Former Wallaby Joins Fijian Drua as Oceania Football League Gears Up

Issak Fines-Leleiwasa, a former player for the Wallabies, is set to join the Fijian Drua for the upcoming 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season. The 29-year-old has played for the Western Force over the last three years and recently expressed his desire to represent Fiji, with his eligibility restored after a three-year international stand-down period concluding in October 2026. Fines-Leleiwasa made his debut for the Wallabies against France in 2023 and qualifies to play for Fiji through his Fijian-born father.

In the realm of football, the Oceania Football Confederation (OFC) is preparing to announce the first eight teams that will participate in the new OFC Professional League, set to commence in January 2026. The club licensing committee is currently assessing applications from 13 clubs, including four from New Zealand and two each from Fiji, Papua New Guinea, and Australia. Additionally, one club each from the Solomon Islands, Tahiti, and Vanuatu is also in contention. Stuart Larman, the OFC professional league manager, confirmed that all clubs are working diligently to meet the licensing requirements.

Tonga National Rugby League is on the lookout for a new women’s coach to lead the team in the upcoming Pacific Championships. The selected coach will oversee Tonga’s fixtures against the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea, scheduled for October and November. Applications for the position will close on August 1. Meanwhile, Ryan Hinchcliffe, an assistant coach for the Melbourne Storm, will join Ben Gardiner, head coach for Toa Samoa, as an assistant for the men’s Pacific Cup, where Toa Samoa is set to face Tonga and New Zealand.

In an exciting development for youth rugby, Fiji’s under-20 men’s rugby team has been invited to participate in the expanded World Rugby Under-20 Championship in 2026, which will take place in Georgia. This prestigious tournament is increasing from 12 to 16 teams next year. As the Oceania champion, Fiji will compete alongside host nation Georgia, as well as teams from the USA, Japan, and Uruguay. Nigel Cass from World Rugby highlighted that this expansion is vital for enhancing global competitiveness and offering more young athletes a chance to shine on the international stage.

In Vanuatu, the Vanuatu Judo Federation is calling for government support to advance judo development, specifically in securing adequate training facilities. Vice President Nazario stated that the federation could achieve greater success with proper facilities, known as dojos. The Vanuatu judo team, despite lacking proper training conditions, returned from the Pacific Mini Games in Palau with an impressive medal haul, including two gold, one silver, and two bronze medals. Nazario noted that as more young athletes take up judo, the need for improved training facilities becomes increasingly critical.

Lastly, Fiji is set to host two major futsal tournaments later this year. The OFC Futsal Men’s Cup will take place in Suva in September, following a decision to relocate the tournament from the Solomon Islands due to logistical considerations. Fiji will also host the Futsal Men’s Champions League in late November, further solidifying its position as a hub for futsal in the region.