The governing body of Super Rugby will announce the future format of the competition tonight.

It will bring an end to a month of confusion and speculation about the format of the mostly southern hemisphere provincial competition.

SANZAAR, made up of the South African, New Zealand, Australian and Argentinean unions, met in London last month to hammer out a solution to the problems of an over-complicated structure.

The 18-team format, introduced in 2016 after Argentina’s Jaguares and the Sunwolves of Japan joined the competition and South Africa’s Kings returned, was widely criticised and there were fears the quality of the product was being diluted.

It seems certain that Australia and South Africa will lose one or more teams for 2018 to allow a return to the 15-team competition with the Western Force, Southern Kings and Cheetahs franchises the most vulnerable.

The Phoenix chances of making the A-League football finals are over after they drew 1-1 with Sydney in Wellington and Perth beat Brisbane 3-1 in Perth.

The Phoenix played first and kept their slim hopes alive with the draw, though those dreams were dashed later last night as the Perth Glory locked away a finals berth at nib Stadium.

The Brisbane Roar were already guaranteed a third or fourth place finish and while Glory will need a miracle to break into the top four, they are secure in the finals.

Perth finish their season at home next Sunday to Melbourne City needing to win by seven goals to move into the top four, while Brisbane back up from their Champions League clash by hosting Wellington on Sunday.

In Wellington, the decision to allow the introduction of Video Assistant Referees just two rounds before the finals series was always going to raise eyebrows.

And while the decision to award a 70th minute penalty to the recently-crowned Premiers Sydney FC may overshadow discussions about the match, Michael McGlinchey’s added-time equaliser handed the Phoenix the most slender of lifelines for their finals hopes, that was until Perth won.

It was an uncharacteristically subdued start as both sides took a few minutes to find their feet.

In the 27th minute Roy Krishna drew the first real save of the game, with Nix’ former goalkeeper Danny Vukovic getting a strong left hand to the Fijian’s stinging shot.

Krishna then came in for some close attention almost immediately afterwards as the Nix leading goalscorer was kicked heavily on the ankle by Aaron Calver who went into the book for his late attempted clearance.

Nil-nil at half-time, with the Phoenix enjoying four shots to one on target.

In the 70th minute a moment of controversy. Following a crossed ball several Sydney FC players surrounded referee Shaun Evans and after a few moments delay the referee called for the assistance of the Video Assistant Referees.

After several viewings it was adjudged that the ball struck a Phoenix player’s hand and a penalty was awarded – Bobo made no mistake thumping past Italiano to open the scoring.

As Phoenix pushed further forward their reward came deep into added time. A lofted ball was nodded back across goal by Doyle to McGlinchey who nestled a fine header past Vukovic to send the loyal Wellington fans into rapture.

There was still time for another potential VAR moment – in a helter-skelter last minute Wellington players felt they had a shout for first handball and then a penalty.

The fourth official advised the coaching benches that the incident was going to be reviewed, but referee Shaun Evans proceeded to then blow full-time.

Rugby fans here in Fiji can now plan their trip to San Francisco for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2018.

The tournament organizers have confirmed that the three-day festival of world-class rugby will be held in July from 20^th to 22nd next year.

The iconic AT&T Park, home of the San Francisco Giants baseball team, will provide the spectacular backdrop to the tournament that features 24 men’s and 16 women’s teams competing for the title of world champions.

This will be the seventh staging of the tournament, which has previously been held in Edinburgh, Hong Kong, Mar del Plata, Dubai and Moscow.

This will be the first time the RWC Sevens will be held in North America.

The Brumbies consolidated their position at the top of the Australian Conference when they beat the Reds 43-10 in Canberra on Saturday.

In what started out as a typically robust Australian derby, the Brumbies gradually gained the upperhand and eventually outscored their visitors by six tries to one which also secured them a deserved bonus point.

The win means the two-time champions have now won their 10th successive match against Australian opposition and they are now eight points clear of the Waratahs at the top of the Australian Conference while the Reds are 10 points adrift of the men from Canberra in third place.

The visitors made an impressive start and although James Tuttle missed an early penalty attempt, they took the lead via a Chris Kuridrani try in the seventh minute.

This after George Smith, Scott Higginbotham and Samu Kerevi did well with strong carries in the build-up before Kuridrani crashed over after gathering a flat pass from Tuttle deep inside the Brumbies 22.

Five minutes later, Wharenui Hawera opened the Brumbies’ account via a penalty but the next 15 minutes was an arm wrestle as both sides tried to gain the ascendancy.

The Brumbies eventually took the lead in the 28th minute when Tevita Kuridrani showed great leg drive and determination before barging over from close quarters.

Hawera added the extras which gave the home side a three-point lead but Tuttle slotted a penalty on the stroke of half-time which meant the sides were deadlocked at 10-10 at the break.

The Brumbies started the second half with a bang when two minutes after the restart, Robbie Abel dotted down from the back of a maul inside the Reds’  22.

Shortly afterwards, Aidan Toua gathered a wayward Allan Alaalatoa pass close to the Reds’ 10-metre line and outpaced the cover defence before dotting down under the posts.

The hosts were now firmly in control and, their dominance was best illustrated 10 minutes later when their forwards displayed great strentgh and control to push their counterparts off the ball at a scrum before Jarrad Butler gathered at the base of the set-piece and crossed for an easy five-pointer.

That try knocked the stuffing out of the Reds and they offered little resistance to the Brumbies onslaught as the match progressed. The hosts continued to attack and in the 71st minute Tevita ghosted past a couple of defenders but his cousin Chris did well to hold him up as he crossed the whitewash.

Two minutes later, the Brumbies’ sealed victory when James Dargaville scored their fifth try after gathering an inside pass from De Wet Roos close to the Reds tryline.

But the hosts were not done yet and shortly before the full-time whistle,Chris Alcock added the final nail in the visitors’ coffin when he powered his way over the line after running onto a well-time pass from Toua.

The New Zealand men’s sevens team lost their final pool game though they’re still through to this afternoon’s quarter-finals at the Hong Kong leg of the World Series.

The All Black Sevens beat Japan 40-14 yesterday evening before being pipped 17-14 by Fiji in their last group match last night to finish second in their pool.

New Zealand will face series leaders South Africa at 4:06pm (NZ time) for a place in the semi-finals.

Australia, South Africa, USA and Fiji went through pool play unbeaten.

Russia shocked Scotland, Wales, who New Zealand beat in their opening pool game on Friday, drew with Fiji.

Australia will be happy with their performance as they followed up their day one win over Samoa with victories against South Korea and England to ensure their place in the quarter-finals against Argentina.

Australia, South Africa, USA and Fiji remain unbeaten at the Cathay Pacific / HSBC Hong Kong Sevens as day two produced yet another day of thrilling sevens action in the Hong Kong heat.

With Madness entertaining the sold-out crowd at the break, madness also reigned on the pitch as Russia shocked Scotland, Wales drew with Fiji and the series qualifier tournament had fans on the edge of their seats.

Australia will be happy with their performance on Saturday as they followed up their day one win over Samoa with victories against South Korea and England to ensure their place in the quarter-finals against Argentina.

The other quarter-finals on Sunday will see Fiji play Canada, USA face England and a mouth watering encounter as South Africa take on New Zealand.

Fiji plays Canada at 3.20 pm today.

Australia take on Argentina at 2.58pm, USA faces England at 3.42pm while South Africa meets New Zealand at 4.06pm.

The Cup semi-finals kick off at 7.31pm and the Cup final will be played at 11pm.

The Vodafone Fiji 7s team topped Pool C but were almost tripped up by a fierce performance from Wales in their first match on day two.

Having lost to the Welsh in Sydney earlier in the series (which broke Wales’ 14-match losing streak against the Pacific islanders), Fiji were aware of the threat and Luke Morgan was on song scoring twice in the first half to give his side a 10-5 lead at half-time.

Vatemo Ravouvou scored early in the second half to put Fiji ahead 12-10 after his conversion also landed, but Morgan tipped the game back in favour of Wales.

A late try from Amenoni Nasilasila brought the scores level, making it a thrilling 17-17 scoreline.

Gareth Baber’s side faced a strong New Zealand outfit in their second pool match, a side who had beaten Japan 40-14 earlier in the day to qualify for the quarter-finals.

Despite a barnstorming try from New Zealand debutant Joey Ravouvou, it was his namesake Vatemo who clinched the winning try for Fiji and put a 17-14 win on the board.

Both Fiji and New Zealand are through to today’s cup quarterfinals.

Fiji will face Canada while New Zealand have a tough task facing South Africa.

Former All Blacks wing Joe Rokocoko says he found it difficult to live being associated with accusations of cheating.

All part of French Top 14 club Racing 92, Rokocoko, former All Blacks first five-eighth Dan Carter and Argentinian Juan Imhoff were this week cleared of any doping violation after tests in June last year found traces of corticosteroids in their systems.

The tests were carried out after the Top 14 final against Toulon, following a quarterfinal against Toulouse where Rokocoko injured an ankle and had to receive treatment.

“The process was endless and it wasn’t easy to live,” Rokocoko told French publication L’equipe.

“When your name is associated with cheating, here and in New Zealand, where more translation errors make you out to be accused of being on steroids, it’s hard.”

As long as they are granted a therapeutic use exemption, players are allowed to use corticosteroids. Racing 92 had always asserted that they had medical clearance to use the drugs.

Although pleased he and his team-mates had been cleared of any wrongdoing, Rokocoko said the issue of TUEs and corticosteroids in sport needed to be much clearer.

“It’s impossible to understand the rules around it,” he told L’equipe.

“It’s frustrating. Ideally I would like to know what is allowed or not, a simple line between black and white. We did everything according to procedure, but it’s not that simple.

“If I’m honest, I’m glad this has happened so that in the future, [the treatment we can and can't receive] will be clearer.”

Carter also spoke of his relief after the trio were cleared by the French Anti-Doping Agency on Monday (Tuesday NZ time), while Racing 92 posted at statement on the news.

“All this pseudo-business has cast a shadow over our players and our club by spoiling our start of the season.” the club said.

“Dan’s innocence, Juan and Joe deserve the same attention as the suspicions they were subjected to.”

The Fijian Elections Office will conduct the upcoming elections for the University of the South Pacific Students Association.

The approval was granted by the Attorney General Aiyaz Sayed – Khaiyum.

According to a government statement, this follows the Student Association’s request that the Fijian Elections Office carry out their student elections, given the credibility and expertise the Fijian Elections Office demonstrated in conducting the Fiji National University Student Union elections last year.

The Attorney-General said it is important to have credible elections across all levels of Fijian society.

“We are very glad to see that USP’s student leadership is so keen to engage the FEO – an organization that has already received international acclaim for adhering to international best practices in running credible elections. In any democratic society, it is not only elections at the parliamentary level that must be transparent and credible. We must see those same values in elections at every level of society. In our sporting bodies, parent-teacher associations, student unions, trade unions or any organization anywhere in Fiji, we must have elections conducted in a transparent and accountable fashion that preserves public faith in our elected officials. That is how true democratic values and principles are embedded in society. Again, it is wonderful to see the USP Students’ Association show the wisdom to use the professional and impartial services of the FEO,” he said.

Seasonal work employment opportunities cannot be processed through registered local travel agents.

This was highlighted by the Minister for Employment Jone Usamate following queries from members of the public during his seasonal work public consultation in the province of Nadroga/Navosa this week

Members of the community have pointed out that on many occasions travel agents have been demanding advance payment for seasonal work both in New Zealand and Australia.

Seasonal work employment opportunities can only be processed through the Ministry of Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations.

Members of the community were told to report to the Ministry any travel agents making arrangements for seasonal work employment to Australia and New Zealand and demanding Fijians for advance payment for the processing of visa applications.

Usamate highlighted that seasonal work employment opportunities focuses on recruiting members of the community residing in isolated rural areas based on Government’s intention to minimize urban drift for unemployed youths, create job opportunity and alleviate poverty in the rural areas.

The Fiji Sugar Corporation has revealed additional information on why it closed the Penang sugar mill, saying two independent audits were carried out on the future feasibility of the mill.

CEO Graham Clark made the comments in Rakiraki, he said a structural audit estimated repair costs to be about $20 million while a second technical and engineering audit revealed $30 million would be needed for mechanical, electrical and general repairs.

Clark today met with staff at the mill to discuss various options they have now, adding no employee will lose their jobs.

He was asked what message did he have for politicians who were making the closure of the mill a political issue.

“This industry has a viable future but its viability lays in its strength and unity. Therefore everybody should be preaching the same message and that’s do the right thing for the farmers, produce more cane to produce more sugar and we will all have a better result. I am getting a bit worried about this misinformation passing around the community where I had to straighten peoples perception, so my message would be purely commercial. There is very good viable future if we stick to the plot. ” said  Clark

Clark reiterated there will be no dumping of cane in Rakiraki this season and that all farmers will have to take their harvest to Ba.

He was asked if farmers will receive any additional benefits to do so.

“People must get this right. There is no benefit additional to what they had before. The benefit is to deliver their cane to a factory that will crush the cane. The point is that they will not have to incur any additional cost, so they will be cost neutral and these rumors of farmers having to pay half the cost are absolutely unfounded. The farmer wont be worse off and we will make sure the cane trucks are turned around and the more cane he brings the more happier we are and happier he will be “

Rakiraki farmers were today asked to speak about their grievances in light of the closure of the Penang mill.

At a Fiji Cane Growers Association meeting, more than 80 farmers were told that they needed to express their difficulties in remaining in the sugar industry if they needed to be heard.

NFP Leader Dr Biman Prasad was a guest speaker at the meeting and he re-iterated that if they win the 2018 election, they will rebuild and operate the Penang mill once again.

” I feel your pain. I feel the pain of your families, and I feel the pain of your society.”  said Dr Biman Prasad – NFP Leader

Dr Prasad said they had raised a number of issues in Parliament that were for the betterment of the farmers in the country.

He added, the government has never supported any of their motions or petitions.

” When we say something from your side, when we say cane production has gone down, that farmers are earning less now, that farmers are in difficulty and they need help, what the government say? They are playing politics.”

Prime Minister and Minister for Sugar Voreqe Bainimarama has stated work continues on improving the sugar industry and that government is looking at the best solutions.

Meanwhile, a petition was launched at the Rakiraki meeting by the Fiji Cane Growers Association.

The petition is calling for a minimum guaranteed sugarcane price for the 2017 season.

The petition outlines the increase in cane production over the years, but no improvement in the amount of money paid to farmers for their produce.

The farmers want a guaranteed fifty dollars per tonne of cane compared to 25 dollars currently.

The petition, once signed by farmers around the country will be forwarded to the National Federation Party for introduction in Parliament.

The Fiji Marriot Resort Momi Bay is officially now open.

Work on the resort started in 2014 with an estimated budget around $200 million.

The resort contains 250 rooms, including 22 open-water bure villas over Fiji’s first-ever man-made lagoon.

It has three swimming pools, top of the line restaurants and exceptional views looking out over the lagoon and the ocean.

“This has been a massive project for Fiji – one that my Government was keen on. It took nearly 700 hardworking men and women to make it a reality. This project has given hundreds of our people the chance to gain invaluable experience as part of an international development project,” Prime Minister Voreqe Bainimarama said.

Bainimarama added that when this resort is at peak capacity, it will bring 400 new jobs to Fiji.

Police are awaiting the post-mortem results of a man who was found dead in Lautoka yesterday.

Police says the man in his mid 30s has been identified and was found near a creek in Waiyavi.

He was found at the bottom of a creek at Jinnu Rd early yesterday morning by residents in the area.

Investigations are continuing as Police are trying to establish the circumstances surrounding his death.

The Board of the Sugar Research Institute of Fiji has sent its acting chief executive officer on leave, pending an investigation against him.

Board Chairman Professor Rajesh Chandra has confirmed this to Fiji One News.

In a written response, Chandra says the SRIF Board met and asked the Acting CEO, Sanjay Prakash Namal, to go on leave.

He adds the Board had received allegations which required a full investigation, saying it was prudent to ask the acting CEO to proceed on paid leave, during this investigation.

Chandra says the Board is committed to good corporate governance, and wants to ensure a thorough investigation – furthermore, Sanjay Namal will have the opportunity to respond to the allegations.

The SRIF Board has decided to engage an independent firm to undertake this investigation quickly.

Chandra has assured all the stakeholders, that SRIF is committed to its work with other sugar industry partners

The Fiji Revenue and Customs Authority is now actively engaging and visiting business houses, to educate them on their tax obligation and at the same time, assisting them to file their tax returns correctly and on time.

The Taxpayer Education team has so far visited Banks, Hardware companies, Educational Institutions, the Employers Federation office, the TLTB – and others to provide technical assistance, and advise them on Tax and Customs laws.

FRCA CEO, Visvanath Das says, that as the agency responsible for tax administration in Fiji, their aim is to increase public awareness on taxation.

He said this initiative is an excellent way to start engaging with taxpayers, as well as to ignite an interest in areas of voluntary compliance.

“FRCA will be actively engaging with and providing information to individuals, businesses and sectoral agencies, as we focus our efforts on encouraging and supporting voluntary compliance”.

The team will continue their visitation to businesses and corporate houses in the coming weeks.

The Vodafone Fiji 7s team is the top seed in pool A for the Singapore 7s.

The draw has been made for the next round as Hong Kong tournament winners Fiji, top Pool A along with Canada, Russia and the invitational side – Hong Kong.

Series leaders South Africa have a tough group, as they face England, France and Japan when the action gets underway this Saturday.

Australia, much improved bronze medalists in Hong Kong, will play Argentina, defending Singapore Sevens winners Kenya, and Samoa in Pool C.

The USA who missed out on the final in Hong Kong, will meet New Zealand, Scotland and Wales in Pool D.

The Singapore 7s will be played this weekend, and you can watch the live coverage of the tournament on Fiji One.

Lautoka football team were crowned the champions of the Pillay’s Garments Champion versus Champion Series yesterday.

The Blues held Ba to a nil-all draw in the second leg to win first Trophy of the season.

Lautoka won the opening leg one-nil which helped them win the title in front of their home crowd.

The side recieved five thousand dollars prize money while Ba settled for Two Thousand five hundred dollars.

Meanwhile Labasa will feature in next season’s CVC after winning the IDC last year.

They will take on the Vodafone Premier League champions of this season.

Spain’s Sergio Garcia ended his long wait for a first major title with a thrilling play-off win over England’s Justin Rose at the US Masters.

Both players finished on nine under par after 72 holes at Augusta, setting up a sudden-death play-off on the 18th.

37-year-old Garcia, holed a birdie putt for victory after his European Ryder Cup team-mate could only manage a bogey.

Garcia finally won one of golf’s four majors – the Open Championship, the US Open and the US PGA Championship are the other three – at his 74th attempt after 22 previous top-10 finishes.

He became the third Spaniard to win the Masters – after Seve Ballesteros and Jose Maria Olazabal – on what would have been the 60th birthday of Ballesteros, who died in 2011.

Two South African and one Australian team will be cut for the 2018 Super Rugby season.

The restructuring comes after widespread criticism of the first season of the 18-team format, which was introduced in 2016 after Argentina’s Jaguares and the Sun-wolves of Japan joined the competition and the Port Elizabeth-based Kings returned.

SANZAAR has left it to the national rugby unions involved to announce the teams to be cut, Australia’s Perth-based Western Force and South Africa’s Kings and Cheetahs widely considered the most vulnerable franchises.

Under the new structure, the competition will be divided into three conferences; New Zealand, Australia and South Africa.

The Japan Sun-wolves will join the Australian conference while Argentina’s Jaguares will play in the South African conference.

New Zealand’s conference will remained unchanged.