Super Rugby

Living was basic, and supplies were spread thin between him and his siblings.

With a Niuean Tongan mother, and a Niuean Samoan father, Seu was brought up through his Niuean side, and didn't lack for company in a packed household.

The 22-year-old is the second youngest of 12 - he has seven brothers and four sisters.

The Melbourne Rebels will prepare for the upcoming Super Rugby season with a trial match against Samoa.

It will be the first time the Rebels face world No.15-ranked Samoa, who pushed quarter-finalists Scotland to the brink during their Rugby World Cup pool game in October which finished 36-33.

The Auckland-born utility back, has signed a one year contract to play for the Blues.

The 28-year-old former Counties Manukau player is a replacement for Dan Bowden, who has been granted an early release by mutual consent to pursue rugby opportunities overseas.

While the Highlanders won the 2015 Super Rugby Championship, three teams have been added to strengthen the depth of the competition next year.

They are Japan Sunwolves, an unnamed Argentine team and the Southern Kings from South Africa.

24-year-old Sopoaga has played 49 games for the Highlanders and made his All Blacks Test debut this year against the Springboks in South Africa.

He holds the season record for points scored by a Highlander with 191 in 2015.

More than $65,000 has been raised for a Samoan hospital which helped save the life of a well-known New Zealand rugby coach.

Chiefs assistant coach Andrew Strawbridge contracted a serious eye infection in Samoa when he headed over for the All Blacks test earlier this year.

He spent time at the Moto'otua National Hospital before being rushed back to New Zealand in a critical condition.

Andrew Strawbridge said the experience has taught him a lot about the human spirit and people's generosity, and the money is already making a huge difference.

The Chiefs will host the Crusaders in Suva during the Super Rugby competition next year.

The venue for the round 15 match on July 1st is the approximately 20,000-seat ANZ Stadium in Suva.

The Fiji government have announced they have budgeted money for the clash in the capital, which will be classed as a home game for the Chiefs.

In his national budget address, the Fiji Finance Minister Aiyaz Sayed-Khaiyum said the government had allocated NZ$1.6 million for the hosting of the match.

Under the move eight countries will get up to eight hours a day of free-to-air content from New Zealand including selected Super Rugby, ITM Cup and international matches.

Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says while there will be plenty of new content available in the islands it's the sports coverage which has him excited.

"Rugby and cricket. Rugby and cricket - and I made damn sure the kind of sports that's going to be shown across, and the news too".

The New Zealand Prime Minister John Key believes the initiative will boost rugby in the Pacific.