The World in Sport

This week, we talk to the first woman to lead a Pacific Games organising committee, Flying Fijians prop Haereiti Hetet is one the line from quarantine and the RNZ Pacific team pick their Pacific sporting highlights of an unforgettable year.

Former Tonga international and campaign manager of the Moana Pasifika team is hopeful this is the beginning for Pacific Island rugby. Auckland Basketball are introducting new initiatives to help boost basketball in the regions, and to support more famillies from underprivileged communities. And, hundreds of people in the Cook Islands have walked around Rarotonga to promote a more active and healthy lifestyle.

Coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga has named the first ever Moana Pasifika squad to play the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton next month. Former Tall Black, Lindsay Tait, slams the Auckland basketball representative system. The Tonga Rugby Union is seeking a full-time chief executive officer.

The ongoing saga over governance around Tonga's rugby league takes another twist; 29 members of Fiji's rugby team have tested positive for Covid-19; Samoa's women are one step closer to the 2021 Rugby World Cup.

This week, Kanaloa Pasifika threatens legal action against New Zealand Rugby, Rugby World Cup qualification is on the line for the Samoa and Tonga women's teams and the AFL International Cup is the latest sporting casualty of the Covid-19.

This week, a special week for Papua New Guinea's newest National Rugby League champion, a Pacific link to England rugby's next number 10 and Samoa and Tonga step up preparations for their Women's Rugby World Cup playoff.

This week, the revived Cook Islands Games proves a hit, former Penrith Panthers second rower Tony Puletua reminisces ahead of this weekend's NRL grand final and Papua New Guinea's domestic rugby league season has a thrilling finish.

This week, we speak to one of the fresh faces selected in the new-look Flying Fijians rugby squad, we put the spotlight on women's rugby league, with exciting major developments in Vanuatu, Papua New Guinea and Niue and design work ramps up for the 2023 Pacific Games in Solomon Islands.

The Pacific Island community reacts to another Super Rugby snub, the Cook Islands Games gathers pace and the Pacific Mini Games set to be delayed until 2022.

Tonga Rugby agrees to a new governing arrangement, fears Covid 19 is curtailing NRL dreams for young Maori and Pasifika players and another milestone beckons for women's rugby league in Papua New Guinea.

This week...Fiji braces for a "once in a lifetime" opportunity, Strict eligibility rules are discouraging New Zealand's Pasifika netball players from representing their heritage, and half a dozen competing bids have signalled their interest in becoming the first Pacific Super Rugby franchise.

New Zealand Maori Rugby League (NZMRL) is working with the sport's national body in reviewing the way the game is being delivered, to ensure Maori and Pasifika community clubs are being included. Samoa men's sevens coach Muliagatele Brian Lima believes it could take two years for the team to become contenders again on the World Series. And, the niggles never truly go away, but Fijian winger Patrick Osborne is confident his legs still have a few miles left in them yet.

This week...Pacific Games workers dominate a so-called repatriation flight from China to Solomon Islands, New Zealand Rugby League is challenged to have more Maori and Pasifika voices in governance roles and Oceania Football teams up with the English FA.

This week...Fiji Rugby League appoints a new coach with old ties, Covid-19 continues to create challenges for the upcoming Pacific Mini Games and Fiji Football looks to the future.

This week...the new chair of the Fiji Rugby Union talks Covid and competing on the world stage, a new Pacific team puts up its hand to join Super Rugby and more local sports are free to resume competition.

The New Zealand Warriors rugby league club is challenged to better understand the culture and values of its Pacific players, the new Manu Samoa head coach talks about his vision for the team and Papua New Guinea's cricketers set their sights on India.

This week, the first Pacific Island owned professional rugby team is now a reality, a Tahitian football star is offered the chance to play in Europe and a Pacific Island rugby league team based in New Caledonia and Vanuatu tries to maintain its momentum in the face of Covid-19.

Former All Black Saveatama Eroni Clarke wants to tap more into the potential of New Zealand's Pasifika community. Former Samoa rugby internationals back a local to lead the Manu. Fiji footballers are setting sights on a potential World Cup berth. And the Vanuatu women's beach volleyball team are set to boost a community-based tournament in celebration of the nations 40 years of independence.

This week, the Oceania Weightlifting Institute closes its doors, Fiji National Rugby League aims to revive it's women's domestic competition, PNG's top cricketers remain upbeat despite the likely postponement of the T20 World Cup in Australia and two American rugby internationals join the board of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare.

This week, Papua New Guinea athlete Debbie Kaore speaks out after being a victim of domestic assault, Ardie Savea headlines the addition of five current and former All Blacks to the board of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare and calls for a local coach to take charge of the Samoa sevens team.