Neria Fomai in Hawke's Bay NPC colours a few years ago. Photo: PHOTOSPORT
Rugby - Fomai injury
Moana Pasifika utility back Neria Fomai will miss the entire 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The franchise said Fomai, who was one of their consistent players during the 2024 season, is out with injury.
The player had ACL reconstruction surgery, following an injury he sustained playing for Hawkes Bay in the New Zealand National Provincial Championship last year.
Photo: Supplied
Rugby - Drua pre-season
The Fijian Drua will take on California-based Major League Rugby (MLR) team, Rugby FC Los Angeles, in a Super Rugby Pacific pre-season clash in Lautoka next Friday.
Baden Stephenson, Fijian Drua General Manager, said they are excited to be the first Super Rugby side to host a MLR team.
Jack Mesley, Super Rugby Pacific CEO, says as a competition they are excited by the opportunity to build stronger ties with MLR, and showcase great clubs like the Fijian Drua to new audiences.
Cam Howieson (L) of Auckland City avoids the attention of Gabiriele Matanisiga of Wellington Olympic during their OFC men's Champions League national playoff in 2024. Photo: Photosport
Football - OFC Champions' League
The first round of qualifying for the OFC Men's Champions League will be held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands from 8 to 14 February.
Oceania Football said three teams - Royal Puma FC from American Samoa, Vaipuna SC from Samoa, and Tupapa Maraerenga FC from the Cooks - will compete in a single-group format, over three days.
The winner will qualify for the OFC Men's Champions League 2025, to be held in Solomon Islands from 30 March to 12 April.
Auckland City are the defending champions.
Football - PNG recruitment
Top PNG football clubside Hekari United will secure overseas players to help their teams in different competitions this year.
The National newspaper reported club manager Vonnie Kapi Nato believes the inclusion of overseas-based players will also lift football standards in PNG.
United have the services of two Brazilian players in their men's team and two Fijians in their women's team.
Nato said the recruitment will also help strengthen the side including for the OFC Men's Champions League in Honiara in March.
Meanwhile, Vanuatu top football club, Ifira Black Bird has started a recruitment drive following the departure of three key players for overseas clubs.
Vanuatu Daily Post reported the club has lost three key players, who are now with Adelaide club Western Strikers FC.
Netball - Fiji
Two Fiji Pearls netballers have secured contracts to play in the 2025 Malaysia Netball Super League (NSL) season, as Netball Fiji continues to work on upskilling players for national duties.
Goal defense Reama Verekauta and goal shooter Matila Vocea have joined theTerrengganu Marvels.
Netball Fiji said the NSL will commence on 8 February, and finals are scheduled for 23 March.
Fiji had previously also worked with Singapore Netball in the past two years, where players were able to play in the Super League there.
Netball Fiji said the crossover to the Malaysia Super League will assist the two players with their game time and skills development.
Cricket - New Caledonia
France will host the Four Nations Cup Twenty20 cricket tournament in New Caledonia, in association with the New Caledonia National Cricket Committee, in March.
New Caledonia Cricket said the event will be sanctioned by the International Cricket Committee (ICC) and will be a ranking event, with points on offer.
Countries who will be competing at the event are Fiji, France, Vanuatu and Samoa.
France will be made up of local players selected from New Caledonia.
Running - PNG
PNG sprinter Pais Wisil has set a new national record for the 60m sprint in a time of 6.76 seconds.
NBC reported Pais Wisil, the younger sibling of Pacific sprint queen Toea Wisil, beat the previous record of 6.79 sec set by Peter Pulu in the 1993 World Indoor Championships.
Wisil's coach believes he can improve even more in the 60m, noting Wisil stumbled slightly on his third stride on his way to the record.
He is among Oceania's aspiring talents aiming to qualify for the World Indoor Championships in Nanjing, China, from 21 to 23 March.
Softball - CNMI
The Northern Marianas Softball Association is starting preparations for the upcoming the 12th Pacific Mini Games in Palau, with trials starting next Friday.
Marianas Variety reports the trials are open to interested athletes, 16 years and above, from Saipan, Tinian and Rota.
Softball, which is played across Micronesia, is one of 12 sports that will be competed for at the Palau Games.
The Games will be held in Koror from 29 June to 9 July.
