Page 34 - IB Jan 2018

Sports Textile trade India plans PNG partner- Skills up SMEC recipients for India
ship to boost trade P36
experience P36
Pressure on rugby

union to review

eligibility rules

By Ilaitia Turagabeci

FORMER blockbusting All Black centre
Ma’a Nonu could be donning the blue of
Manu Samoa at the 2019 Rugby World
Cup in Japan.
After the success of Tonga and Fiji at
the Rugby League World Cup, there are
calls from high-profile professional players
from the Pacific for World Rugby to loosen
eligibility rules and allow capped players
to return for tier-two nations. Nonu and
former All Blacks teammate Victor Vito Mini Games ‘success’
have expressed interest in playing for Sa-
moa under the proposed changes. The two By Ilaitia Turagabeci credited all their athletes and officials for
World Cup winners join the likes of former making the 2017 Pacific Mini Games a
Tonga Under 20 rep Charles Piutau, the THE stage has been set for the 2019 Pacific memorable one. “We had a memorable time,
world’s highest-paid rugby union player Games in Samoa after a successful 2017 we could not have asked for anything bet-
signed on by Bristol in England this year, Pacific Mini Games in Vanuatu last month. ter and credit to all members of Team Fiji,”
Frank Halai and former Wallaby Anthony French-trained New Caledonia set the O’Connor said. He said everything turned
Fainga’a who have been tapped by Tongan pace throughout the two-week competition, out well in terms of transportation, accom-
coach Totai Kefu for 2019 in Japan. taking out top spot with 47 gold medals, 15 modation and meals. O’Connor commended
Under World Rugby rules, a player must silver and 18 bronze medals. the Games Committee and all the people of
sit in the international wilderness for three After an even share of medals on the Vanuatu for ensuring that their stay was a
years, before being available to play for a opening day, the contingent proved too memorable one.
tier-two nation, but they must play on the strong and finished with a flourish. “Vanuatu’s Yoshua Shing (table tennis)
Sevens World Series circuit, before they Papua New Guinea was second with 33 and Sharon Firisua of Solomon Islands (ath-
can represent their new nation in fifteens. gold, 30 silver and 18 bronze medals. letics) won best male and female Awards at
Piutau has told the media that admin- Fiji was third with a haul of 23 gold, 27 the Games. The panel of judges chose Shing
istrators need to match the laws used by silver and 23 bronze medals. who won four gold medals in the four events
their rugby league counterparts. Pacific Games Council (PGC) president he competed in and Firisua won three gold
“If there’s a way to do it, I want to give Vidhya Lakhan hailed the 2017 Games medals in the 10km, 5km and the half-
something back and play for Tonga at the a success, saying it laid the platform for marathon ahead of other strong contenders.
2019 World Cup,” he said. the Pacific Games in 2019. The Northern The awards for young male and female
“There’s a lot of wasted talent. The Marianas will host the next Pacific Mini went to Clement Mainguy of Vanuatu (ten-
rugby league boys put Tonga back on the Games in 2021. It intends to host a “lean nis) and Fiji’s Eileen Cikamatana (weightlift-
map and union should do the same thing. and simple” Mini Games and could have ing). 14-year-old Mainguy helped his team
“I have told the Tongan coach I would be everything ready to go on six weeks notice. win gold while Cikamatana won three gold
on board, if there’s a way to do it. If our Northern Marianas Sports Association in her weight category and also set new
sport followed the rugby league model, it president Michael White said all sporting Commonwealth and Oceania records in
would be a massive boost for the Pacific facilities are already in place except for the weightlifting. Sports administrator of the
Islands and it would make the world stage toilet and shower blocks, which need federal Games went to New Caledonia’s Brigitte
competitive again.” funding. Delaveuve for being the first women chef
Piutau’s former Blues teammate, Halai, He said December’s Mini Games in Vanu- de mission from her country.
backed the thoughts of the 26-year old. atu set a high bar and were more upscale Coach of the Games was won by New
“I would switch to Tonga if I had the than what they have planned. Caledonia’s Gregory Panne (karate) whose
chance,” he told NZ media. “We have all of our sporting facilities in team won 14 of the 16 gold medals on offer.
Former Fiji World Cup coach Ilivasi tabua place - we’ve organised international com- Samoa’s rugby 7s coach Stephen Betham
believes a change could rescue Pacific petition in virtually every sport that we’re also had strong mention in this category for
Island rugby from financial ruins. “World going to offer,” he said. “Our Games Village beating favourites Fiji in the final.
Rugby owes it to Pacific island nations for at Marianas High School has been used be- Norfolk’s Geoff Gardiner nominated by
its successes. Samoa have been declared fore to house athletes at international sport- Palau won the Technical Official’s award
bankrupt, so if Ma’a Nonu or a guy like ing events and we could host international for his work in athletics. The young New
Steven Luatua come on board, that would games on very short notice.” Caledonia female golf’s team that scooped
attract a bit of sponsorship,” Tabua said. Team Fiji chef de Mission Wayne O’Connor the gold medal won the Team Award.

34 Islands Business, January 2018