After last night’s win in Hong Kong, the Vodafone Fiji 7s side has moved to second place on the overall series standings.

Fiji collected 22 points for their win, and they now trail leaders South Africa by 23 points.

England is third followed by New Zealand.

The ever improving USA side is currently fifth on the points table.

Australia, Argentina, Canada, Scotland and Wales make up the top 10.

Kalione Nasoko continued his consistent form in the world series this season.

The Waya villager from Yasawa worked over time last night in the final.

Nasoko was named the player of the final following his sublime performance against South Africa.

He was later named the player of the final after scoring a double and helped set up another two tries.

Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand, Filimoni Waqabaca has not resigned and is still part of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs program.

Answering to questions posted on Social Media, Foreign Affairs, Acting Permanent Secretary, Yogesh Karan confirmed that he has not received any resignation letter from Waqabaca and he remains in the position.

Karan says word going around that Waqabaca has resigned to join Asian Development Bank in Manila are only rumors and reaffirms that Waqabaca is still Fiji’s High Commissioner to New Zealand.

Waqabaca was in the country last week to attend a Ministry of Foreign Affairs Head of Mission meeting.

A woman in her 70s passed away at the Lautoka Hospital this afternoon.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro says that the woman was involved in an accident in the heart of Lautoka City this morning.

It’s alleged the woman went under a bus.

Police have confirmed that the Bus driver has been questioned and is still in police custody at the Lautoka Police Station.

Investigations continue.

Fiji have won their third consecutive Hong Kong sevens title and their first tournament of the current world series.

The Fijians dominated South Africa 22-0 in the final, helped by two tries from Kalione Nasoko.

Fiji have now won five of the last six tournaments in Hong Kong.

Captain Osea Kolinisau acknowledged the successful history but told World Rugby it didn’t play a big part in their build-up this week.

“We weren’t focusing on doing it three times,” Kolinisau said.

“We said that we were going to take it as if we were searching for [our] first title in the series and I am glad that everybody was up to par and everybody did their job.”

Kolinisau said playing at the Hong Kong Sevens was a childhood dream for most Fijians so winning the tournament was extra special.

“Hong Kong seems like a home away from home and we watch a lot of our idols play here,” he said.

“It’s always the dream of every young Fijian to one day wear the white jersey but [also] wear it in Hong Kong.”

Fiji have leap-frogged England on the World Series ladder now, with the Blitz Bokke still leading the standings on 145 points followed by Fiji on 122 and England on 113.

Samoa lost in the semi-finals of the shield competition to wales 26-12 meaning the Samoans only win of the Hong Kong tournament was a 22-12 victory of South Korea in pool play.

The Samoans lie in 13th place on the series table.

Singapore hosts the next tournament in the World Series next weekend.

The series qualifiers were also held in Hong Kong with Spain overcoming Germany in the final 12-7, meaning they will take be a series core team next season.

Papua New Guinea had lost in the semi-finals to the victorious Spaniards while Tonga didn’t make it out of their pool, falling to both Germany and Uganda.

The Australian Rugby Union has confirmed the Western Force or the Melbourne Rebels will be cut from Super Rugby from next year, with a decision to be made in the next three days.

The two teams will be consulted as the ARU further examines their financial position.

The ARU chairman Cameron Clyne says they looked at three teams, the Brumbies, Force and Rebels before deciding the Brumbies were safe.

“At the request of the Board, ARU management completed an exhaustive analysis on three of our teams – the Brumbies, Western Force and Melbourne Rebels.

“The purpose of the analysis was to assess each of those teams on their financial sustainability, high performance and commercial factors, examining a range of metrics, with a view to identifying which of those three teams to remove from the competition.

“After reviewing management’s findings, the Board made the decision to eliminate the Brumbies from the process and identified that consultation is required with both the Western Force and Melbourne Rebels to further understand their financial position,” Clyne said.

He says the financial burden placed on the ARU by having five Super sides was hurting rugby in Australia.

“Super Rugby has placed an increasingly heavy burden on the ARU business in recent years and the acceleration of revenue declines in our Super Rugby businesses has placed the game under extreme financial pressure.

“The additional funding provided by the ARU to offset Super Rugby losses has severely limited our capacity to invest further in our grassroots and high performance areas such as player and coach development,” he said.

Clyne says in addition to revenue declines in Super Rugby, the changing global Rugby marketplace has posed challenges for the southern hemisphere competition.

“Since the ARU expanded to five Super Rugby teams in 2010, the economy we operate in globally has changed dramatically.

“With the incentives on offer in Europe, the player exodus has been significant in Australia and indeed across our SANZAAR partners. Based on recent performance trends, it is evident that we do not currently have the playing depth in Australia to service five teams in Super Rugby.

“Performance declines by our teams since the expansion of Super Rugby has had a direct correlation with declines in revenue across their businesses.”

Clyne confirmed the ARU’s support for the restructured format for the 2018 season.

“We agree that the 18-team competition was unsustainable and that a return to a 15-team competition will provide a more engaging and overall improved product for fans.”

Clyne also stressed it was an ARU decision to drop a team.

“It is important for me to clarify firstly that the decision to remove a Super Rugby team from Australia was a decision made by the ARU, not by SANZAAR.”

First Light Taveuni captain Lemeki Tulele is highly likely to make his debut for the Vodafone Fiji 7s team in Singapore.

Tulele has joined the national side in Hong Kong with Josua Vici.

Army flanker Paula Dranisinukula is expected to join the side tomorrow.

The Fiji 7s teams win in Hong Kong has come at a price with three players back in the country, and will miss the Singapore 7s due to injury.

Apisai Domolailai, Joeli Lutumailagi and Vatemo Ravouvou – arrived into the country this morning.

The trio will be replaced by Tulele, Vici and Dranisinukula.

Tulele and Vici are in Hong Kong after featuring in the 10’s tournament last week where their team won.

Dranisinkula has been in the national extended squad for more than six months and may get his biggest break with Apisai Domolailai out.

Labalaba is in the initial squad as he is a travelling reserve.

Fiji will meet Hong Kong in their first pool match at 4.52pm, on Saturday at the Singapore 7s.

The side will then take on Russia at 7.50pm also on Saturday.

Our last pool match is against Canada at 12.06am on Sunday.

And Remember you can catch all the action – LIVE! right here on Fiji One.

Jarryd Hayne is likely to make his return to the NRL in round eight when the Gold Coast take on Cronulla.

Britain’s former WBA, WBO and IBF heavyweight boxing champion Tyson Fury says he hopes to be in Auckland to watch his cousin Hughie Fury take on New Zealand’s Joseph Parker.

Hughie Fury is challenging Parker for the WBO heavyweight belt at Vector Arena on May 6th.

Tyson Fury told BoxNation “It will definitely be a first. Two world heavyweight champions from England (from the same family). I don’t think it will be done again, put it that way.”

“Of course it would mean a lot, it would mean the world to me. I’ll go over there, providing I’m alive or whatever. God willing I’ll be there.”

On Hughies chances, Tyson said “Hughie’s looking good, he’s training hard and everything’s going to plan – so far, so good…It doesn’t matter if it’s in New York, Hong Kong or China. It’s a boxing match at the end of the day and whoever wants it the most will win it. Boxing is in the mind anyway, it’s not in the physical body or how good or bad you are.”

Tyson Fury hasn’t fought since November 2015 after suffering from personal issues.

The Fiji Rugby Union held their Special General Meeting on the weekend to discuss on its constitution.

Union members and council were all gathered at the meeting to give their input for the Rugby House to endorse the revised constitution.

Changes are expected in the constitution and to adopt professionalism.

FRU CEO John O’Connor says the outcome of the consultation will be presented to the council for consideration and adoption of the constitution.

FRU was also happy to see the support from most of the unions who are willing to help them move towards professionalism.

A year away from next years General Election the Chairperson of the Electoral Commission, Suresh Chandra, has announced that the registration of voters overseas will take place during the Fiji Day celebrations this year.

Registration teams will be deployed to countries where Fiji has foreign missions.

The Fijian Elections Office will be working closely with the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to coordinate logistics and other facilitation’s to implement the program.

The Registration Drives planned this year will allow overseas Fijians who still hold a valid Fiji passport to prepare and make arrangements to meet our registration teams during the Fiji Day celebrations.

In order to register, the FEO will require the applicants to produce a valid Fiji passport.

Further details for the registration drives will be released in due course.

Six men were today awarded certificates of commendation by the Commissioner of Police Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho.

The six namely, 62 year old Mataika Tuicakau, Jovilisi Serekilevu, Watisoni Gone, Isaia Dugutabua, Josua Nasau and Sikeli Nasau, all in their early 20’s and 30 year old of Naivicula Village in Tailevu.

They assisted in arresting a 25 year old man last month after he had allegedly stolen a vehicle from the home of a 60 year old retired teacher in Narere.

The alleged incident occurred between the 19th and 20th of March, the stolen vehicle was found abandoned at a farm in Tailevu.

Police Commissioner, Brigadier General Sitiveni Qiliho said the Fiji Police Force was always looking towards such assistance to help address crime.

“I would like to take this time to thank you, on behalf of the Police Department, the Fijian Government and the Minister for Defence for your assistance in trying to combat crime in Fiji. We have certificates here to present to you and some money as  toke of appreciation for your help that led to the arrest of the 25 year old. And we thank you for that.”

The Fiji Electricity Authority will be conducting major maintenance works at the Wailoa Power Station over this Easter long weekend.

FEA will be replacing a main inlet valve at the Wailoa Power Station but has assured the general public that they will try not to have power cuts.

Speaking to the media this afternoon the Authority’s CEO Husmukh Patel  said FEA will be replacing a main inlet valve at its Wailoa Power Station and this critical work needs to be carried out over this long weekend as this exercise is time consuming  and the electricity demand will be lower than on a normal working day.

“As part of the Monasavu Hydroelectric Scheme Half Life Refurbishment works, FEA will replace the main inlet valve (MIV) on the second turbine at the Wailoa Power Station. In order to carry out the replacement of the MIV, FEA Engineers will need to shut off the Wailoa Power Station. This maintenance will mean that FEA will not be able to generate electricity from the Wailoa Hydro Power Station.

“During this outage, FEA will rely on the Diesel Power Stations at Kinoya, Deuba, Rokobili & Korovou to supply electricity to their customers in the Central Division from Matanipusi to Korovou.

“Power supply for Western Division customers will be from the Nadarivatu Power Station and ther diesels sets in Rakiraki, Vuda, Qeleloa, Nadi & Sigatoka.

“During the period of this planned repairs and maintenance, FEA expects to supply all its customers in the Central & Western Division as usual. However, customers may experience intermittent power supply interruptions in the event of a failure of any one of our diesel generating sets. FEA will do its utmost to ensure that these power interruptions are kept to a minimum,” FEA -CEO Husmukh Patel.

Some students involved in posting pictures of them smoking marijuana on Facebook have been removed from a school in the Western Division.

This has been confirmed to Fiji One News by the Minister for Education, Dr Mahendra Reddy.

Police spokesperson, Ana Naisoro confirmed the Officer in Charge of Nadi district has been directed to speak to the teachers and address the concerns regarding the conduct of the students and to also talk to the students concerned.

The photos that was uploaded on Facebook had some secondary school girls and boys smoking a substance that looks like marijuana.

As seen in the photos, the students are in Blue and White uniform and the school monogram is clearly seen.

Investigations continue.

A man is in custody for his alleged involvement in the death of a 35 year old who was found floating in a creek in Waiyavi last weekend.

Chief of Intelligence and Investigations, ACP Biu Matavou says the suspect was taken in following the post-mortem examination which revealed an element of foul play that led to the victim’s death.

He is currently being questioned at the Lautoka Police Station as investigations continue.

The Kasavu Bailey Bridge in Tailevu will be open tomorrow.

The Fiji Roads Authority has announced that construction of the Kasavu Bailey Bridge in Tailevu, is progressing well and will be completed ahead of schedule, by 2pm tomorrow.

FRA Chief Executive Officer John Hutchinson says, the Bailey Bridge has a single lane for buses, cars and trucks – accommodating all legal load limits, with a speed restriction of 15km per hour.

This follows after the large land slip at the Kasavu/Baulevu Road Junction, which had taken a great portion of the road, due to the heavy rain triggered by the Tropical Depression in December last year.

He said that traffic controllers will manage traffic through the site, until traffic lights are installed at Kasavu.

The cost to install the Bailey Bridge solution was 398,500 dollars.

The Minister for Employment, Productivity and Industrial Relations – Jone Usamate today clarified, that a worker who is employed on any of the gazetted public holidays, will be entitled to public holiday pay.

The Minister highlighted that Section 67 of the Employment Relations Act 2007 states, that a worker must be paid in respect of each public holiday, for the number of hours which the worker would normally have worked on that day, had it not been a public holiday.

Usamate said If a worker is employed on Good Friday, Easter Saturday and Easter Monday, then the worker is entitled to double pay.

The Minister appealed to all employers who will be operating during these public holidays to remunerate their workers accordingly.

The Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation – Mereseini Vuniwaqa, yesterday visited women inmates at the ‘Women’s Corrections Centre’ in Suva.

This was her first visit and opportunity to discuss achievements of the Women’s Corrections Centre, and strategies that the Ministry can use to assist, with the rehabilitation of the inmates and their empowerment whilst being incarcerated.

Vuniwaqa acknowledged the work carried out by the Fiji Corrections Services, in assisting the women inmates with rehabilitation and livelihood programs.

In her discussions with the inmates and officials, areas of cooperation with FCS were identified to further assist in the empowerment of women, with the ultimate aim of positively changing the lives of the inmates and their families.

The ministry is also working towards changing mind-sets, and one of its key deliverables is empowerment of women and equipping them with skills and tools to become self-reliant.

The Geography and challenges faced by Fijians limit their ability to access services, especially for those living in the rural areas.

Today’s Commissioning of the REACH Mobile Service Delivery Buses have allowed those living with disability and those who have no access to affordable or timely transportation, the services they need.

“The funding has also made possible the purchase of these mobile bus units with on-board facilities which will further strengthen the REACH Teams capacity nd ability to conduct outreach programs,” said Acting Director Legal Aid – Shahan Rafique Ali.

“This is a great leap towards securing the future of Fiji. I hope  similar sweeping impact is created in the areas of Women’s Empowerment, Justice, Law and Order as well as rights by the REACH Project once free operational,” said Japanese Ambassador – Takuji Hanatani.

The UN Resident Coordinator is relieved that Fiji is now meeting the Development Goals to take the services to empower women and cohesion for rural and urban Fijians.

“REACH also contributes for example by supporting rural pregnant mother’s, providing protection support for children and social pension schemes for older people. The project also strives to improve people’s knowledge and that’s where the empowerment comes in so that people can understand what their rights are, also what their obligations are under the Constitution of the Republic of Fiji,” said UN Resident Coordinator – Osnat Lubrani.

ANZ today announced the launch of its new, more secure chip credit cards for customers in Fiji.