Tonga

The series resumes on Saturday after an extended seven week break over the Christmas and New Year period.

Fiji are not taking recent form for granted as they attempt to defend their Hamilton title.

They defeated reigning series champions South Africa and current leaders the United States en-route to the Cape Town title last year, to climb to third in the overall standings.

Despite winning the inaugural Hamilton event last year, coach Gareth Baber says Fiji have no right to be complacent.

The Polynesian rivals clash in the first leg of the Oceania Under 20 Trophy at Marist Park this afternoon, with the second leg at the same ground on Saturday.

The winner will compete at next year's Under 20 Trophy in Brazil.

Samoa skipper Simon Peter Toleafoa was a part of the Baby Manu team thrashed 58-8 by Fiji in the final of this year's World Junior Trophy.

The Auckland-based first five said Samoa's local and overseas based players have been able to train together for the past few weeks and will give it everything.

New Zealand Rugby Chief Executive Steve Tew revealed details of the additional Test match fixture on the All Blacks' 2019 calendar. The match will be played at FMG Stadium, Waikato, on Saturday 7 September. It will be a hit-out for the Rugby World Cup 2019 squad, and it will be the first All Blacks Test match in Hamilton since 2016.

Mele 'Akuila opened the scoring for Tonga with a second minute try but it proved to be a false dawn as Samoa responded with 12 of their own to run away with the first match of the day 68-7 in Lautoka.

Manu Sina 15s captain Masuisui Pauaraisa was pleased with the improvement shown from their first-up win against Papua New Guinea.

"We went away from our first game and we kind of worked with our rucks - that was our main focus throughout the whole game," she said.

Mate Ma'a Tonga will go head to head with Australia and New Zealand next year in the competition's top tier, with Samoa, Fiji and Papua New Guinea contesting the other group.

Kristian Woolf said a guaranteed slate of top level test matches gives the Pacific Island teams certainty and something to look forward to.

"The organisation and having something that's planned and something that's to plan for in the future is a real positive," he said.

The participants were able to voice their perspectives on matters of national interest in a parliament setting.

Girls Takeover Parliament is a Jasiri Australia initiative.

Jasiri Australia partnered with the Commonwealth Youth Council this year in an effort to push girls to takeover parliament as an innovative programme that allows young women and girls the opportunity to voice their perspectives on matters of national interest in a parliament setting.

The rich dark chocolate bar is topped with a scattering of roasted coffee beans.

A caffeine hit — more an adult treat rather than for kiddies around bedtime.

In the past, the Pacific Islands have exported commodities such as, copra, cocoa and coffee beans.

But value-added items such as chocolate and coffee gains higher returns in the market.

The partnership is a significant forward step for the two small companies by bringing together their resources into a single product with wide international appeal.

Mr Samarasinha will also be presenting his credentials to the heads of states in the respective countries.

He said he was grateful for the opportunity to meet Pacific leaders at the Pacific Islands Forum summit in Nauru last month.

He said it was the chance to discuss priorities with the leaders and how the UN can deal with them.

He hopes to take something tangible back to the countries as well as have conversations with as many people as possible including representatives of civil society and the media.

Mate Ma'a Tonga will take on the Kangaroos at Auckland's Mount Smart Stadium on October 20th, almost 11 months after a sold out crowd watched the Kingdom pipped by England at the same venue in the World Cup semifinals.

Tonga coach Kristian Woolf and Australia's Mal Meninga have both been supportive of the fixture but confirmation was delayed after New Zealand Rugby League officials expressed concerns the test could overshadow or affect ticket sales for the Kiwis vs Kangaroos clash at the same venue a week earlier.

It's been four years since the last East Asia Pacific qualifier in the game's shortest format when Papua New Guinea went through undefeated.

Shane Deitz said the Vanuatu squad has been working hard in preparation since returning from World Cricket League Four in May.

Two teams will advance to the East Asia Pacific Regional Final and Deitz expects all four will fancy their chances.