AVATIU Eels have successfully defended their Rarotonga title with the slenderest of victories over Tupapa Panthers in a gripping final of the year’s first Nines tournament. Clive Nicholas’ men edged out the Panthers 14-13 at the end of two days play at the National Stadium, where New Zealand visitors Raukawa Kukis lifted the women’s title with a 21-4 win over…
THE Las Vegas Nines, to be run by the NRL next month, may become a global event in future years, feeding spectator numbers at the annual premiership double-header there. The Australasian league has signed a five year deal with local authorities to take two matches annually to the so-called entertainment capital of the world. The Nines tournament is later add-on…
NEW Zealand team Raukawa Kukis stunned the local sides on day one of the Rarotonga tour stop in the women’s division. The team, made up of New Zealand-based Cook Islanders, swept all before them on an unbeaten run which included defending champions Taupapa. The cup holders in the men’s division, Avatui Eels, were also undefeated. They downed Ngatangiia Matavera Sea…
THE traditional beginning of the global Nines season in Cook Islands is hotting up again this weekend with the Rarotonga tour stop. The men’s and women’s teams of the Pacific nation will gather at Avarua Tereora Stadium for the first Nines event of 2024. The men’s defending champions are Avatui while Tupapa are the women’s champions. Cook Islands Rugby League…
UKRAINE, Thailand, Chile, South Sudan, Philippines, Malta, Syria, Macedonia and Cambodia will all be represented at the Harmony Nines in suburban Wollongong this weekend. The concept, showcasing diversity in Australian rugby league at grassroots level, began in 2009. This weekend’s two-day event at Croome Road Sporting Complex in Albion Park will involve as many as 1000 men and women, boys…
THE ASEAN Nines, to be held in Pattaya this November, have a new sponsor. International firm Global Components, a long-time supporter of Irish rugby league, have secured naming rights sponsorship for the exotic event. Teams are yet to be finalised for this year’s event, which will take place on November 4. In 2022, Ireland defeated Northern Sharks 34-0 in the…
WARRINGTON, St Helens, Leeds, York and Wigan have qualified for the RFL Women’s Nines finals – but the revival of rugby league in Wales was showcased at Victoria Park, too. Some of the biggest names in British women’s rugby league lived up to their reputations by as the Wolves, Saints, Rhinos, Valkyrie and Warriors topped their pools on a well-attended…
THE final piece of the 2023 RFL Women’s Super League Nines puzzle has been provided with Oldham joining Group 1. A space was left vacant when the League announced the tournament on April 20, with a ‘TBA’ alongside Huddersfield, Warrington and Leamington in the group to play on pitch one on May 14. It’s the second time the event has…
JUST six days after the men’s and women’s World Cup finals at Old Trafford, the road to the next tournament in France passes through Jerico, Colombia this Friday November 25. The host nation will be joined by Chile and Brazil in a three-day round-robin at Estadio JB Londono which will decide who progresses in Americas World Cup qualifying for the…
