Rugby

The countdown to what the Samoa Rugby Union is calling the Pacifica Challenge was launched at Fale o Samoa in Mangere by Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Lupesoliai Malielegaoi and Manu Samoa coach, former All Black, Alama Ieremeia.

The Prime Minister says getting reacquainted with Auckland's Samoa community is an important mission for the team.

"It is a great opportunity for the Samoa Rugby Union and our Manu Samoa team to rebuild our connections and support from our Samoan community in New Zealand."

In a study of 14- to 18-year-olds in 40 schools, those completing the exercises three times a week saw 59% fewer concussions than other schools.

The exercises focus on increasing neck muscle strength, balance and movement.

The RFU is rolling out the programme in schools in England from next season.

The Rugby Football Union says it will provide seminars for rugby coaches on the exercises, as well online resources and training pitch handouts.

Head and neck injuries are more common in rugby than other sports because of the impact of tackling and scrummaging.

The Baby Manu were thrashed 43-20 by Australia and 80-23 by New Zealand at the Oceania Under 20 Championship, before finishing with a 10 point win against Pacific rivals Fiji earlier this month.

Mahonri Schwalger was a technical advisor with the team on the Gold Coast but has assumed head coaching duties for the Junior World Cup in Georgia, following the resignation of Junior Leota.

He said the regional tournament was a big learning curve.

Mike McMeeken, Chris McQueen and Alex Walmsley have been called up to an England squad for the first time, while there are recalls for Zak Hardaker and Chris Heighington, who was last selected in 2011.

Sean O'Loughlin will captain the squad after missing the 2016 Four Nations tournament through injury.

The squad is made up of 12 players from the English Super League and eight from Australia's NRL.

Wayne Bennett said he's selected a strong squad with the talent to do well.

He had captained the Washington Huskies to the national championship playoffs, and had an opportunity that most players can only dream of.

But not Wooching. Ever since he was a kid growing up in Hawaii, this burly, tattooed linebacker had harbored dreams of a different kind.

"My passion was rugby," the 23-year-old tells CNN. "The first time I picked up a ball ... that's when my love for the game started, and ever since then it's just been gaining.

Fiji head into the Singapore sevens this weekend fresh off a comprehensive Hong Kong tournament victory.

Fiji is currently second on the series ladder with 122 points, with the Blitz Bokke 23 points ahead.

Teams receive 22 points a tournament win, the runner-up gets 19 and the third place team is awarded 17 points.

Gareth Baber said this means South Africa will have to drop their standards signifcantly for Fiji to have a chance.

"They have been a model of consistency throughout the series," Baber said.

The 22-year-old Broncos star represented Samoa at the last World Cup and told the Courier Mail he was available to face England in May.

International eligibility laws were relaxed last year, allowing eligible players to nominate both a tier one and tier two nation to represent, with no stand-down periods and the ability to switch multiple times.

Milford is free to play for Samoa if he's overlooked by Australia and could even play for both this year, as well as the Queensland State of Origin team.

The Mate Ma'a will take on Fiji in May's Pacific Test, which has been boosted by the inclusion of England and the Cook Islands.

Woolf was excited by the growth of the international weekend.

"It's great to see that it's expanding and really good to see the Cook Islands involved - they've certainly deserved that for a while I think," he said.

"They were really competitive at the last World Cup and they were really hard for us to beat not that long ago in a World Cup qualifier as well.

Hansen offered his congratulations to Jones after England equalled the All Blacks' record of 18 consecutive victories for a tier-one nation by battering Scotland 61-21 in the Six Nations on Saturday.

The record will be England's alone if they can beat Ireland in Dublin this weekend, which would also see them clinch back-to-back Grand Slams.

Rather than be disappointed that New Zealand, whose own run ended against Ireland in November, may no longer have the accolade Hansen welcomed the competition.

North had been warned about his form by defence coach Shaun Edwards in the build-up to the game and responded by demonstrating his quality and power as Wales scored three unanswered tries in a hard-worked win.

RNZ reports Wales led 8-6 at half time.

Jamie Roberts clinched the game with Wales' third try in the 78th minute.

Ireland's New Zealand coach Joe Schmidt said his side paid a high price for a yellow card handed to first five Johnny Sexton which saw Wales score 10 points in six minutes either side of half-time.