Hulita Veve of Tonga pass to Uneeq Palavi during the Netball World Cup 2023 Pool A match between Tonga and Zimbabwe at CTICC Court 2 on July 30, 2023 in Cape Town, South Africa. Photo: Shaun Roy/Gallo Images
Netball
Tonga's Tala netball team have qualified for the Glasgow 2026 Commonwealth Games.
The Tonga Sports Association and National Olympic Committee says the team has qualified as one of the top 10 ranked team by World Netball.
The team's qualification makes them the first Tongan team to qualify for the Games, which will be held in Glasgow, Scotland next year.
Rugby
The board chair of the Fiji Rugby Union (FRU) says the union is open to carrying out a review of the current agreement on the management and operation of the Fijian Drua franchise.
Board chairman John Sanday said both the FRU and the Government of Fiji, as shareholders in Counter Ruck - the company that manages the franchise - should amend and adjust the agreement.
He said the agreement needs to better align with the current realities in the rugby world.
Sanday said he personally would like to see rugby fans buy out Government's shares in Counter Ruck and have the company listed on the South Pacific Stock Exchange in Suva.
League
Cook Islands' men's rugby league team has received a boost as it campaigns for a spot at the 2026 Rugby League World Cup.
Cronulla rugby league star Kayal Iro has put his hand up for selection, as head coach Karmichael Hunt puts his squad together for the qualifier against South Africa on 9 November.
Cook Islands Rugby League said Iro and a number of other NRL players are expected to be named in the squad.
The team will first compete for the Pacific Bowl against Fiji and Papua New Guinea in October.
Cricket
The Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea cricket associations have named their teams for the upcoming qualifier for the women's T20 World Cup.
The event will be hosted by Cricket Fiji in Suva, from 9-15 September.
Cook Islands News reported the national team has players training in Rarotonga and some in Auckland.
Cricket PNG said its squad is in Brisbane for a training camp before it departs for Suva at the weekend.
Badminton
Fourteen young Cook Islands badminton players will compete at the Auckland Under-17 Open tournament on Saturday.
Cook Islands News reported the players are in Auckland this week attending a three-day training camp delivered by Badminton Oceania.
Badminton Cook Islands president Thomas Mereana-Ngauru said the trip is particularly valuable for players from Aitutaki and the younger members of the squad.
He said the players will gain a lot of experience from the camp and competing at the Auckland event.
