PACNEWS SPORTS, 18 JUNE 2026
In this bulletin: 1. RUGBY LEAGUE — Queensland force state of Origin decider after a 44- 24 rampant win2. RUGBY — Waratahs star Harvey named Super Rugby Pacific Rookie of the Year, Tupaea claims Player of
Olympics
PACNEWS SPORTS, 03 JUNE 2026
In this bulletin: 1. RUGBY — ‘Pasifika Rugby can’t be ignored’: Cook Islands and Tonga make case for Kanaloa takeover2. RUGBY — Moana Pasifika rescue must be more than a bailout, says
Weightlifter Cikamatana in tears after finishing fourth
Eileen Cikamatana was in tears and her coach Paul Coffa is reconsidering retirement after she fell short of their lofty Olympic weightlifting goals. Coffa had confidently predicted the 24-year-old would win a medal, but
World Rugby aim to tweak calendar in wake of Olympic sevens high
World Rugby needs to recalibrate its international calendar to enable more players like Antoine Dupont to switch between sevens and 15s, according to the federation’s CEO, Alan Gilpin. Dupont played a starring
Tasi’s love for the water
Federated States of Micronesia (FSM) Olympic swimmer Tasi Limtiaco’s love for the pool is no surprise, given his island upbringing. “Tasi” means ocean or the sea in the indigenous languages of Guam and the
Samoa boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito passes away at Paris Olympics
The International Boxing Association has released a statement mourning the death of 60-year-old Samoan boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito. The coach reportedly passed away on Friday morning in the Olympic Village
France crowned men’s rugby sevens Olympic champions in Paris
At the end of three scintillating days of Olympic men’s rugby sevens action, played out in front of captivated, capacity crowds of 69,000 at the iconic Stade de France, it was hosts France who took Paris 2024 gold
Record women’s rugby attendance shattered as stars of sevens shine at Olympics
It was the women’s turn to shine on Sunday as the Olympics Games Paris 2024 women’s rugby sevens competition got off to a flying start at Stade de France, in front of a record crowd of 66,000 for a women’s rugby
Record crowd as rugby sevens gets Olympic Games Paris 2024 off to a flying start
Rugby sevens ignited the Olympic Games Paris 2024 with a spectacular first day of action in front of the largest single day crowd in rugby sevens history with 69,000 fans packed into Stade de France and millions more
Olympic Games Paris 2024: Defending champions Fiji lay down early marker
Reigning Olympic champions Fiji reminded everyone exactly why they have two golds to their name on the opening day of the men’s rugby sevens competition at the Olympic Games Paris 2024, beating Uruguay and USA to book
Rugby Sevens set to kick-off Olympic Games Paris 2024 in style
Captains from the 12 men’s and 12 women’s teams gathered at the Olympic Village on Monday ahead of what promises to be the most hotly-contested and highly-anticipated rugby sevens event in history. Following rugby
Beu progressing well in build-up to Paris Olympics
Athletics Papua New Guinea president Tony Green has hailed the code’s Olympic Games representative Leonie Beu for her performance over the weekend at the American Track League. Beu competed at the meet in Tennessee,
Six athletes will represent PNG at the 2024 Paris Olympics
The Papua New Guinea Olympics Committee has announced six athletes representing the country at the 2024 Paris Olympic Games in France starting 26 July -11 August 2024. The athletes including Josh Tarere, and Georgia
First Vanuatu female weightlifter to compete in Olympic Games
21-year-old Ajah Pritchard Lolo will be Vanuatu’s first female weightlifting athlete to compete at the Olympic Games in Paris this month. Last month was a momentous one for Vanuatu as the nation celebrated World
Olympians advocate for Pacific wrestling potential
Three of Oceania’s five wrestling hopefuls for this month’s Paris Olympics are women. They are torch bearers for a sport whose profile in the Pacific is such that in the 61-year history of the Pacific Games, there
Fiji’s golden dream: Can Jerry Tuwai lead them to Paris glory?
Fiji are pinning their hopes on the return of their influential star Jerry Tuwai to help secure a third consecutive Olympic rugby gold medal after experiencing a challenging period both on and off the field. The Fijian
Tongan trailblazer Ofa Aki is off to the Olympics
Tonga’s first female athlete to compete in the Olympics boxing competition, Fe’ofa’aki ‘Epenisa, is excited to represent her Pacific heritage in Paris this month. “I just feel honored and proud. I know
Rugby sevens match schedule confirmed for Olympic Games Paris 2024
The Paris 2024 Olympic rugby sevens match schedule has been unveiled by World Rugby and Paris 2024 today, with just 16 days to go until the sport has the honour of kicking off the Games on 24 July, two days ahead of the
Filomena Leonisa Iakopo to represent American Samoa in Paris Olympics
Filomena Leonisa Iakopo, who is from the CNMI and American Samoa, left Saipan on Saturday with Paris as her final destination. She will compete in the 100 meters event of the Olympic Games in the French capital on 02
Tarere, Vele to join Team PNG for Paris Olympics
Papua New Guinea Swimming Inc this week confirmed that two of its swimmers, Josh Tarere and Georgia-Leigh Vele are bound for the Paris Olympic Games after their universality slots were approved by World Aquatics. This
French surfer Fierro crowned in Tahiti Surf Event ahead of Paris 2024
French Olympic surfer, Vahine Fierro, became the first Frenchwoman to win the women’s Tahiti Pro on the waves of Teahupo’o on Wednesday, just two months before the Olympic surfing events to be held on the French
Eileen Cikamatana aims to end weightlifting medal drought in Paris
Eileen Cikamatana had to wait for her Olympic debut and now she plans to make it count. The Fijian-born star will join Jacqueline Nichele and Kyle Bruce in Australia’s weightlifting team for Paris. All are
Eroni Leilua, the Samoan Olympian
Having qualified for his second Olympic Games in Paris this year, Samoa’s sailing champion Eroni Leilua recalls how it all started for him while growing up in the village of Vaivase Uta in Upolu, Samoa. “Growing up
