In brief: sport news from around the Pacific – RNZ

Former President of Suva Rugby, Commodore Humphrey Tawake, has been appointed as the new Chairman of Fiji Rugby.

Humphrey Tawake is the new Chairman of Fiji Rugby. Photo: Fiji Rugby

The deputy commander was nominated to the FRU Board by the Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, who is also President of the rugby union.

He succeeds Conway Beg, whose term expired last month, just a year after being in the role.

Humphrey Tawake has managed a number of teams over the years, including the Fiji Navy and the Defence Force that played for the World Cup in 2013.

He was the manager of the Flying Fijians squad at the Rugby World Cup in England in 2015, and has been president of the Suva Rugby Union for the past six years.

Tawake said he was fortunate to lead Fiji's biggest sporting organisation.

Photo: Alex Perrottet/RNZ

"I have been involved with rugby for the last decade at various capacities and I know the feeling and how passionate the Fijian community is in-regards to rugby.

"I must take this time to acknowledge the previous two Chairmen for their effort, and their strategic leadership that has enabled FRU to achieve great milestones to be where it is today."

Lakapi Samoa have requested a temporary base in Dubai, so the team can participate in the last eight legs of the current World Series.

Strict Covid-19 regulations in Samoa have been causing problems for the country's international rugby teams all year.

The Manu Samoa men's sevens team have been out of action since the Olympic repechage played in Monaco in June, and their tour of the northern hemisphere was abandoned.

Chief Executive Vincent Fepuleai said he was confident of a positive response from the government.

He warned the team's status among the world's sevens elite could be in jeopardy, with huge consequences for the future if they do not attend.

He said players are keen to go and the team are ready to test themselves at international level again.

Jacques Zimako Photo: RNZI

Oceania football has lost one of its greatest ever footballers, New Caledonia's Jacques Zimako, who has died aged 69.

The first footballer of Kanak origin to represent France, Zimako played 13 times for the French national team, scoring twice.

At club level he played for Saint-tienne, Bastia and Sochaux, and won a Ligue 1 title in 1981 with Saint-tienne.

Nicknamed Zigzag, due to his ability to evade defenders, Zimako helped New Caledonia to gold at the 1987 Pacific Games.

Zimako would later coach the national team.

Fiji Swimming has withdrawn from the FINA World Championship in Abu Dhabi this month.

Olympians Taichi Vakasama and Cheyanne Rova, and United States-based Netani Ross and Moana Wind were due to participate at the Games.

Fiji swimming says the decision is due to financial constraints and the adverse effects of the pandemic on training and logistics.

Nicola Demaine has been appointed as the head coach of Papua New Guinea's national women's football team as they continue preparations for next year's Oceania Nations Cup.

The Englishwoman has vast experience in the region, including coaching Samoa's national women's team in the 2019 Pacific Games.

Papua New Guinea Football Association general secretary Pius Letenge says plans were now in place for the national team to convene for a training camp.

See original here:

In brief: sport news from around the Pacific - RNZ