On Saturday, 7 December Moana Pasifika hosted their annual 7s Cup at Auckland’s Otahuhu College Memorial Grounds.
Teams representing Samoa, Tonga, Fiji, Niue and the Cook Islands competed in either the Under 18 or Under 16 age groups.
The tournament brings together some of the best young talent in one place to compete and develop their game.
Samoa came out on top in the Under 16 Girls category and Fiji won the Under 16 Boys age group.
In the U18 Boys and the Under 18 Girls, TBR took home gold.
Many players are based in Auckland but there were also a few that travelled far and wide to play in the tournament. One player travelled from Hastings to play for the Samoa U18s team, while another came up from Dunedin to represent the Tonga U18s.
Moana Pasifika players also attended the event, playing games with spectators and taking part in a dance battle which has become a tournament tradition.
In its second year, the vision of the 7s Cup is to inspire and provide the platform for kids to grow and take their game to the next level.
Moana Pasifika Events Coordinator Sera Mika says: “We’ve got so many talented kids and this gives them a shot to make a team and represent their culture.”
“It’s a place for them to showcase their Pacific flair, and it’s all about grassroots.”
“We’re just building from last year. We added the family zone with games for the kids and food stalls to enjoy. We also had the presence of the Pacific Police, and our sponsors Pure NZ who provided water.”
All Black Wallace Sititi was in attendance, supporting his sister Amarante who was playing for Samoa. He was joined by father Lemalu Semo who is a rugby legend and former Captain of Manu Samoa.
The Moana Pasifika community team look forward to hosting the 7s Cup again in 2025, and now continue their preparations for their Touch Tournament on January 25.
ENDS
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