Kinton Global Enterprises and Raka 7s Tournament organizers today announce a launch of Inaugural Raka 7s, an exciting tournament benchmark against international sevens tournament around the world.

Raka 7s embodies the very heartbeat of Fiji in providing an exciting competition platform for our athletes from the 24 – 25 November this year at ANZ Stadium, Suva.  The competition boasts 80 Teams whereby 64 Men’s Teams and 16 Women’s Team with cash prizes totaling to $51,000.

Tickets will available from 20^th October 2017.

The two days of rugby heaven will see some of top clubs compete to claim a share of $51,000 in prize money, with the compelling on-field action supplemented by a program of entertainment expected to avid sports fans.

We also delighted to confirm expressions of interest from the Solomon Islands, our local clubs. In the Mens division :   Yamacia, Uluinakau, Police, Tokatoka Westfield Babas, Mc Donalds Saunaka, Presdio Davetalevu, Raiwaqa, Kinoya Sea Eagles, Vatukarasa, Naselesele and Cross Victory. In the Womens division:Striders, Nadi Blazers, Waitasere Tailevu, Mystic Knights, Marist Seahawks

During the two days event it will also be declared “PLASTIC FREE VENUE” to pay homage to Fiji’s commitment to our environment.

Usain Bolt delivered a rebuke those who questioned whether he really suffered an injury in his farewell race at the World Athletics Championships by revealing details of his hamstring tear.

The Jamaican, stung by speculation that he had pulled up in the anchor leg of the 4 x 100 metres relay final in London last weekend because he was too far behind to win the race, said the injury would need three months of rehabilitation.

Accompanied by an x-ray of the injury to his left hamstring, the eight-times Olympics gold medallist was also adamant in social media posts that he never cheated his fans.

The 30-year-old explained on Twitter: “Sadly I have tear of the proximal myotendineous junction of biceps femoris in my left hamstring with partial retraction. 3 months rehab.

“I don’t usually release my medical report to the public but sadly I have sat and listened to people questioning if I was really injured.

“I have never been one to cheat my fans in any way & my entire desire at the championship was run one last time for my fans. Thanks for the continued support my fans and I rest, heal and move onto the next chapter of my life #Love&LoveAlone.”

The posts on Twitter were removed shortly after they had been posted.

Bolt had been three metres down on the two leaders as he took on the last leg of the relay, which was won by Britain, only to pull up sharply and fall to the ground, coming to a halt after a forward roll on the track.

He speculated last weekend that the injury, which ended a wretched final championships for him after he only managed to win bronze in the individual 100 metres the previous weekend, might have been caused by having a long wait before the race.

Bolt, who won 19 global championship golds, is widely considered the finest sprinter in athletics annals.

The All Blacks won’t be giving sideline scandals a second thought in this week’s game against the Wallabies – they’ll be focusing on getting their season back on track after failing to win their last two tests, Jamie Wall writes.

Let’s just forget about Aaron Smith and his comically inept attempts to cover up his lewd actions of a year ago, let alone his comically inept attempts at the English language.

Let’s forget the court case involving a security guard allegedly bugging the All Blacks’ hotel room last year.

Because it’s highly likely the All Blacks aren’t giving these a second thought. What matters this weekend is the rare situation of an All Black side having failed to win their two last tests, and having to essentially get their season back on track after a shock drawn series with the British & Irish Lions.

It’s that Lions series that the Wallabies can draw some inspiration from. After coming back to win the second test – albeit with a little help from Sonny Bill Williams’ indiscipline – they managed to withstand a first half onslaught from the All Blacks in the third and deciding test. They battled to an honourable, if a little controversial, draw at Eden Park – getting as close as anyone had to beating the All Blacks there since 1994.

So what do the Wallabies need to do?

Besides the obvious immediate sledging of Smith (if he actually gets to play), a rush defence needs to be put in place early and often to try and nullify Beauden Barrett.

The All Blacks were shown to be far too reliant on the Hurricanes first-five in the second test especially, and banging him up a bit could mean a few uncharacteristic mistakes in the backline.

It’s unlikely that Barrett’s sometimes wayward goalkicking will play a part in the result, given that Damian McKenzie has been brought into the side. The Chiefs fullback will have to contend with a barrage of high balls from both Will Genia and Bernard Foley, and if the Wallabies are smart, they’ll be running Israel Folau straight at him to leap up and over to claim those kicks.

So it’s tempting to think the Wallabies will run a conservative game plan against the All Blacks, even though looking back at the few losses the World Champions have conceded, that has no basis in prior results. The Lions’ 24 points to beat the All Blacks was admittedly the lowest winning total since 2011, however they did still have to outscore them by two tries to none.

Meanwhile, the All Blacks simply have to get back to their bullying best. They’ve signified that intent with the promotion of Highlanders loose forward Liam Squire to the starting line-up, at the expense of veteran Jerome Kaino. This is arguably a much bigger talking point than McKenzie’s start at fullback, given that Ben Smith will still be floating around on the wing to help him out under the aforementioned bombs.

Kaino’s place in the pecking order has seriously slipped given that Squire has spent most of the season watching from the sidelines with injury, and is a clear sign that coach Steve Hansen is thinking about future-proofing the blindside flanker spot.

Sonny Bill Williams gets a chance to bury the demons of his shoulder-charge induced stint on the sideline, courtesy of some very liberal interpretations of what constitutes a proper game of rugby. His four-match suspension is now up, so expect a big performance from him on a ground where he has won two NRL premierships.

A year-old sex scandal and confusing court case won’t be enough to derail the All Blacks’ preparation for this test. Especially considering that when you contrast them to Australian rugby having to ditch one of their Super Rugby teams, the Wallabies losing to Scotland this year and the very existence of the code being under threat in the country – all makes Aaron Smith making an ill-advised trip to the loo seem a bit miniscule in comparison, doesn’t it?

Rain held up England’s progress after Alastair Cook scored a superb 243 on the second day of the first cricket test against the West Indies at Edgbaston.

Cook’s 10-hour knock led the hosts to a first-innings total of 514 for eight declared and James Anderson dismissed Kraigg Brathwaite for nought before the tourists battled to 44 for one in reply.

Heavy rain curtailed the final session and West Indies will resume on day three 470 runs behind.

Resuming on 348 for three in the first day-night test in England, Cook and Dawid Malan smoothly extended their fourth-wicket partnership to 162.

Cook reached his fourth test double century with a thick edge to the third man boundary off Kemar Roach, the former England captain’s 30th four.

Malan, who recorded his first test 50 in his third match, was out on the stroke of lunch for 65, edging spinner Roston Chase to Jermaine Blackwood at slip.

Ben Stokes (10), Jonny Bairstow (18) and Moeen Ali (nought) fell in quick succession as England chased runs and Cook’s marathon vigil ended when he was trapped lbw by Chase, prompting the declaration.

A callow West Indies batting lineup was always likely to struggle against England’s experienced pace bowling attack and Anderson had Brathwaite caught by wicketkeeper Bairstow for an eight-ball duck.

Powell, dropped by Stokes at gully off Stuart Broad, and Hope battled through to tea without further loss and they extended their partnership in the first match of the three-test series before heavy rain ended the day’s play.

The Eastern One Under 19 7s team have won the first ever Vodafone Fiji Secondary School 7s championship.

The side defeated Western 2 31 – 7 in a pulsating final.

The Eastern One team dominated the game right from the start as Western two had no answer to the onslaught.

Captain and Speedster Netani Vakayalia was the toast for the side as he showed his sheer speed and strength to score three tries in the match.

Four Overseas based players will join the Fiji Under 20 side for the World Junior Trophy Championship.

Under 20 head coach Koli Sewabu says this is a major boost for the team as they set their sight of winning the tournament and qualify for the Junior Rugby World Cup next year.

Sewabu says there are improvements that needs to be made before they take on Hong Kong in their first match.

With the side being tagged as one of the favourites, players have been reminded to do everything right in training.

“Just getting back to the basics and making sure that we are strong on our set pieces and we are so fortunate to get the help of Joh McKee in putting together our structure and game plan”, said Fiji Under 20 Coach Koli Sewabu.

The All Blacks coach Steve Hansen has described his side’s first 50 minutes against Australia “as good a rugby as you’ll ever see” after they beat the Wallabies in Sydney.

The All Blacks established a 54-6 lead in the opening match of the Rugby Championship but then allowed the Australians to score four unanswered tries as the vistors eventually ran out 54-34 winners.

Th win could not have come at a better time after a week studded with off-field distractions.

Lurid details of half back Aaron Smith’s toilet tryst at Christchurch airport last year were published in the Australian media and were followed on Saturday by allegations of an extra-marital affair levelled at flanker Jerome Kaino.

Kaino, who had been rested from the Sydney test, was sent home on Saturday to deal with a “personal issue”, New Zealand Rugby said in a statement.

In addition, the week was peppered with revelations from the All Blacks camp during the trial of their former security guard, who was found not guilty on Friday of planting a bugging device in the team’s meeting room last year.

“Rugby’s always going to have moments where you are not happy with things that are going on but ultimately it’s all about Saturday isn’t it?,” Hansen said.

“It’s about winning the game and doing things that you are proud of. We’ve done that tonight.”

The World Cup-winning coach said he thought Smith had played “really well” on Saturday and bridled when asked whether Kaino would be considered for next week’s return test in Dunedin.

“I think that’s a pretty low question,” he added.

“We all know what the problem is and he’s got some stuff he’s got to deal with and once he’s dealt with that, we’ll make some decisions.”

Hansen and captain Kieran Read were much keener to talk about the side’s display in running in eight tries to take a 54-6 lead in the 48th minute.

“Any time you can put that number of points on any international team that feels pretty good,” Read said.

“And it really just came about by us doing the simple things well. We’ve got some talented players and we can give them go-forward ball and look after the ball in contact, things come off and the talent really shines.”

Hansen’s delight at the “really special” spell was tempered by what happened in the last 30 minutes but even that, he felt, might prove a useful wake-up call.

“The first 50 minutes was as good a rugby as you’ll ever see and the last 30 some of the ugliest rugby,” he said.

“I think we got a little seduced by the scoreboard and went away from some of the fundamentals of what we wanted to do.

“It’s another learning for a group that’s re-establishing itself and that will give us something to really focus on when we’re going to Dunedin and that won’t do us any harm.

“If we’d gone on and won the game the way we were playing in the first half, I don’t think would have done us any good either.”

England have routed the West Indies by an innings and 209 runs in the day-night cricket test in Birmingham.

England took 19 wickets on the third day to secure the win.

West Indies, 44-1 overnight in reply to England’s 514-8 declared, were bowled out for 168 and 137.

James Anderson took 3-34 in the first innings and Stuart Broad 3-34 in the second to move above Sir Ian Botham into second on the list of England’s all-time leading Test wicket-takers.

England take the lead in the three-match series, with the second Test beginning at Headingley on Friday.

That and the final match at Lord’s will revert to traditional playing hours after this contest was held under lights to help England prepare for the Ashes.

While they have been given experience of playing with the pink ball, a poor West Indies side do not look likely to provide any sort of examination before the tour of Australia.

Off the field, the staging of the floodlit game can be seen as a success – the three days that have seen play were close to a sell-out – but the contest was not befitting of the historic occasion.

The West Indies, who have not won a Test in the UK for 17 years and their capitulation resulted in the Test being even more one-sided than was feared beforehand.

Although the cloudy sky made bowling conditions favourable, England often had to do little more than find a full length and wait for the visiting batsmen to miss, play across the line or edge the ball.

Eight West Indies batsmen were out twice on the final day and in all they scored 219 runs for the fall of those 19 wickets – the most they have lost on a single day of Test cricket.

Manchester United netted four goals for the second consecutive week in the Premier League to rout Swansea City 4-0 and ensure their highest-scoring start to a season for 110 years.

United manager Jose Mourinho said he “let the horses run freely” at the Liberty Stadium but his old foe Arsene Wenger was left frustrated after Arsenal fell to a 1-nil loss at Stoke City.

Liverpool struggled to squeeze past Crystal Palace 1-0 and promoted Brighton and Hove Albion suffered their second defeat in two games, 2-0 at Leicester City.

Goals flowed at Southampton, who snuffed out an astonishing comeback by 10-man West Ham United to win 3-2.

Watford, who drew with Liverpool last week, beat Bournemouth 2-0 while West Bromwich Albion won 1-0 at Burnley.

The win was Albion’s second of the season and put them level on points with leaders Manchester United.

Ghana-born wing Raymond Rhule scored his first international try as South Africa claimed a 37-15 victory over Argentina in their Rugby Championship opener.

The Springboks dominated the physical contest and scored tries through winger Courtnall Skosan, flanker Siya Kolisi and lock Pieter-Steph du Toit, their fourth victory in a row after a 3-0 clean-sweep of France.

Argentina defended manfully and enjoyed little possession, but managed tries through experienced halfback Martin Landajo and wing Emiliano Boffelli.

The Springboks also handed a first cap to 20-year-old first five-eighth Curwin Bosch when he replaced Elton Jantjies late in the game.

“We couldn’t have asked for a better start (to the competition),” Springboks captain Eben Etzebeth said at the post-match presentation.

“We said at halftime, we must keep going and the ball will break for us.”

After a miserable 2016 in which they lost eight of their 12 tests, signs of a Springboks revival continued as they won key battles against the Pumas.

The home side was dominant in the scrum and held its defensive shape well, offering little space for the visitors to exploit.

A government delegation led by the Minister for Women, Children and Poverty Alleviation, Mereseini Vuniwaqa is currently on tour in the Lau group.

Minister Vuniwaqa has so far visited Moala, Totoya, Oneata and Lakeba and has commissioned various development projects.

During the visit the Minister has also officiated in the declaration of Totoya island as a Zero Tolerance Violence Free Community – a first in the Lau group.

Vodafone Fiji Bati Winger Suliasi Vunivalu is expected sign a deal that will keep him until the end of 2020 at the Melbourne Storm.

The exciting winger have dominated the league this year, with Vunivalu ranked 2nd in tries scored.

Vunivalu has played 42 first grade games for the Storm, and 1 Test for Fiji.

Vunivalu is also expected to be one of the stars in this years Rugby League World Cup.

The President Major Genera (retired) Jioji Konrote afternoon closed the 2017 Fiji International Golf Tournament at the Natadola Championship Golf Course.

The Fijian Head of State also presented the 2017 winner Jason Norris.

Australian, Norris said the win was the biggest win of his 21-year golf career at the Fiji International yesterday.

JARRYD Hayne has been taken to task by Michael Ennis for an apparent no-show to the Titans’ Thursday night loss against his old side Parramatta.

Hayne was ruled out of the clash with an ankle injury but travelled to Sydney and had dinner with Eels star Corey Norman and other Sydney-based NRL mates before declining to turn up to watch his struggling club’s latest loss.

That claim has since been denied by Hayne’s former manager and current adviser, Wayne Beavis, who told Fox Sports’ chief NRL reporter James Hooper that Hayne had in fact attended the match.

Hooper reported that conversation on Fox League’s The Weekend Wrap on Sunday night, before adding that the claim was difficult to believe given Hayne escaped the attention of the cameras.

Australia’s Ambassador for the Environment, Patrick Suckling, will travel today to provide an update on Australia’s action on commitments under the Paris Agreement as well as Australia’s ongoing support to climate change adaptation and mitigation in the region.

Ambassador Suckling is scheduled to meet with a range of key stakeholders from the Government of Fiji, international development partners and the private sector.

These discussions will encompass a wide range of topics including preparations for the upcoming COP 23 meeting, Nationally Determined Contributions and private sector finance.

Ambassador Suckling will visit Kiribati, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga and Fiji on this trip around the region.

Barcelona made a winning start to their La Liga campaign by defeating Real Betis on an emotional night at the Nou Camp.

The Spanish giants were playing for the first time since the terror attack in the city on Thursday and both teams paid their respects to the victims with a minute’s silence before kick off.

Barcelona took the lead in the game when Alin Tosca deflected Gerard Deulofeu’s cross into his own net.

Sergi Roberto then swept in a second.

It was a much-needed result for Barcelona after a difficult start to their season. Forward Neymar left the club to join Paris St-Germain in the summer before they were beaten 5-1 on aggregate by rivals Real Madrid in the Spanish Super Cup.

Lionel Messi, the focal point of the Barcelona forward line in the absence of Neymar and the injured Luis Suarez, hit the woodwork three times as he pursued his 350th La Liga goal.

But it was former Everton forward Deulofeu who made the difference, providing the assist for Roberto’s goal after his cross had led to the opener.

There have been some changes made to the Public Service Vehicle Regulations.

Public Service Vehicle Permit holders who lodged for the renewal of their permits on or after 10th July in the year 2000 and were granted renewal by the LTA, solely on the grounds that it was lodged after the prescribed period of 28 days at the time it was lodged, may submit a new application before 30th September, 2017 to have their permits renewed.

Permit holders will still be required to meet the criteria of being a resident and is not any in breach of the Land Transport Act 1998 or its regulations.

New applications will only be considered by the LTA based on records kept by the Authority and evidence produced by the applicant in respect of the former applicant.

The LTA is also reminding PSV Permit holders that failure to apply for permit renewal on or before 30th September this year, will result in cancellation of permits effective from 1st October 2017.

The search for a 36 year old fisherman continues this morning.

The victim had accompanied two other men and were using nets to fish off Lomolomo Beach in Lautoka yesterday morning.

Between 9am to 9.30am they noticed him struggling and calling out for help.

A search was conducted yesterday with the assistance of the community with negative results.

Officers will continue the search today.

Four men will be produced at the Lautoka Magistrates Court today for their alleged involvement in two separate cases of aggravated robbery and theft of motor vehicles.

The four are alleged to have robbed a 37 year old man of cash and his mobile phone at the junction of Tavakubu before fleeing in his car which was later found abandoned in Tavua.

In Tavua, the four are again alleged to have assaulted and stolen a vehicle belonging to a 30 year old man of Nadi before driving off in his vehicle heading towards Tavua town.

The two incidents are alleged to have occurred late last Thursday night and into the early hours of Friday morning.

The four allegedly stormed into Best West Kava in Navo, Nadi on Friday morning and stole cash, cigarettes and recharge cards before fleeing in another vehicle which was later found abandoned in Momi.

The four were arrested shortly after the alleged aggravated robbery in Nadi by a task force team.

The four are aged 39, 22, 42 and 31 years of age and have been charged with one count of aggravated robbery and theft of motor vehicle.

They will be produced at the Lautoka Magistrates Court today.

Gareth Bale scored one and assisted another as Real Madrid began their La Liga title defence with an easy victory at Deportivo La Coruna, although Sergio Ramos was sent off in injury time.

With Cristiano Ronaldo suspended, Bale tapped in from Karim Benzema’s scuffed shot to put Madrid ahead.

Casemiro ended a move with 44 passes by converting Marcelo’s cross, before Toni Kroos smashed in from Bale’s pass.

Keylor Navas then saved Florin Andone’s penalty, before Ramos was dismissed.

The Madrid defender picked up his second yellow card for a high elbow in an aerial challenge, having received his first for shoving Fabian Schar’s face.

Depor centre-back Schar had pushed his head close to Ramos’ in an angry confrontation – for which he too was shown a yellow card – but the Spaniard’s violent retaliation might easily have been punished with a straight red.

Ramos, 31, has now been sent off 23 times for Madrid, and 18 times in La Liga, a joint record he shares with ex-Sevilla defender Pablo Alfaro and Xavi Aguado, formerly of Real Zaragoza.

Earlier, Barcelona also got their league campaign off to a winning start as Ernesto Valverde’s side beat Real Betis 2-0 on an emotional night at the Nou Camp.

Barcelona were playing for the first time since the terror attack in the city on Thursday and both teams paid their respects to the victims with a minute’s silence before kick off.