Pacific Games Council (PGC) President Vidhya Lakhan has hit back at criticism from the New Zealand football

Guinea’s capital as “crazy”.New Zealand were not officially invited to compete in football at the Pacific

“I’m not aware of what the expectations of the New Zealand football team are.

“When our teams go and play football in New Zealand in the winter, we cannot complain about the weather

I think it’s also important to note, New Zealand in football are not actually invited to play in the

New Zealand football coach Anthony Hudson (right) branded venue conditions in Port Moresby as “crazy”

edition of the International Judo Federation (IJF) Judo Educational Tour has passed through Papua New

Guinea before visiting Vanuatu and New Caledonia.Four judo demonstrations were held in Port Moresby

the University, two in high schools and one in a local club.Raymond Ovinou, who represented Papua New

the participation and the popularisation of judo.John Jambert, President of the Papua New Guinea Judo

judo demonstrations were held in Papua New Guinea ©IJFThe third leg of the Tour was held in Vanuatu

“Australia and New Zealand are the leading countries, and with the support of the French Territories

World Rugby have announced they have signed a four-year extension to their current partnership with banking giant HSBC for the World Rugby Sevens Series, in what is described as a record-breaking deal for the competition.

HSBC were announced the title sponsor of the men’s World Rugby Sevens Series in 2009 and the new agreement

The new agreement will also see HSBC act at the local title sponsor for several of the individual rounds

next year.HSBC will be the title sponsor of the Women's Seven Series, as well as the men's under the new

central to the sevens success story and is totally aligned with our mission to attract and inspire new

Zealand on January 30 and 31.Sydney are set to be the next hosts of the series from February 6 and

Former England captain and coach Martin Johnson has launched the official ticket design for this year’s Rugby World Cup at Twickenham Stadium in London.

winning captains.As well as Johnson, Australia’s John Eales, South Africa’s Francois Pienaar, and New

supplied by Getty Images.South Africa is represented by an image of Pienaar taken after they beat New

Zealand 15-12 at Ellis Park Stadium to win the 1995 Rugby World for what was a significant moment in

Zealand is represented by an image of McCaw taken during their match against France in the pool stages

Zealand versus Tonga at St James' Park and South Africa versus Samoa at Villa Park.Fans can continue

Funchal, located on Portuguese island Madeira is set to stage the 2016 International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming Open European Championships, it has been announced. 

absolutely crucial" in big year for Paralympic sport, IPC President saysApril 2015: Pascoe set to head New

Zealand challenge at IPC Swimming World Championships

Duracell will be the official battery partner of the Rugby World Cup, due to take place in England from September 18 to October 31, it has been announced.

World Cup in global commercial marketplace”.He added: “We are delighted to be welcoming Duracell as a new

record-breaking Rugby World Cup, we look forward to collaborating with Duracell to project rugby to new

rugby not only in the UK & Ireland but also in key markets such as Italy, South Africa, Australia and New

Zealand.

Paralympics New Zealand (PNZ) has announced its team for this year’s International Cycling Union (UCI

The five-strong team is the first of its kind to represent New Zealand at a World Championships across

fifth at the opening round of the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Maniago, Italy, is one of two new

Zealand team will first contest the third round of the UCI Para-Cycling Road World Cup in Elzach,

Germany.Related storiesMay 2015: Hailstone appointed Paralympics New Zealand cycling performance programme

head coachMay 2015: Two-time Olympian Cameron appointed women's track coach at Cycling New Zealand

The two big battleships of world rowing met again at the Varese World Cup today – and this time it was the turn of the British men’s eight to have their revenge over the German crew which beat them to the European title last month.

It was one of five wins which left them top of the medals table ahead of New Zealand, whose rowers earned

and Heather Stanning, the women’s lightweight double scull of London 2012 champion Kat Copeland and new

“Winning is always good, especially against competition as tough as Germany and the US.”New Zealand's

the Rowing World Cup but is increasingly facing challenges from several youngsters ©Getty ImagesThe New

settled for bronze behind New Zealand and the United States.A new World Cup Best Time was set by the

A day of semi-finals and repechage events at the Rowing World Cup in Varese produced two world best times in the women’s programme.

New Zealand’s 19-year-old Zoe McBride eclipsied the 21-year-old mark set in the lightweight single sculls

, and the new British lightweight double sculls pairing of London 2012 champion Kat Copeland and Charlotte

Taylor bettering the time set by New Zealand at last year’s World Championships.McBride’s was a historic

persuasive evidence that they are a force in world rowing too as they won their semi-final in 6:48.38.New

Olympic champion Mahe Drysdale of New Zealand won his semi-final without undue stress, as did Kim Crow

Croatian brothers Valent and Martin Sinkovic, world champions in the men’s double sculls, announced their readiness to defend that title as they won their first race of the season at the second Rowing World Cup in Varese having missed the opening World Cup and subsequent European Championships because of Valent’s back problem.

their heat in a competition on the Lago di Varese which marks the season’s international debut for New

Zealand, Australia, the United States and Canada in a season due to peak at the World Championships

France from August 30 until September 6.Buit the pair will have a tougher test when they meet the new

thing.And the Danes found the going tough as they finished at the back of their heat.Grainger, with new

being owned by Australia’s 2013 world champion and 2014 silver medallist Kim Crow in the absence of New

to a conclusion on Wednesday (June 17), broke television records in no fewer than three countries, new

Around 2.3 million people tuned in to watch host nation Canada’s 0-0 draw with New Zealand on June 11

World Rugby have announced that England will host the 2016 World Rugby Under-20 Championship, with the competition set to take place in two stadiums in Manchester.

achieve that goal, ensuring that rugby is accessible in all areas of the country.”England will meet New

Zealand in the final of the 2015 World Rugby Under-20 Championships ©Getty ImagesWith the tournament

holders of the competition and will be hoping to retain their title at the 2015 edition as they face New

Zealand in the final in Cremona on Saturday (June 20), with a victory seeing them head into their home

Germany booked their place in the next round of the FIFA Women’s World Cup with a comfortable 4-0 win over minnows Thailand at the Winnipeg Stadium.

Netherlands earlier in the group stage.China finished their group campaign with a 2-2 draw against New

Zealand in Winnipeg, in which Rebekah Stott gave the Black Ferns the lead only for Wang Lisi to restore

All seven days of competition at next month's International Paralympic Committee (IPC) Swimming World Championships will be streamed live on the event’s website, it has been announced.

absolutely crucial" in big year for Paralympic sport, IPC President saysApril 2015: Pascoe set to head New

Zealand challenge at IPC Swimming World ChampionshipsApril 2015: Quartet of Paralympians headline Australia

Olympic champions Germany silenced the home crowd as they won the Hockey World League semi-final event with a comfortable 4-1 victory over hosts Argentina in Buenos Aires.

s fifth and the rout was complete when Jonker bagged his second of the match.Elsewhere, Spain beat New

Zealand 3-1 to claim fifth while seventh went to South Korea by virtue of a 1-0 win against Japan.The