Pacific Games

But on Monday in Samoa they made history on opposite teams, each captaining their country of heritage in the first ever women’s rugby league 9s competition at the Pacific Games.

Feterika led Samoa onto the field for the opening game of the tournament, hand-in-hand with Nati, who captained the Cook Islands.

It was an extraordinary moment for both women, the most experienced female players in the event alongside New Zealand teammate Luisa Gago, who is also representing Samoa. The other teams in the women’s competition are Fiji, Niue, Papua New Guinea and Solomon Islands.

The 23 year old claimed six gold medals at Port Moresby 2015, however he was the silver medallist at the Games in the open water swimming. De Vos has managed to upgrade to gold here.

New Caledonia's Hugo Savignac and Benoît Rivière the silver and bronze respectively.

The competition was recently dominated by Fiji at the last Pacific Games with four gold, two silver and two bronze medals across men’s and women’s events.

The event will also feature popular names that will be defending their titles.

The young Cook Islands men’s pair Taiki Paniani and Aidan Zittersteijn, who won bronze at the Gold Coast 2018 Commonwealth Games (the country’s first ever Commonwealth Games medal) will be competing at Samoa 2019 in all four men’s events, and gunning for further silverware.

Fiji, New Caledonia, Norfolk Island, Papua New Guinea, Samoa and Tahiti will contest singles, doubles, mixed doubles and team events for men and women.

PNG, New Caledonia and Fiji are expected to dominate after sharing 21 available medals amongst them at the 2015 Pacific Games in Port Moresby.

New Caledonia’s Nicolas Massenet who won gold in the men’s singles, men’s doubles and men’s team competition at Port Moresby 2015 is returning to defend all of his titles.

Speaking to the female sports journalist participants, Nynette Sass took the advantage to discuss any queries about the regional event.

“Samoa is ready to host the games and we are on to the final stages of preparing every place reserved for the games and we are glad to hosting this year’s Pacific Games,” Sass said.

She also highlighted the importance of women’s participation in any aspects of the Games.

Team Samoa Chef de Mission, Nynette Sass says athletes will check out from their place of accommodation after completing their events.

“The first wave of athletes checking in and it depends on the sports schedule for first week and second week. So those competing in the first week will come in and check in and do the competition and then check out and then next wave comes in.”

“So in that way we don’t get to overload the system too much,” she said.

To have the students carry the baton brought the communities together in unison, manifesting the slogan of the Samoa 2019 Pacific Games, “one in spirit.” 

The Savai'i leg of the relay will continue on Tuesday and Wednesday before coming to Upolu.

People of all ages flooded the streets as the torch baton for the Games made its way through and the event was live-streamed on Facebook.

Speaking at the ceremony yesterday Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Malielegaoi thanked China saying the building of the Multi-Sport Centre aligns with the government's vision to grow Faleata as the sports hub of Samoa and the Pacific region.

The Multi-Sport Centre consists of two state-of-the-art indoor and outdoor netball courts built to international specifications. It also has the capacity to host badminton, basketball, table tennis, boxing and other indoor sports.

About 1,000 volunteers spent five hours around town and at rivers collecting all types of rubbish that was later sorted and collated.

The collected rubbish came from Vaisigano, Loimata o Apaula, Gasegase and Fuluasou, as well as Apia town centre.

Items sorted included:

Technical Delegate Amanda Jenkins says the venue and team preparations are on track.

"It's exciting this is the time first we have qualifying pathways for this event. Any team who underestimates their opponent will be the ones who will not progress."

Jenkins is certain basketball teams from the Oceania region will be putting on their best performances to win a spot in the FIBA Asia Cup Pre-Qualifiers.