rugby league

Alofa Alofa made his international debut for Samoa against Canada in November 2014

The 25-year-old, who can play at centre or on the wing, left French Top 14 side La Rochelle this summer.

Alofa began his career in rugby league with Sydney Roosters but switched to union in 2013 and has featured for West Harbour and New South Wales Waratahs.

"He is a dynamic and powerful player with the ability to break the line. His versatility is an added bonus," Quins director of rugby John Kingston said.

Hill, who takes up his new role at the end of the month, is visiting Samoa to finalise preparations for the test match between Toa Samoa and Fiji Bati in October.

 “Every country in the world, who plays rugby league, every time they play against Samoa they actually know that they have to be at their best performance,” said Hill.

“Anyone who has watched the last four nations in 2014, under Matt’s coaching, Samoa should have won two of those three games,” he added.

Tagaloa has also revealed that a President’s Cup will be held in October following the success of last Friday’s inaugural Open Girls Rugby League tournament.

“We have seen a few start their rugby league careers from college and end up playing professional level rugby and they are a fruit of the labors of this initiative by Rugby League Samoa,” said Tagaloa.

President for RLS, Tagaloa Faafouina Sua has confirmed that the training squad.

Tagaloa and his management did not just handpick an athlete from any team.

They hosted an official all star game between Savai’i and Safata/Lefaga to select those who would fit into the squad.

Savai’i in that game last week Saturday, put away the Lefaga/Safata district all stars 26 to 14.

The move would be designed to boost the profile of both the Warriors and the NRL in a key development region.

Games staged in Tonga, Samoa or Fiji could potentially draw large crowds, with rugby union's Super Rugby competition recently staging a game in Suva, Fiji, which attracted 19,000 spectators.            

The Warriors' current deal with Mount Smart in Auckland, however, means that they can play only one away game a season outside of Mount Smart.

It's claimed that an intoxicated fan was ejected from the stadium for throwing beer on Hopoate, his son and a Tonga team sponsor.

The Daily Telegraph reported that the former NRL bad boy did not instigate the alleged incident, where a Tongan supporter is alleged to have heckled Hopoate, an unofficial coaching consultant for Tonga.

RNZI reports the Toa beat Tonga 18-6 at the weekend in the Pacific Test to retain the Polynesian Cup while Fiji were upset 24-22 by Papua New Guinea in the Melanesian Cup.

Rugby League International Federation Deputy Chair John Grant said the Test is a fitting way for Samoa to celebrate 30 years of rugby league in the country.

Fiji led 16-8 at the break but had no answers for a PNG side that helped breathe fresh air into the international game. 

Papua New Guinea's spine proved the difference in the end with halfback Watson Boas scoring a double, his brother Ase kicking four goals and hooker Wartovo Puara Junior proving a handful whenever he touched the ball with two try assists. 

Last year's match on the Gold Coast – watched by 12,336 diehard fans – and the 2013 version in Penrith produced atmospheres that could rival some of the biggest spectacles on the planet.

The trio - David Trodden, Barrie-Jon Mather and Bob Millward - also held meetings with government officials, members of the consortium backing the Fiji bid, and the bid team itself.

Former NRL great Petero Civoniceva is leading the bid team, and he said while the bidding process had been a long one, he believed the NSW delegation liked what they saw.