, presenting an historic opportunity for either to break new ground.
New Caledonia have put together a hot run of form in the Solomon Islands thus far, topping Group B with three wins and nine points. It’s the first time they’ve ever done so at the OFC U-16 Women’s Championship, reaching the last four at the tournament for the fifth time and the second year in a row.
Fiji have also given a strong account of themselves, pushing New Zealand all the way in their group stage clash before conceding the only goal in a 1-0 defeat in second half stoppage-time. They ultimately secured safe passage as runners-up from Group A with wins over the Cook Islands and the Solomon Islands.
Both sides have shaky historical semi-final records at the tournament though, with Fiji winning one of their previous three at this stage, and New Caledonia only winning one of their previous four. New Caledonia’s lone win came against Fiji in their only previous semi-final meeting in 2017.
Something has to give in Honiara however, and victory for either would write a new chapter in their nation’s footballing history.
New Caledonia head coach Kenjy Vendegou said: “The engagement of the team has really impressed me throughout the campaign so far, and they’ve done well to reach their potential. We’re expecting a really tough semi-final, and we’ll do our best to make sure we get our preparation right.”
“Fiji are very strong and athletic, so we’ll have to raise our standard even higher. The message is clear for the players that we want to play with pride and humility. The key factor will be to play with our hearts.”
Fiiji head coach Nicola Demaine said:
“We’re trying not to think about what’s at stake and rather trying to focus on the first 45 minutes of the game. For 90% of the players involved in these semi-finals, this will be the biggest match of their lives so far, so it will be all about who can keep their cool and stick to the tactics.”
“I watched a few of New Caledonia’s matches and I was really impressed with their technical ability – their first touch, and their short passing. I feel like we have some advantages from a physical point of view, but it will be a very interesting match to watch, and a challenging one for us involved.”….PACNEWS
PNG – RUGBY: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
PNG Seven prepare for Dakar youth Olympics
PORT MORESBY, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL)—Papua New Guinea has confirmed that it will send its athletics and swimming teams to the 4th Summer Youth Olympic Games in Dakar, Senegal.
The games are scheduled from 31 October to 14 November.
This will be the country’s fourth appearance at the summer youth games, following previous campaigns at Singapore 2010, Nanjing 2014 and Buenos Aires 2018.
The PNG contingent would comprise a chef de mission, two team officials representing each sport, and two athletes each in athletics and swimming. Athletes and officials names were not given.
Team PNG Chef de Mission Dame Iammo Gapi Launa said Papua New Guinea’s young athletes are entering the Dakar games with valuable international experience, confidence and determination.
“Our athletes have been working hard and gaining valuable international experience over recent months. From competing at the Commonwealth Games in Glasgow to the U20 Athletics Championships in the United States, they have tested themselves against some of the best young athletes internationally,” she said…..PACNEWS
PAC – IHF NATIONS TROPHY OCEANIA CHAMPIONS: TEAM AUSTRALIA PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
Australia crowned inaugural Women’s IHF Nations Trophy Oceania Champions
WELLINGTON, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (TEAM AUSTRALIA)—The tournament opened with the preliminary round split across two groups. New Zealand, Cook Islands, New Caledonia and Kiribati make up Group A, while Australia, Fiji and Tahiti form Group B.
The top two from each group advanced to the semi-finals, with the remaining teams entered the placement matches.
In Group A, New Caledonia swept their opponents with three dominating performances. They started with a 43:10 win against Kiribati, and followed up with a 33:13 win over the Cook Islands. The decider for the first place in the final standings of the group was against hosts New Zealand and New Caledonia provided another clear win.
New Zealand started stronger, but eventually faded, as an 8:3 run from New Caledonia turned the match on its head. Eventually, New Caledonia secured a 23:15 win to clinch the first place in the standings and set a crunch clash in the semi-finals with the second-placed side in Group B.
Cook Islands finished third in the group, thanks to their 25:6 win against Kiribati.
In Group B, Australia was no match for their opponents, taking two clear wins: 49:8 against Fiji and 27:16 against Tahiti, to clinch the first place. Tahiti ended up on the second place, courtesy of their 41:10 win against Fiji.
The two semi-finals were vastly different: Australia had no issues against hosts New Zealand, controlling the match from start to finish. While at half-time the gap was 10 goals, 17:7, it ballooned to 15 by the end, with Australia confirming their title credentials with a 28:13 win.
The other semi-final was dramatic and needed a last-gasp goal to be decided. Tahiti led against New Caledonia by as many as seven goals, 18:11, in the 28th minute, only to have their hearts broken in the dying seconds, when Olivia Vaitanaki scored the decider through a converted penalty, to power New Caledonia through to the final, thanks to a 31:30 win.
But in the final, Australia were clearly superior. Starting off with a 5:2 lead, Australia exerted control of the match and created a six-goal lead, 11:5, after only 19 minutes.
By the end of the first half, the gap was already eight goals and there was nothing that New Caledonia could do to weather the storm. Orthodoxia Zinonos, Greta Bernabei and Sau Hong Wong were the top scorers for Australia, with four goals each, in their 28:18 win, the fourth in a row, which helped them clinch the title.
The podium was completed by Tahiti, which beat New Zealand, 26:22, in the bronze-medal match.
Fiji ended up fifth, with Cook Islands sixth and Kiribati on the last place in the final standings.
New Caledonia’s Jenny Bazit was the top scorer of the competition, with 31 goals, three more than New Zealand’s Kianna Dawson, with the podium completed by Kiribati’s Veronika Batiri, with 18 goals.
According to the rules and regulations of the IHF Nations Trophy, the winner will earn the opportunity to represent Oceania at the 2026 AHF Women’s Asian Championship, creating a pathway towards the 2027 IHF Women’s World Championship, therefore Australia are due to play in the Asian continental competition which is due to take place between 23 November and 2 December 2026….PACNEWS
PAC – ONOC: ONOC MEDIA PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 16 Sep 2026
ONOC Vice President Emma Waiwai calls for sport to drive equality, safety and leadership for women and girls
GLASGOW, 16 SEPTEMBER 2026 (ONOC)— Oceania National Olympic Committees (ONOC) Vice President Emma Waiwai has carried a strong Oceania and Pacific voice to the 12th Commonwealth Sports Ministers Meeting (CSMM) in Glasgow, Scotland on 22 July 2026, calling for sport to be used more deliberately as a platform for gender equality, safeguarding, leadership and positive social change.
Representing Oceania at the high-level Commonwealth gathering, Waiwai drew on her experience as President of the Papua New Guinea Commonwealth Games Association and as a long-serving Pacific sport leader to demonstrate how challenges confronting women and girls can be addressed through sport, community engagement, strong governance and strategic partnerships.
Her intervention also reflected priorities within the ONOC Strategic Plan 2025–2028, which places athletes at the centre of a stronger and more connected Oceania sport ecosystem and identifies Supporting Sporting Excellence, Strengthening NOC Services, Cultivating Strategic Partnerships and Leading by Example as ONOC’s four core functions.
Importantly, the address comes as ONOC and its 17 National Olympic Committees strengthen their collective pathway towards the Brisbane 2032 Olympic and Paralympic Games, positioning the Games not simply as a sporting destination, but as an opportunity to build stronger systems, leadership, partnerships and lasting social legacies across Oceania.
A Pacific perspective on women, girls and sport
Waiwai opened her address with a fundamental question for governments and sporting organisations across the Commonwealth: how can we ensure sport genuinely belongs to women and girls — not simply in name, but in practice?
Drawing on Papua New Guinea’s experience, she highlighted the serious gender inequality challenges confronting communities and argued that sport cannot operate in isolation from these wider social realities. Instead, community sport can become a trusted platform for prevention, inclusion, leadership and empowerment.
Waiwai highlighted programmes including Just Play, delivered under the Team Up banner, where structured sporting activities provide safe spaces for girls while incorporating female and mixed-gender coaching, clear codes of conduct and opportunities for children with disabilities.
The examples reinforced a wider message for Oceania: the value of sport must extend beyond competition and medals to the contribution it can make to healthier, safer and more inclusive Pacific communities.
Safeguarding must be embedded in sport
Central to Waiwai’s intervention was the responsibility of sporting organisations to provide safe environments.
She outlined the PNG Commonwealth Games Association’s approach to safeguarding, including clear procedures for responding to concerns and embedding messages around healthy relationships, consent and reporting mechanisms into programme delivery.
“Safeguarding cannot be optional,” Waiwai stressed, arguing that it must become part of coach education, clubs, competitions and sporting organisations.
This focus aligns strongly with ONOC’s commitment under its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan to strengthen the capability of its member NOCs and to lead by example in building effective, inclusive and well-governed sporting organisations across the region.
From participation to leadership
Waiwai also challenged sporting organisations to look beyond participation numbers and ensure women have meaningful opportunities to lead.
The PNG Commonwealth Games Association has maintained a Gender Equity Committee for almost three decades, while its Gender Equity Policy embeds equality into recruitment, team selection, professional development and leadership pathways.
Waiwai noted that women have won more than half of Team PNG’s gold medals across the past three quadrennials.
“When women are given equal opportunity, they excel — and they inspire the next generation,” she said.
For ONOC, developing this next generation of women leaders is also an important part of preparing Oceania for Brisbane 2032. The region’s Home Games pathway extends beyond athlete performance to strengthening the wider ecosystem around athletes, including coaches, technical officials, administrators, leaders and sporting organisations.
Taking Oceania’s partnership model to the Commonwealth
Speaking specifically in her capacity as ONOC Vice President, Waiwai highlighted the value of regional collaboration and partnership.
She pointed to the Oceania Impact Network (OIN), showcased by ONOC at the recent IWG Global Summit on Women and Sport, as an example of a Pacific-led partnership bringing together sport, governments, development partners and civil society to create safer and more inclusive environments for women and girls.
Waiwai told the meeting that lasting change comes through “trust, shared leadership and genuine partnership.”
That message directly supports ONOC’s strategic priority of Cultivating Strategic Partnerships and the organisation’s increasing emphasis on using regional and international engagement to mobilise the relationships, expertise and investment required by Pacific sport.
It is particularly significant on the pathway to Brisbane 2032. ONOC has identified the Home Games as a once-in-a-generation opportunity for Pacific nations to use sport as a lever for broader transformation, strengthening athlete pathways and human capability while bringing governments, NOCs, sporting federations, development partners and the private sector around shared national and regional objectives.
Four actions from Oceania
Waiwai concluded by presenting Commonwealth Sports Ministers with four practical “no-regrets actions”: embed safeguarding and gender equality into national sport policy and funding; invest in community sport as a frontline platform for prevention and inclusion; elevate women and girls into leadership across sport; and strengthen partnerships rather than duplicate effort.
The recommendations provide a practical bridge between the social impact of sport today and the kind of sporting ecosystem Oceania wants to build towards 2032.
For the Pacific, Brisbane 2032 is therefore about more than preparing athletes for a Home Games. It is an opportunity to build stronger NOCs, develop more Pacific leaders, create safer sporting environments, deepen partnerships and ensure women and girls are equally positioned to participate, perform and lead.
Waiwai closed with a message that resonated beyond Papua New Guinea and across the wider Oceania region:
“Together, let us ensure sport remains a catalyst for equality, leadership, safety and hope for every woman and girl across the Commonwealth.”
Her presence in Glasgow demonstrated ONOC’s commitment to ensuring Oceania has a voice in the international conversations shaping the future of sport, while bringing those conversations back to the region’s own priorities.
As ONOC advances its 2025–2028 Strategic Plan and the collective pathway towards Brisbane 2032, that voice will be increasingly important: advocating for the Pacific, building partnerships for its NOCs and athletes, and ensuring that the legacy of a Home Games is measured not only by sporting performance, but by the stronger, safer and more inclusive Oceania sport system it leaves behind…..PACNEWS
