Oceania rugby

The competition will be contested by the Fijiana XV (Fiji), Cassowaries (Papua New Guinea), Manusina XV (Samoa) and Fuifuilupe (Tonga).

The first-place team will qualify in WXV-Tier 2 and the second placed team for WXV-Tier 3.

The event will also serve as a platform for Pacific players to be selected for the Oceania Women's Combine in August this year, in which the selectors will identify potential players to join Australia's Super W teams on a PacificAus Sports' scholarship.

Puletua spent more than 10 years at the NRL, most recently as GM of International Strategy and NRL awards.

He has also worked with the International League Federation and Asia Pacific Rugby League Confederation.

He will be joining the organisation on February 1, taking over from Wayne Schuster.

The match is part of a triple header including games between the New Zealand Defence Services and Police and the World Champion Black Ferns and a Barbarians team.

As previously reported by RNZ Pacific, the repechage qualifier will be staged at the Trusts Arena in Waitakere, with the winner to advance to the final Rugby World Cup repechage tournament.

The match was originally meant to take place in Apia in April but was postponed due to Covid-19.

Oceania Rugby General Manager Bruce Cook said they're delighted to finally have the details confirmed.

The Tonga women's team left the championship in Fiji under instruction from the Fijian Government in consultation with the World Health Organisation.

Oceania Rugby said the decision was made after the team was forced into quarantine for 18 days - which would run through the tournament.

One of Tonga's players who arrived in Fiji was suspected of having measles.

The tournament was due to produce a directly qualified team for the World Cup and a team to participate in the repechage tournament.

The Oceania Rugby Women’s Sevens Championship kicked off in Suva on Thursday with all eyes on qualification for Tokyo 2020. But for Vanuatu, history has already been made.

Vanuatu were led out by captain Rachelle Tari at ANZ Stadium as the small Pacific Island nation made its debut in international women’s competition against Fiji.

A 48-0 defeat against the hosts - and favourites to secure their place at next year’s Olympic Games on Saturday - followed, however, success for Tari and her team-mates over the next few days will not be measured on the pitch.

The Oceania Rugby Women’s Sevens Championship kicked off in Suva on Thursday with all eyes on qualification for Tokyo 2020. But for Vanuatu, history has already been made.

Vanuatu were led out by captain Rachelle Tari at ANZ Stadium as the small Pacific Island nation made its debut in international women’s competition against Fiji.

A 48-0 defeat against the hosts - and favourites to secure their place at next year’s Olympic Games on Saturday - followed, however, success for Tari and her team-mates over the next few days will not be measured on the pitch.

Aminiasi Tuimaba and Napolioni Bolaca scored in the first half as Fiji led 14-5 at the break.

Isoa Tabu added another try in the second half to secure the win.

Fiji will play Japan SDS today while Australia play Samoa in the Men's Olympic Qualifier Final.

The Fiji Airways Fijiana 7s Team will take on Samoa in the first semifinal of the Women's Olympic Qualifier while Papua New Guinea take on Solomon Islands in the second semifinal at 12.34pm.

Australia will take on New Zealand in the Women's Oceania International Final.

Fiji's 13-man squad became the country's first Olympic gold medallists when they triumphed at last year's Olympics.

The sevens team defeated Britain 43-7 in the final as the sport made its debut at the Games.

Before Rio, the Fijian team were also crowned as winners of the World Rugby Sevens Series after a number of fine performances.

Their achievements saw the team inducted into the Fiji Association of Sports and National Olympic Committee (FASANOC) Hall of Fame earlier this week, while they have also acted as an inspiration to the region's other sides.