PACNEWS SPORTS, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026

In this bulletin:

1. FOOTBALL — Solomon Islands and New Caledonia enter winners circle on first day at OFC U-19 Men’s Championship
2. FOOTBALL — Kapuls start OFC campaign
3. FOOTBALL — Pacific’s young stars chase two FIFA World Cup places in Sāmoa
4. RUGBY — Queensland Reds name women’s squad for Santos Festival of Rugby
5. RUGBY — Ellis joins Flying Fijians as interim defence coach
6. SURFING — Major upsets shake up Fiji Pro
7. PICKLEBALL — Cook Islands shines with gold medals at Da Nang Pickleball Tournament
8. ATHLETICS — Albanese announces Pacific athlete boost ahead of Brisbane’32
9. BASKETBALL — Pivotal moment for Basketball Fiji: Fox
10. GOLF — Sāmoa’s next golf stars need backing to reach the world stage – expert

PAC – FOOTBALL: OFC PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Solomon Islands and New Caledonia enter winners circle on first day at OFC U-19 Men’s Championship

APIA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OFC) — The Solomon Islands have started their campaign with a 1-0 victory over Melanesian rivals Papua New Guinea in the opening match of the OFC U-19 Men’s Championship 2026 at the Samoa Football HQ in Apia.

Meeting at the U-19 Men’s Championship for the first time in 12 years, Wilkenson Siosi scored the game’s only goal between the neighboring nations, in a Group A contest that the Solomon Islands otherwise dominated.

Siosi’s goal came inside the first 16 minutes, racing onto a pinpoint pass in-behind the opposition defence from captain Jayroll Patty, and beating Papua New Guinea goalkeeper Ricky Hulana from close range.

They really should have extended the deficit with the opportunities they created across the course of the contest though, bossing possession and forcing a number of fingertip stops from Hulana, who did his best to keep PNG in the contest.

Papua New Guinea’s squad featured five players from the U-16 national team who missed out on a FIFA World Cup™ spot after losing to the Solomon Islands at the OFC U-16 Men’s Championship a month earlier, and they couldn’t make amends here.

One of those five, Bomcege Basananuc was shown a second yellow card for a rash challenge retreating into his own half, reducing Papua New Guinea to ten men and extinguishing their hopes of a comeback in the 74th minute.

Solomon Islands: 1 (Wilkenson SIOSI 16’)

Papua New Guinea: 0

HT: 1-0

2024 OFC U-19 Men’s Championship finalists New Caledonia followed suit in Group A with a 4-2 victory over tournament hosts Samoa at the same venue later in the day.

Attempting to qualify for a second consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cup™ at this year’s championship in Samoa, three goals inside the first twenty minutes made sure of the three points for the French-speaking nation.

Ezekiel Wamowe had his spot kick saved by Samoan goalkeeper Iosua Iakopo Sapani but followed through on the rebound to open the scoring at the Samoa Football HQ inside two minutes. That was quickly followed by two more goals, the first from Fabrice Iopue from a free kick delivery, and the second from Kylian Wiako from a break in-behind, putting New Caledonia in charge early on.

The pick of the New Caledonian goals was the fourth and final – Landry Thupako catching goalkeeper Sapani off his line, and finding the back of the net from long range two minutes into the start of the second half.

Samoa had kept New Caledonia to just a 2-1 scoreline when the two teams had met at the group stage of the tournament two years earlier though and found the back of the net twice in consolation.

Isaiah Afamasaga scored the first from a shot that rebounded off the left post, before Player of the Match Javier Arratia-Pio rose highest from a corner delivery at the back post to round out the scoring in a six-goal thriller.

The two early pacesetters in Group A – New Caledonia and Solomon Islands – will meet on Friday, before hosts Samoa look to bounce back against Papua New Guinea, the loser of which could be facing an early elimination.

New Caledonia: 4 (Ezekiel WAMOWE 2’, Fabrice IOPUE 9’, Kylian WIAKO 20’, Landry THUPAKO 48’)

Samoa: 2 (Isaiah AFAMASAGA 51’, Javier ARRATIA-PIO 72’)

HT: 3-0…. PACNEWS

PAC – FOOTBALL: THE NATIONAL PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Kapuls start OFC campaign

PORT MORESBY, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (THE NATIONAL) — The Oceania Under-19 men’s soccer championship kicked off in Samoa Tuesday, and the Papua New Guinea Kapuls opened their campaign against Solomon Islands at 5am (PNG time).

The Kapuls are contesting for a spot at the Fifa U20 World Cup alongside Solomon Islands, Samoa, and New Caledonia in Group A of the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) championship. Group B comprises New Zealand, Tahiti, Fiji and Vanuatu. Talking to OFC media Tuesday, PNG coach Mathew Witu said the Kapuls did well during the qualifiers in the Cook Islands under the command of captain Nalau Moses.

He said the PNG squad remained the same with only one change.

“Leading up to this tournament, their (players’) attitude and preparations were good and we are looking forward to the tournament. No big changes to the squad, we’ve kept the same group of players who went to the Cook Islands.

“Their attitude to training, their hard work, and commitment, I think the boys are looking forward to it. We’ve dreamt about it so we are here for the challenge,” Witu said.

“My objectives are to play simple, sticking to minimum ball touches and the result will come on its own. Football is about fair play, and there will always be a winner and a loser.”

Witu said securing a spot at the World Cup is a goal for everyone, noting that all other teams would have also prepared well for this challenge, therefore, the PNG Kapuls would give all fixtures their best shot.

Solomon Islands coach Nee Franco said they had started preparing way ahead of the tournament date and the team is looking good and ready to meet the Kapuls in their opening match.

“The squad is made up of a handful of both experienced, some of whom have played in the senior teams back home. Our captain was part of the OFC Pro League squad, plus young players who are building themselves up,” he said.

“My team is fully confident heading into the opening match against PNG. We want a spot in the World Cup because our Under-16 men’s have already set the benchmark by qualifying earlier; so we want to keep that standard up there.”…. PACNEWS

PAC – FOOTBALL: PMN PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Pacific’s young stars chase two FIFA World Cup places in Sāmoa

APIA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PMN) — The road to the FIFA Under-20 World Cup is underway in Sāmoa this week with eight Pacific teams chasing just two places at next year;s tournament in Azerbaijan and Uzbekistan.

Defending champions New Zealand enter the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) Under-19 Men’s Championship as one of the teams to beat.

But head coach José Figueira knows there is more at stake than another regional title.

The All Whites open their Pool B campaign against Tahiti on Wednesday with Fiji and Vanuatu also in the group.

Figueira says the current squad includes players who have already made the jump into professional football in New Zealand, Australia and elsewhere.

“We have a large group of players coming through from the last Under-17 cycle, and many of our players have become professionals, whether in New Zealand, Australia or across the globe,” he told OFC Media.

For Figueira, the target is clear: get the players on to the biggest stage in world youth football.

“We want to do that in Oceania, but for those players, we want them to do that on the world stage as well. So, for us, it’s always an objective to qualify.”

Tahiti will have the same goal when they face New Zealand, with coach Raimana Bu-Luc confident after several months of preparation.

“The main objective for Tahiti is to qualify for the World Cup. I think everything is in place. So, we are ready, we are going to do everything to qualify.”

Vanuatu will also be looking to make a strong start, with much of their squad already having senior international experience.

Their coach John Philemon has set a clear first target: “We aim to qualify for the semi-finals and go from there.”

Fiji come into the tournament with their own World Cup hopes and a squad that has been tested during a six-week camp at the Fiji Football Academy in Ba.

Coach Marika Rodu says seven players were part of Fiji’s Under-17 World Cup campaign, while others have gained experience at senior club and international level.

“We have seven players from the last U-17 FIFA World Cup,” Rodu says. “Two players are returning for their second U-19 competition, and we have four players who had OFC Pro League experience with Bula FC, as well as nine overseas-based players.

Rodu says his team has one goal: “Our goal is to go to the World Cup next year.”

While Pool B gets under way on Wednesday Pool A has already produced an early result today, with Solomon Islands beating Papua New Guinea 1-0.

With so much on the line, the coaches say every match in Sāmoa carries more than regional pride. For the players chasing professional careers, it is a chance to put themselves on the world stage…. PACNEWS

PAC – RUGBY: RUGBY.COM.AU PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Queensland Reds name women’s squad for Santos Festival of Rugby

CANBERRA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (RUGBY.COM.AU) — Harmony Vatau is inching closer to committing her future to Australia, rather than Samoa, with her inclusion in the Queensland Reds women’s squad for the Santos Festival of Rugby in Roma.

The standout women’s player in Queensland this season is part of a 33-strong Reds squad named today to prepare for the match against the NSW Waratahs in Roma on September 19.

In declaring her availability, she opted out of selection for the WXV Global Series Challenger in Hong Kong where Samoa is due to play The Netherlands, Spain and Hong Kong China later this month.

Instead, the versatile back will focus on the Reds’ next mission in Roma beside housemate and centre Iron Talia, a first-time selection.

The Melbourne-raised duo made it a first season to remember in Queensland with their starring roles for Sunnybank in last weekend’s pulsating 27-25 victory over Bond University to claim the Sumo Energy Founders Cup at Ballymore Stadium.

Vatau won the Selena Worsley Medal as Player of the Grand Final to cap a stellar month in which she was also awarded the Shannon Parry Medal as Reds Player of the Year.

Eva Karpani, Tiarah Minns, Ava Wereta, Jemma Bemrose and first-time inclusion Piper Flynn were all unavailable because they fly out on Thursday with the Wallaroos for Tests against England, France and Scotland in the WXV Global Series.

The final squad will be trimmed to 25 players for Roma which is an important building block for planning heading towards the 2027 season.

A strong core of 15 players from the Super Rugby Women’s squad has been selected with additional opportunities for well-performed club players, adaptable sevens players, Queensland Country product Lanelle Maui and schoolgirl standouts.

Backrower Maui (Norths), winger Maya McKellar (Easts) and lock Meleana Tafa (Sunnybank) are the three rising schoolgirl talents selected in the initial squad.

Maui attends Downlands College in Toowoomba and her dynamic ball-carrying caught the eye of Reds Head Coach Andrew Fraser late last year.

The athletic Laylani Va’ai, an eye-catching lock-backrower from Wests, is another project player of real potential.

Fraser said it was important to reward high-performers from the Founders Cup with selection for Roma.

“Players like (flanker) Shannon Simon, (prop) Olivia Warlow and Iron Talia have been good all year but built undeniable claims in the finals. (Fullback) Vitalina Naikore caught fire,” Fraser said.

“(Winger) Eva Doblo showed her pace in the grand final. Again, her case was quality.

“We had a historic breakthrough in July with Queensland’s first win over NSW in Super Rugby Women’s and we are focussed on continuing that momentum with a strong team performance in Roma.

“We have a good mix of experienced players and newer girls who will have an exciting opportunity at the Santos Festival of Rugby.”

The match in Roma will be Fraser’s sign-off as Queensland women’s coach after two productive seasons.

Reaching the Super Rugby Women’s grand final in 2025 and the landmark victory over NSW in Sydney this season will always be worthy high points of the united, ambitious squads he guided.

“I will always hold incredibly fond memories of Queensland,” Fraser said.

“For the past two years, I have been living a dream – training, working and spending each week at Ballymore alongside the wonderful people who bring the place to life. My boyhood dreams of Ballymore have played out week after week and I will cherish this chapter of my life for many years to come.”

SANTOS FESTIVAL OF RUGBY QUEENSLAND REDS WOMEN’S SQUAD

Forwards

Dominika Baleingasau | Wests

Kieran Berry | University of Queensland

Dillyn Blackburn | Wests

Hayley Glass | University of Queensland

Zoe Hanna | Bond University

Matauimalo Malele Iafeta | University of Queensland

Dani Martens | Wests

Lanelle Maui | Norths

Indya McWilliam | Bond University

Paris Mohr | Bond University

Tiarna Molloy | Brothers

Jordan Neal | Brothers

Zophronia Setu | University of Queensland

Iron Talia | Sunnybank

Laylani Va’ai | Wests

OIivia Warlow | Sunnybank

Backs

Eva Doblo | Bond University

Sarah Dougherty | GPS

Melita Hicks | University of Queensland

Leilani Hills | Easts

Kahotea Taleah | University of Queensland

Maya McKellar | Easts

Darcy Milfull | Wests

Vitalina Naikore | Sunnybank

Reese Orcher | GPS

Kaelyn Passi | Bond University

Evie Sampson | Bond University

Aroha Spillane | University of Queensland

Shannon Symon | Sunnybank

Meleana Tafa | Sunnybank

Alekermay Tuaana | Wests

Harmony Vatau | Sunnybank

Charity Wightman-Beaven | University of Queensland…. PACNEWS

FIJI – RUGBY: FBC SPORTS PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Ellis joins Flying Fijians as interim defence coach

SUVA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FBC SPORTS) — The FIJI Water Flying Fijians have added international coaching experience to their ranks, with David Ellis appointed interim Defence Coach ahead of the Pacific Nations Cup this month.

The highly experienced British coach is already in camp with the national side, working alongside the coaching staff and players as preparations intensify for the tournament.

Ellis brings more than 25 years of experience at the highest levels of international and professional rugby, with a speciality in defensive systems and player development.

His coaching career includes involvement in more than 1,000 professional club matches and over 200 Test matches.

Ellis is best known for his 11-year stint with France, serving as Assistant Coach for Defence from 2000 to 2011.

During that period, France won multiple Six Nations titles, including Grand Slams, reached the Rugby World Cup semi-finals in 2003 and 2007, and went on to the 2011 World Cup final, where they narrowly lost 8–7 to New Zealand.

His international coaching experience also includes consultancy work with the All Blacks during their 3–0 series victory over the British and Irish Lions in 2005, as well as defence coaching roles with Tonga and Romania.

More recently, Ellis worked with Romania during its 2023 Rugby World Cup qualification campaign, helping the side secure a bronze medal in the Rugby Europe Championship.

At club level, he has coached extensively in England and France, with stints at Gloucester, Castres Olympique, CA Brive, London Irish and Lyon.

His immediate task with the Flying Fijians will be to strengthen the side’s defensive systems while working closely with the wider coaching group as Fiji prepares for its Pacific Nations Cup campaign.

Ellis is already actively involved in the team’s training camp, with the Flying Fijians stepping up preparations for the PNC…. PACNEWS

PAC – SURFING: FIJI TIMES PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Major upsets shake up Fiji Pro

SUVA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FIJI TIMES) — Major upsets highlighted another dramatic day of competition as the women’s Round 2 battles concluded at the Fiji Pro Presented by Corona Cero at Cloudbreak.

With the remaining rankings leaders finally getting their opportunity to tackle the challenging Fijian waves, the competition delivered significant surprises that continued to shake up the women’s field.

Portugal’s Yolanda Hopkins produced one of the biggest upsets of the round when she eliminated World No.1 Gabriela Bryan of Hawaii in Heat 5.

Hopkins made the most of the lingering Cloudbreak conditions, posting a combined heat total of 10.17 points to edge Bryan, who finished on 9.93.

The upsets continued when Costa Rica’s Brisa Hennessy took down reigning Australian World Champion Molly Picklum.

Hennessy, a former World Title contender, showed patience and composure in the slow conditions, making the most of her scoring opportunities to claim victory with 8.57 points. Picklum was unable to find the waves she needed and finished with 5.67.

The Round 2 victories provided another major boost for Lakey Peterson and Isabella Nichols, with both surfers reigniting their respective Championship Tour requalification campaigns after producing strong performances to advance.

Attention will now turn towards the decisive stages of the women’s competition, with an exciting quarterfinal lineup set to take centre stage at Cloudbreak.

The opening quarter-final will feature an all-Hawaiian showdown between surfing icon Carissa Moore and Bettylou Sakura Johnson…. PACNEWS

COOKS – PICKLEBALL: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Cook Islands shines with gold medals at Da Nang Pickleball Tournament

RAROTONGA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — Pickleball Cook Islands is buzzing after making history, with the national team claiming the Cook Islands’ first-ever gold medals at an international pickleball tournament in Da Nang, Vietnam.

Pickleball Cook Islands is currently competing in an international tournament in Da Nang, which serves as a prelude to the third Pickleball World Cup, beginning on September 3 local time.

The achievement comes as the sport continues to surge in popularity on Rarotonga since Pickleball Cook Islands was established.

Among the historic medal winners is Nancy Newnham-Kora, who claimed the Cook Islands’ first-ever gold medal in an international pickleball tournament in the women’s doubles category.

Newnham-Kora partnered with Cheryl Ellenberg of the United States after the pair were randomly matched for the competition.

The 58-year-old said representing the Cook Islands at this stage of her life was an “awesome opportunity”.

“Coming from a background of tennis and table tennis, pickleball suits me well,” Newnham-Kora said.

She was grateful for the opportunity and the support she had received.

“Many thanks to all supporters and Pickleball Cook Islands. I encourage everyone at home to try this fast-growing sport to meet new people and to stay active,” she said.

The Cook Islands also secured gold in another women’s doubles division, with Anna Edwards and Christine Dobinson battling through a gruelling series of matches.

Belize finished second, while Australia took third place.

Cook Islands tennis representatives Hinano Ellingham and Tayla Beddoes also took part in the tournament, partnering in the women’s doubles.

The pair faced Romina Casanova and Maria Demirwva in a closely fought match, narrowly losing 21-19.

Pickleball Cook Islands president Matty Beasley said the results marked a significant moment for the national team.

“We are so incredible proud of each and every one of our athletes today who fought hard and with pride against world-class competition,” Beasley said.

“It’s awesome to see us holding our own on the global stage and coming away with some astronomical accomplishments. It was a phenomenal day in Cook Islands Pickleball history and we’re excited for what lies ahead in the coming week.”

Beasley highlighted Newnham-Kora’s gold medal as a major achievement for the team.

He also acknowledged the performances of other Cook Islands players, including Mauke Mauke, who narrowly missed out on a bronze medal in the men’s singles 40-plus category after losing to a player from the Czech Republic.

Gary Cribb also progressed through pool play and into the finals of his men’s singles division.

The Cook Islands national team departed Rarotonga last week to compete in the tournament.

This World Cup is only the third edition of the global event, following the inaugural tournament in Peru in 2024 and last year’s competition in Florida, United States.

More than 60 countries are expected to be represented at this year’s World Cup, up from about 50 in 2025.

Vietnam’s hosting of the event also highlights the rapid growth of pickleball across Asia, where investment in the sport and its infrastructure has increased significantly…. PACNEWS

PAC – ATHLETICS: INSIDE THE GAMES PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Albanese announces Pacific athlete boost ahead of Brisbane’32

CANBERRA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (INSIDE THE GAMES) — The Australian prime minister will reveal $15.6 million (US$11.14 million) in funding aimed at helping participants from the region qualify for and compete at the 2032 Olympic and Paralympics.

The investment will be delivered over four years and provide athletes and officials from 13 Pacific nations with greater access to high-performance training, competition and qualification opportunities. The initiative is being delivered in partnership with the Australian Olympic Committee, Paralympics Australia, Commonwealth Games Australia and regional sporting organisations.

Support will extend beyond Brisbane, with Pacific athletes and officials also set to benefit from assistance for the Tahiti 2027 Pacific Games, the Los Angeles 2028 Olympic and Paralympic Games, the Rarotonga 2029 Pacific Mini Games and other major international sporting events.

The programme is designed to create a longer-term pathway for Pacific athletes, giving them access to high-performance opportunities and international competition in the years leading up to Brisbane 2032. It will also seek to increase the representation of Pacific women, men and para-athletes at the Brisbane Games, while helping sporting organisations across the region strengthen their high-performance systems.

Albanese, who arrived in the small Micronesian nation of Palau on Monday for the Pacific Islands Forum, said “The Pacific is home to incredible sporting talent. This new partnership will contribute to producing the next generation of successful athletes.”

Albanses added, “As we move forward in planning for Brisbane 2032 Australia looks forward to welcoming the best of the best sporting talent from the Pacific and supporting them to go for gold.”

The investment builds on Australia’s existing efforts to develop sporting pathways across the Pacific. Australian sporting organisations have previously worked with Pacific nations to provide athletes with access to high-performance training and international competition, including support ahead of the Paris 2024 Olympic and Paralympic Games.

The latest commitment is therefore intended to build on an established relationship between Australia and Pacific sporting bodies, while creating a clearer pathway towards the 2032 Games. The funding is also part of Australia’s broader use of sport as a diplomatic tool across the Pacific, with Canberra increasingly seeking to strengthen relationships with neighbouring nations through sporting partnerships.

Australia’s sports diplomacy strategy has identified sport as a way to build international connections, while existing programmes such as PacificAus Sports have supported both elite sporting development and wider community initiatives across the region. The approach gives Australia another avenue to engage with Pacific nations at a time when competition for influence in the region is intensifying.

The Albanese Government has previously committed $600m (US$428.81 million) to rugby league in Papua New Guinea, including backing for an NRL team from 2028. It has also announced a $250m (US$178.67 million) agreement to support rugby league in Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.

The scale of those commitments highlights the growing importance of sport within Australia’s broader Pacific engagement, with major sporting events providing opportunities to strengthen political, economic and people-to-people ties. Minister for the Pacific Pat Conroy says “sport has a unique power to bring people together”.

“It support healthy lives, gender equity and youth leadership,” he said. “This is an investment in the development of athletes across the Pacific. I look forward to seeing many successful Pacific athletes at the upcoming Paralympics, Commonwealth and Olympic Games.”

The Pacific Islands Forum has faced a challenging 2026, with several regional leaders opting not to attend the meeting, including representatives from the Solomon Islands, Kiribati, Vanuatu, Samoa and New Caledonia. Ministers and special envoys will represent some of the absent governments.

New Zealand Foreign Minister Winston Peters said the non-attendance of some leaders was ‘highly suspicious’. The absences come as the Pacific continues to be an increasingly important area of strategic competition, with Australia, China, New Zealand, the United States and other powers seeking to deepen relationships with island nations.

Palau is one of only 12 nations in the world that formally recognises Taiwan and has invited Taiwanese diplomats to observe the Pacific Islands Forum.

Albanese’s visit provides an opportunity for Australia to advance its economic and security priorities in the region, while the announcement of the Pacific athlete programme gives Canberra a further opportunity to demonstrate its long-term commitment to its Pacific neighbours.

With Brisbane 2032 now less than six years away, Australia is seeking to ensure the Games deliver benefits beyond the host nation, with Pacific athletes positioned to play a prominent role on the Olympic and Paralympic stage…. PACNEWS

FIJI – BASKETBALL: FBC SPORTS PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Pivotal moment for Basketball Fiji: Fox

SUVA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FBC SPORTS) — Basketball Fiji has reached a new milestone, with captain Joshua Fox believing the national side’s historic qualification for the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round could mark a turning point for the sport in the country.

Fiji secured its place in the next round after a memorable victory over Vietnam, achieving the highest international finish in the country’s basketball history.

For Fox, who has been part of Fiji’s journey in Asia since their first FIBA Asia Cup campaign in Thailand, the breakthrough is the reward for years of hard work.

“It means a lot. We’ve been striving for something this great. I’m very proud of the boys. It’s definitely a crazy uphill battle.”

Fox highlighted the challenge facing Fiji, with many of their opponents boasting professional players, regular international fixtures and established preparation programmes.

“For us to come together and get a win was very historic, and I’m very proud of the boys.”

The victory was also particularly significant for Fox, who described it as his first win in Asia after experiencing a difficult introduction to the competition at Fiji’s first Asia Cup appearance in Thailand.

“That allowed us to know kind of where the level had to be. Now that we have this team, I think we were able to continue making steps forward. You don’t want to take steps backwards.”

Fox believes Fiji’s progress has established a strong platform for the next generation, with young players now able to build on what the current national side has achieved.

Since making his first appearances for Fiji in 2015, Fox has witnessed the growth of the sport firsthand.

“It’s been a crazy journey to see how far we’ve come.”

Fox also pointed to the emergence of younger local talent and growing interest from players based overseas as signs of a brighter future for the national team.

But with Fiji now preparing for the second round in the November window, Fox says the country must seize the opportunity by investing further in basketball.

“I think it’s a pivotal time for us to start actually investing in it.”

Fox called for more local competitions, improved national-team camps, regular test matches and greater support for players as Fiji looks to build on its historic breakthrough.

For Fox, the target is simple.

“Hopefully come back in November, play in the next stage and hopefully sneak out a win. Maybe two. That would be nice.”

Fiji will return to action in the FIBA Asia Cup 2029 Pre-Qualifiers Second Round during the November window, from 23 November to 1 December…. PACNEWS

SAMOA – GOLF: PMN PACNEWS SPORT: Wed 02 Sep 2026

Sāmoa’s next golf stars need backing to reach the world stage – expert

APIA, 02 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PMN) — A nine-year-old Sāmoan golfer taking on professionals and top amateurs at a major tournament has given high-performance expert Etu Tusitala a glimpse of what the country’s next generation could achieve.

The young golfer competed for three days at the Sāmoa Open, a professional and amateur event that carries world ranking points, and an experience Tusitala says shows the talent is already there.

“It’s amazing, brother,” Tusitala told Tuilagi William Leolahi on Pacific Huddle.

“For me, seeing one of our juniors playing in it, nine years old, over three days of a competition that is professional and top amateur.”

The former Fiji sevens high-performance coach and 2022 Rugby World Cup Sevens champion now works with Sāmoa’s Junior Golf High Performance Unit, helping young players prepare for international competition.

The group is preparing to represent Sāmoa in Tahiti but Tusitala says talent alone will not be enough.

“It is absolutely a thing that now we see the talent and we just need the facilitating. “We just need that, what we call the product, to make the product. And that is equipment and just people with such a high level.”

That call for early investment is backed by Sāmoa Golf Incorporated president Leiataua Isikuki Punivalu after a strong showing by local players at last month’s Sāmoa Open.

“This is what happens when you invest in young people early, and in a sport that builds discipline, camaraderie and skill,” Leiataua said in a media release.

The 2026 Sāmoa Open attracted 83 players, up from 57 last year while the amateur field grew by 70 per cent to 68 players. An amateur also won the tournament for the second year in a row.

For Tusitala, developing young golfers starts long before they reach international competition.

He says the lessons he learned working in elite rugby can be applied to golf particularly when it comes to discipline, preparation, and handling pressure.

“Talent is only the starting point. You can have all the talent in the world but without discipline, consistency and the right mindset, you won’t reach your full potential.”

Tusitala says young athletes need to learn how to work hard, deal with mistakes, and stay focused when nobody is watching.

“Talent, you notice a mindset and discipline make you a champion.”

He sees the same demands in golf as he did in rugby, even though one is an individual sport and the other is built around a team.

“Both require discipline, physical preparation, technical skills, focus, and mental strength. And the biggest thing is learning how to perform under pressure.”

That approach is now being introduced to Sāmoa’s young golfers, including conditioning work from an early age.

Tusitala says the aim is to make training enjoyable while teaching players the habits they will need as they move towards elite sport.

The push to get the young golfers to Tahiti is also about giving them experience beyond Sāmoa.

Tusitala is calling on the Sāmoan community in New Zealand to support the fundraising effort.

“When we invest in our young athletes, we are investing in the future of Sāmoa.”

He says international competition can give young players confidence and help them see what is possible.

The former rugby champion is now also competing as a senior golfer himself, giving him another perspective on the demands of high-level sport.

And he believes Sāmoa’s young golfers can go a long way if they are given the right support.

“I think he will come and beat you guys in New Zealand, probably at the age of nine or 10.”

For Tusitala, that confidence is not just talk. He says the next step is making sure Sāmoa’s young talent has the people, equipment, and opportunities needed to turn potential into performance…. PACNEWS