Commonwealth Games

Samoa won the region's only gold, through weightlifter Don Opolege and the nation's lifters also won three silver medals, and there was also Samoan silver in heavyweight boxing.

Fiji won four medals, two of them in the rugby sevens, but there was some disappointment that neither team could win their respective finals.

Weightlifting brought the only medals for Papua New Guinea and Nauru, Vanuatu gained a bronze from beach volleyball, and one of the stories of the games was when Niue gained its first-ever medal with a boxing bronze.

Fiji ranked 39 with two silver and two bronze, and Papua New Guinea were ranked joint 35th with one silver medal.

Nauru, Niue and Vanuatu each won a bronze medal each.

Samoa's weightlifters powered their way into games history with a gold medal and two silvers.

Weighlifter Vaipava Nevo Ioane announced his retirement from the sport and dedicated his achievement to long-time national coach Tuaopepe Jerry Wallwork.

He and his wife have also named their youngest son Birmingham - he was born two days prior to his father's silver medal lift.

The closing ceremony took place at Birmingham's Alexander Stadium this morning with performances from artists including UB40, Apache Indian, Beverley Knight, Dexys Midnight Runners, Goldie, Jacob Banks, Jaykae and Jorja Smith.

The ceremony also included a tradtional handover of the Commonwealth Games flag to Australia which will is set to host the next Games in 2026.

After a record-breaking Games of both individual and team success, New Zealand cyclist Aaron Gate took on the roleas the country's flagbearer.

Samoa won the region's only gold, through weightlifter Don Opolenge and the nation's lifters also won three silver medals. They also gained a silver in boxing.

Fiji won four medals overall, two of them in the rugby sevens, but there will be some disappointment that neither team could win their respective finals.

Weightlifting brought the only medals for Papua New Guinea and Nauru.

Vanuatu gained a bronze from beach volleyball, and Niue gained its first-ever Games medal since being able to compete since 2002, with a boxing bronze.

Full list of Pacific medals:

The heavyweight lost out to local favourite Lewis Williams 5-0 on points on Monday morning.

Williams boxed sharp and clever to win the unanimous decision.

Just 24 hours earlier, Plodzicki-Faoagali progressed to the final in an epic battle of the Pacific in the semi-finals, defeating Niue's Duken Tutakitoa-Williams on points.

That was Niue's first-ever at the Commonwealth Games.

Plodzicki-Faoagali also won silver at the 2018 Games on the Gold Coast in the light-heavyweight division.

Rose threw 64.56 metres for fourth place in Birmingham, just two centimtres behind the bronze medallist, Travis Smikle of Jamiaca.

Rose was born and raised in the United States but his dad grew up in Samoa and he first represented his adopted country in 2012.

Australia's Matt Denny won gold, ahead of England's Lawrence Okoye.

Fiji's Naibili Vatunisolo has taken bronze in the women's para discus event.

Earlier, Ata Maama Tuutafaiva finished 10th in the women's shot putt.

Jack Hitila Opeloge finished in second place in the Men’s 109kg final after finishing with a lift of 164kg in the snatch attempt and lifted 194kg in his first clean and jerk attempt.

The 21-year-old lifted a total of 358kg.

Feagaiga Stowers won Samoa’s other silver medal in the Women’s 87kg final.

She lifted 117kg in her first snatch attempt and 121 in the third attempt.

Stowers then lifted 147kg in her first clean and jerk attempt.

Samoa is now currently ranked 16th in the medal tally with 1 gold and 3 silver medals.

The gold medal lift by the 23-year-old weightlifter Don Opeloge, who smashed the Commonwealth Games record in the Men's 96kg, boosted Samoa’s ranking.

Samoa was placed 20th before the winning lift and has now progressed five placings up with now 1 gold and 1 silver medal to its name.

Making a surprise appearance in the medal tally, is Nauru after winning a bronze medal in weightlifting.

Nauru is currently ranked 26th.

Fiji has dropped from 17th to 19th place with 2 silver and 1 bronze.

The 22-year-old defeated Niklas Vittalis of Sri Lanka in the Men’s over 67kg-71kg Light middle weight division.

Ah Tong won by points after dominating all three rounds.

He is scheduled to take on Kassim MBundwike of the United Republic of Tanzania in his next fight on Thursday.

Samoan boxer, Jancen Poutoa lost his first fight to the impressive Wales boxer Taylor Bevan in the Men’s over 75kg-80kg Lightweight division.

The match showcased a strong display from Bevan to see off Poutoa with a third-round stoppage.

The 23-year-old has not only won the Men’s Weightlifting 96kg category but also has set a new Commonwealth Games record.

Opeloge broke the games record in the snatch with a lift of 171kg.

He also went on to set another Commonwealth Games record and a personal best of 210kg for the clean and jerk.

Don Opeloge will be the name to remember in the sport after he lifted a total of 381kg to set the new Commonwealth Games record for the men’s 96kg category.