In this bulletin:
1. FOOTBALL — Samoa and New Caledonia kickstart Group B with wins in Honiara
2. FOOTBALL — New Caledonia show plenty of spirit in defeat by China at FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
3. FOOTBALL — New Caledonia join Solomon Islands in semi-finals
4. RUGBY LEAGUE — Fiji spearheads push to ‘make rugby league great again’ in the Pacific
5. NETBALL — One game at a time for Fiji Pearls
6. ATHLETICS — Sāmoa sports chief calls for NZ to open doors for athletes
7. CRICKET — Vanuatu U-19 cricketers ready for World Cup qualifier challenge
8. RUGBY — Sua Fa’alogo Crowned Melbourne Storm Player of the Year
9. PARA ATHLETE — New sports, new dreams for para athletes
10. HANDBALL — Women’s handball team heads to International Indoor Tournament
PAC – FOOTBALL: OFC PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Samoa and New Caledonia kickstart Group B with wins in Honiara
HONIARA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OFC) — Samoa have begun their quest to qualify for a third consecutive FIFA U-17 Women’s World Cup™ with a 2-1 win over Polynesian rivals Tonga at the National Stadium in Honiara.
Finalists in each of the last two editions of the tournament, two goals in two first half minutes from Taimane Devoux proved enough for Samoa to open their OFC U-16 Women’s Championship 2026 campaign with three points in Group B.
Devoux scored the first in the ninth minute, picking out the bottom-left corner of the net with a pinpoint strike from the top of the box, before adding a spectacular second goal two minutes later. Her right-footed effort looped over the head of Tongan goalkeeper Juanita Kiu from a long way out.
Devoux’s early contender for goal of the tournament was matched, if not beaten, by Tonga’s Angel Mailangi in the 42nd minute though, the latter picking out the top-right corner of the net with a long-range stunner of her own off the left flank.
Despite the two draw-dropping goals, neither side could add to their tally in a goalless second half. Tonga had opportunities to snatch a late equaliser, but Samoa nervously held on for victory.
Samoa: 2 (Taimane DEVOUX 9’, 11’)
Tonga: 1 (Angel MAILANGI 42’)
HT: 2-1
Earlier in the day, Kinë Hmaen scored a hat-trick as New Caledonia opened Group B with a 5-2 victory over Papua New Guinea.
Both the Golden Boot and Golden Ball winner at last year’s U-16 Women’s Championship, Hmaen announced her return to the tournament with three of New Caledonia’s five goals, including two in the first half.
The striker opened the scoring from the penalty spot in the 17th minute and added a second with a first-time effort into the top-right corner twelve minutes later, helped by the underside of the crossbar.
There was a special moment for Papua New Guinea just after the half-hour mark though. Chriszanne Sifas beat opposing goalkeeper Bernadette Nyikeine to a long ball over the top of the New Caledonian defence, scoring Papua New Guinea’s first goal at the championship since a 2-1 win over New Caledonia in the semi-finals of the 2016 tournament, over 3,880 days ago.
Making their return to the tournament for the first time in a decade, Papua New Guinea gave a promising account of themselves but were continually caught out by the pace of Hmaen and her attacking partner Heidra Adjouhgniope. The latter got on the scoresheet to score New Caledonia’s third just before the break.
The 2025 semi-finalists then added two more in the second half, Hmaen completing her hat-trick in the 56th minute, before Emma Jiako rounded out the win with a fifth three minutes from the end of normal time.
Glenda Danny scored a late consolation for Papua New Guinea, but the return of the former two-time finalists after 10 years away ended in defeat.
Papua New Guinea will look to bounce back against Tonga, and New Caledonia will face Samoa, when the second matchday in Group B is played at the National Stadium on Thursday evening.
New Caledonia: 5 (Kinë HMAEN (P) 17’, 29’, 56’, Heidra ADJOUHGNIOPE 41’, Emma JIAKO 87’)
Papua New Guinea: 2 (Chriszanne SIFAS 32’, Glenda DANNY 82’)
HT: 3-1…. PACNEWS
PAC – FOOTBALL: OFC PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
New Caledonia show plenty of spirit in defeat by China at FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup
APIA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OFC) — New Caledonia’s historic FIFA U-20 Women’s World Cup debut in Poland has ended in a 5-0 defeat by China, but the Oceania representatives left Arena Sosnowiec with plenty of pride after a brave display against one of Asia’s strongest youth teams.
New Caledonia produced a disciplined and committed opening 45 minutes, frustrating China PR with compact defending, determined tracking, and a willingness to compete for every ball. The Cagous absorbed sustained pressure to keep the score level at half-time.
China eventually found the breakthrough immediately after halftime through Xiao Yafei, and the match shifted decisively once substitute Chen Ruilin entered the contest.
Chen went on to assist four of China PR’s five goals, while Huang Jiaxin, struck a devastating 12-minute hat-trick from the 71st minute to secure a comfortable win.
While the scoreline blew out it was just 1-0 until the 71st minute when Huang scored the first of her three goals.
New Caledonia’s opening half was encouraging for coach Leo Waitronye who must now prepare his team for tough Group F games against European giants Spain and African powerhouse Nigeria.
New Caledonia 0
China PR 5 (Xiao YAFEI 46’, Huang JIAXIN 71’, 80’, 83’, Zhou XINYI 73’)…. PACNEWS
PAC – FOOTBALL: OFC PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
New Caledonia join Solomon Islands in semi-finals
APIA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (OFC) — New Caledonia have advanced to the semi-finals and kept their OFC U-19 Men’s Championship campaign alive with a 7-0 victory over Papua New Guinea at the Samoa Football HQ in Apia.
Attempting to qualify for a second consecutive FIFA U-20 World Cup at this year’s championship, New Caledonia sealed their place in the knockout stage from Group A with four first half goals, and a double from striker Jemmanuel Siwoine.
The result is New Caledonia’s fourth consecutive victory over Papua New Guinea at the U-19 Men’s Championship, following on from a 2-1 success at the same stage at the last edition of the tournament two years ago.
Captain Sipae Qaeze opened the scoring inside the first quarter of an hour, starting a dominant afternoon for the French-speaking nation with a long-range shot that deflected into the bottom-left corner.
Three goals in a five-minute stretch before half-time then put the contest to bed, Gregory Diko scoring from the penalty spot, Jemmanuel Siwoine slotting home from close range, and Kynaï Toto converting from a cross to the back post.
Siwoine scored his second late in regular time, as New Caledonia completed the resounding win with three more goals in the second half. Substitutes Bento Lages and Alexis Ijelipa also added their name to the scoresheet.
Papua New Guinea: 0
New Caledonia: 7 (Sipane QAEZE 15’, Gregory DIKO (P) 40’, Jemmanuel SIWOINE 43’, 80’, Kynaï TOTO 45’, Bento LAGES 90’, Alexis IJELIPA 90+2’)
HT: 0-4
Later in the day, captain Jayroll Patty found the back of the net again as the Solomon Islands secured top spot in Group A with a 2-0 victory over Samoa.
Fresh off scoring a hat-trick in his team’s previous match with New Caledonia, Patty scored both goals, increasing his tally to five in two games at the championship, as the Solomon Islands topped their group for the third time in six editions.
Patty got the opening breakthrough in the 20th minute, picking out the bottom-right corner of the net on his left foot after being set-up by Wilkenson Siosi.
He then added the icing on the cake in the 90th minute, breaking into the penalty box and rounding the goalkeeper to seal the three points.
Meeting at the U-19 Men’s Championship for the first time in 19 years, Samoa had their opportunities in front of a home crowd in Apia too. Javier Arratia-Pio came close with an effort that hit the left post, after latching onto a long ball in-behind the Solomon Islands defence, but the tournament hosts couldn’t finish their group stage campaign with a positive result.
The Solomon Islands will now move on to face the runner-up of Group B, whilst New Caledonia will play the winner of Group B (likely to be New Zealand), in the semi-finals of OFC U-19 Men’s Championship 2026 on Friday.
Meanwhile, Samoa will play in the play-off for 7th place, and Papua New Guinea will compete in the play-off for fifth place, both on Saturday.
Samoa: 0
Solomon Islands: 2 (Jayroll PATTY 20’, 90′)
HT: 0-1…. PACNEWS
FIJI – RUGBY LEAGUE: RNZ PACIFIC PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Fiji spearheads push to ‘make rugby league great again’ in the Pacific
SUVA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (RNZ PACIFIC) — The Fiji National Rugby League (FNRL) is spearheading discussions for new regional tournaments aimed at creating playing opportunities for local players in the region.
FNRL chairman Rajesh Singh has confirmed that discussions are being held with New Zealand Rugby League (NZRL) and Asia Pacific Rugby League (APRL) to establish a Nines (9s) tournament series in the Pacific.
At the same time, there are also plans to have a 13-a-side tournament similar to rugby union’s Pacific Nations Cup (PNC).
Singh told local media in Suva last week the new 9s tournament would feature Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Papua New Guinea.
“It will include all local players and it’ll be a pathway for our local resident club players,” Singh confirmed to local media.
“We need to give our local players in the islands the opportunity to have competitive matches so they can also develop their skills and knowledge of the game.”
The 13-a-side tournament will follow the same format as the PNC, which had Fiji, Samoa and Tonga initially, but now includes Japan, Canada and the United States of America.
Singh said they also want test matches with the future Kiwis’ teams and the Māori selections.
“We’re going to have more discussions to make rugby league great again,” he added.
NZRL chairman Justin Leydesdoff told local media in Suva that they are working with FNRL to grow the game in the country by providing opportunities for resident club teams.
“We’re (NZ) in the same pool with Fiji in the World Cup and Fiji has done well against the Kiwis previously, so I can commit to supporting Fiji in every game, except against the Kiwis and Kiwi Ferns,” he said.
“We have a long and strong relationship as a country and as a sport. It’s about having close relations to ensure that we maximise the opportunities there.”
APRL chairman Sandis Tsaka said they were assisting Pacific countries in developing the game.
“There’s been a structured pathway and programmes for elite players, but we feel we can do more within our region for our domestic competitions to support our young people,” he said.
“The issues and challenges are the same across the region as discussed over the last 12 days.”
India, China and stadium talks
Meanwhile, Singh said the FNRL is also in discussion with India and China on possible assistance for the construction of a stadium.
Fiji signed up to Australia’s Pacific Rugby League Partnership last month, with that funding expected to boost the sport locally, especially in boosting youth and women’s development.
Singh said as part of their focus on getting a NRL spot for a franchise club the FNRL would need to have a proper stadium to host NRL matches.
He confirmed discussions have started with both India, who have just been voted in as a member of the international federation, and China.
Singh said to be considered for NRL inclusion Fiji must have upgraded facilities, including a custom built stadium.
“That is important and we want to have that here,” he said.
As far as the upcoming Rugby League World Cup (RLWC) is concerned, Singh said they have a 40-member squads registered with International Rugby League, for both the men and women’s teams.
Those squads will be reduced to 23-members each ahead of the RLWC, which is scheduled for Australia and Papua New Guinea from 15 October to 15 November…. PACNEWS
FIJI – NETBALL: FBC SPORTS PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
One game at a time for Fiji Pearls
SUVA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (FBC SPORTS) — The Fiji Pearls will treat every match like a final when the Netball World Cup Oceania Qualifiers get underway in Tonga next week.
Looking at their schedule, head coach Michelle Parons says the Pearls are set to face some of the toughest teams in the Pacific.
The team understands the importance of the tournament and is ready to step onto the court, give its best and make the country proud.
Parons is also calling on Fiji fans and supporters living in Tonga to turn out in numbers and get behind the team throughout the tournament.
“We know how tough its going to be but the girls are ready and excited. And if there’s any of our fans or supporters there in Tonga, pleased come out and cheer on the team.”
The Pearls will open their campaign against the Cook Islands next Tuesday before taking on Samoa on Wednesday.
They will then face hosts Tonga before completing their campaign against Papua New Guinea…. PACNEWS
PAC – ATHLETICS: PMN PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Sāmoa sports chief calls for NZ to open doors for athletes
WELLINGTON, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (PMN) — New Zealand does not necessarily need to match Australia dollar-for-dollar to make a bigger impact on Pacific sport but it could start by making it easier for athletes to get across the Tasman.
That is the view of Sāmoa’s top sports official after Australia announced a A$15.6 million (US$11.26 million) investment over four years to help athletes and officials from 14 Pacific countries access high-performance training and major international competitions.
Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese says the investment is aimed at helping the region’s sporting talent reach the next level.
“The Pacific is home to incredible sporting talent. This new partnership will contribute to producing the next generation of successful athletes,” Albanese said in a media release.
Tuala Mathew Vaea, chief executive of the Sāmoa Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (SASNOC), says the country would welcome a similar long-term partnership with Aotearoa.
Tuala, who was in Fiji for the Oceania National Olympic Committee (ONOC) meeting, believes access could be just as important as money.
“I actually thought about this question and I thought maybe not from a monetary level but maybe some sort of special visa exemptions to allow the back and forth of our athletes,” he told Tuilagi William Leolahi on Pacific Huddle.
He says athletes based in the islands need regular access to the resources and competition available in countries such as Aotearoa and Australia.
“It’s one thing to train in the Pacific Islands but it’s something else to have those strong partnerships with the coach, with your sports science, with your sports medicine,” he says.
Australia’s new funding will support Pacific athletes and officials on the road to the Tahiti 2027 Pacific Games, Los Angeles 2028 Olympics and Paralympics, and the Rarotonga 2029 Pacific Mini Games.
Tuala says the timing is important for Sāmoa. The country has many of the sporting facilities built for the 2007 Pacific Games with upgrades continuing.
But he says Sāmoa’s sporting systems still need to move up another level.
“We’ve had the facility, the sporting facility, Sāmoa is one of the most well setup Pacific Island nation, given the infrastructure that was set up in the Pacific Games 2007.
“But a lot of our sporting facilities and the systems also need that next level up.”
The next few years will bring a packed calendar, including the Tahiti Pacific Games in 2027, Los Angeles 2028, the Pacific Mini Games in Rarotonga in 2029, the 2030 Commonwealth Games in India and the 2031 Pacific Games in Tonga.
Tuala says athletes need more than somewhere to train if they are going to compete at that level.
“Access through immigration, easy access to that particular country,” he says, would give athletes, coaches and sporting leaders more confidence to plan their pathways.
Tuala believes New Zealand already has strong sporting links with Sāmoa through sports such as rugby and netball but says a wider regional approach could help more athletes.
Aotearoa already has a government Sport Diplomacy Strategy for 2025 to 2030, which lists strengthening the Pacific through sport as one of its four priorities.
The strategy includes plans to support Pacific communities, strengthen sporting leadership and build capability.
But New Zealand has not announced a funding package to match Australia’s new four-year commitment to Pacific athletes.
“Our wish would be maybe a broader outlook to all our sports to have access and maybe a similar sort of support system that Australia, given this new initiative, has given,” Tuala told Tuilagi.
Tuala says long-term certainty is key. “Planning long term, knowing and having the confidence that there is secured support for four to six to eight years.
“That would be a very strong and welcome position for the Pacific, Sāmoa specifically.”
And the payoff could go well beyond medals, with stronger links in coaching, sports science, medicine, event management and other areas helping build the wider sporting system across the Pacific…. PACNEWS
VAN – CRICKET: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Vanuatu U-19 cricketers ready for World Cup qualifier challenge
PORT VILA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — Vanuatu U-19 men’s cricket team are ready to begin their campaign in the ICC World Cup East Asia-Pacific Division 2 Qualifier.
Vanuatu Cricket Association hosted a celebration on Sunday to announce the 14-member squad ahead of the four-day tournament.
The Interchange Vanuatu squad is captained by Surya Lekia, with Chad Natavi, Waane Sirovulu, Gregory Wotu, Lakzon Tavesa, Killion Masauvakalo, Phillise Tastuki, Clement Nabanga, Lukas Chilia, Oliver Songi, Isaac Jeffry, Nevin Vira, Graig Melten and Jamie Firiam completing the squad.
The team will be guided by Head Coach Joshua Rasu, with Chris Laffan serving as High-Performance Manager and Raymundo Lekai as Team Manager.
Vanuatu will face Indonesia, Samoa and Papua New Guinea in the regional qualifier. The squad has been preparing extensively in the lead-up to the tournament.
Vanuatu Cricket High-Performance Manager, Chris Laffan, said the qualifier is an important opportunity for the young players to gain international experience and continue progressing through the national cricket pathway.
“We’re pleased with the squad we’ve selected and the work the players have put in to earn this opportunity,” Laffan said.
“For some of these players, this is an important step towards becoming the future of Vanuatu Cricket, and this tournament gives them the chance to test themselves at international level.”
The U19 team is supported through Vanuatu Cricket’s ongoing partnership with Interchange, with half of the selected players having progressed through the Interchange Cricket Academy.
The players have moved from the academy’s development programme into national U-19 representation, providing a clear example of how the development pathway is producing young players for Vanuatu’s representative teams.
Chairman of the Interchange Board, James Willie, said the selection of academy graduates into the national U19 squad was a significant milestone for the partnership.
“For Interchange as a partner, it marks a significant milestone to see the progression from academy development to national representation,” he said.
“ICL is proud of the young participants who have shown dedication, resilience, and commitment to the programme. These positive results only reaffirm ICL’s commitment as partners to the programme.
Vanuatu will open its campaign against Indonesia, before facing Samoa and Papua New Guinea in the remaining fixtures.
Vanuatu Cricket is hosting the four-day tournament in Port Vila with the support of the International Cricket Council…. PACNEWS
PAC – RUGBY: SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Sua Fa’alogo Crowned Melbourne Storm Player of the Year
APIA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (SAMOA GLOBAL NEWS) — Sua Fa’alogo has been named Melbourne Storm’s Player of the Year after an impressive 2026 NRL season.
Ryan Papenhuyzen stepped away from rugby league at the end of the 2025 season, which meant Fa’alogo became Melbourne’s starting fullback this year in his first full season as a regular starter.
In his 24 appearances, the man from Siumu scored 18 tries and averaged 192 running metres per game.
Fa’alogo didn’t just have a habit of scoring tries; he could set them up too, recording 15 try assists this season.
Sua worked his way through the Victorian rugby league system before making his Storm debut in 2023, becoming just the fifth Victorian to play for the club.
Fa’alogo now hopes to take this form into the Rugby League World Cup when he runs out for Samoa in October…. PACNEWS
VAN – PARA ATHLETE: VANUATU DAILY POST PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
New sports, new dreams for para athletes
PORT VILA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (VANUATU DAILY POST) — More than 30 athletes living with disabilities from across Vanuatu have been given an opportunity to experience wheelchair tennis and para acherty for the first time, opening new possibility for their sporting development.
The new sports were introduced as part of the ongoing National Para Athletics Championship in Port Vila, providing athletes with an opportunity to explore new sporting talents and consider pathways towards future national, regional and international competition.
For Tafea athlete Sam Nawiwa, the experience of stepping onto the national tennis courts was a milestone.
It was the first time he had entered the courts, seen a tennis racket up close and held one in his hands.
Sam said the experience had shown him that people living with disabilities could also take part in a wider sporting community.
He said developing his skills in para sport could eventually allow him to travel around Vanuatu to compete and, if he became good enough, represent the country at regional and international competitions.
The introduction of wheelchair tennis is also being seen as a significant step in strengthening the relationship between mainstream sport and para sport.
Tennis coach Jamel Tari said this was the first time tennis had been included in the national para championship.
He said coaches were pleasantly surprised by the ability and potential demonstrated by many of the athletes during the sessions.
“Surprisingly, a lot of the athletes have the potential to be very good players,” Tari said.
He said equality and fairness should be at the heart of sport, regardless of whether a person has a disability.
Tari said he hoped the partnership between tennis and para sport would continue to grow and become bigger and more successful at next year’s championship.
Meanwhile, para archery also gave athletes the opportunity to challenge themselves in a completely new discipline.
Torba representative Allica Wonrisris, 18, said learning to shoot a bow and arrow had changed the way she viewed what was possible for athletes living with disabilities.
“If they can shoot using a bow and an arrow, then I can also do it,” she said.
The Baldwin Lonsdale student, who competes in javelin and shot put, said taking part in sport could also contribute to better health and wellbeing.
Wonrisris said Vanuatu has many people living with disabilities who have the potential to become good athletes, but financial challenges continue to limit opportunities for them to train and compete.
She said she hoped more sporting opportunities would be created for people living with disabilities, particularly young athletes…. PACNEWS
COOKS – HANDBALL: COOK ISLANDS NEWS PACNEWS SPORT: Tue 08 Sep 2026
Women’s handball team heads to International Indoor Tournament
RAROTONGA, 08 SEPTEMBER 2026 (COOK ISLANDS NEWS) — For the first time in 22 years, the Cook Islands will have a senior women’s team in an International Indoor tournament.
The team departed Rarotonga for Wellington, New Zealand Monday with tournament dates scheduled for September 10th – 14th.
The team is made of 14 players with majority from Rarotonga and few from Wellington and coached by Peter Tangimetua John and Paul-Luiz Van Eijk.
This will mark the 3rd international tournament for the senior women’s handball this year 2026, having attended the Oceania Beach Handball Championships earlier in the year, where they placed 2nd overall (Silver), attended their first ever IHF Women’s World Beach Handball Championships, and now making history again for Indoor Handball after 22 years. What an incredible year for our women.
Acknowledgement goes out to the families, communities and friends who helped our women during the fundraisers over the past few months…. PACNEWS
