Whats going on in Hawaii?

[Craigo]

League, Union or both?


5th annual Ohana Cup to feature national teams from Tonga and Samoa

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http://www.nospam18.com/images/nations/samoa/Apr20-2013-Samoa-v-Tonga-11.jpg
Date: 13/6/15
June 11, 2015 (HONOLULU, HAWAII) – Grand Pacific Events in conjunction with ESPN 1420 AM is pleased to announce the 5th Annual Ohana Cup Rugby League Festival. Called the Lavalava Festival, it will take place at Aloha Stadium on Saturday, July 18, 2015 at 7:30 p.m. The Pacific Rugby League Test Match will feature international rugby league powerhouse Mate Ma’a Tonga versus arch rival Toa Samoa.
Following the success of last year’s inaugural Lavalava Rugby League Festival, this year’s festivities feature more than six (6) hours of matches and entertainment, culminating with the RLIF sanctioned Test Match game between Mate Ma’a Tonga and Toa Samoa.

“Rugby is the fastest growing sport in the United States and the popularity is surging with both the youth and adult leagues in Hawaii,” said Kelly McGill, former USA Tomahawk Rugby League player, assistant coach and now President of Grand Pacific Events. “The excitement level for this matchup is through the roof and the timing is perfect as we celebrate 50 years of rugby in Hawaii this year and the debut of rugby as an Olympic sport in 2016.”

The gates at Aloha Stadium open at 2 p.m. with a Hawaii Youth Rugby game to start at 3:30 p.m. followed by an adult league all-star matchup featuring the City Chiefs vs. Country Kings at 4:45 p.m. There will also be entertainment, food vendors and a meet and greet with the players all leading up to the 7:30 p.m. start of Mate Ma’a Tonga vs. Toa Samoa game.

If you are unable to make it down to Aloha Stadium ESPN 1420 AM will broadcast the event live as well as streaming via their website at www.espn1420am.com. The play-by-play action will be done by Ben Dobbin, the voice of rugby league radio in Australia, with color commentary being handled by former rugby league superstar Wendell Sailor.
Tickets for the game go on sale at the Aloha Stadium box office beginning July 6, 2015. Ticket prices are as follows: Adults - $20, Military (with ID) - $15, and Keiki (under 12 years old) - $10. Tickets will also be available at most Morale, Welfare and Recreation (MWR) offices on military bases across the island

Proceeds from this year’s event will go directly back towards to the Hawaii Youth Rugby (HYR) League. The money will be invested in equipment, training, education and safety for all youth participating in organized rugby across the state.

 

[miguel de cervantes]

both. how odd.

 

[Evil Homer]

This is an annual thing. In previous years it was Samoa/Tonga vs a faux USA team but it looks like they're going with two Pacific nations now that the AMNRL is out of the picture.

I wonder if the USARL have had any contact with the Hawaii organization? It would be nice to see them under the same umbrella even if the Hawaiians were just left to do their own thing as they are now.

 

[Craigo]

So now I find this:

Broncos to play Panthers NRL exhibition game in Hawaii
14 HOURS AGO JUNE 25, 2015 6:45PM
Video Image

Wayne Bennett feels sorry for Manly Sea Eagles
Wayne Bennett feels sorry for Manly Sea Eagles
THE Broncos brand is going global with Brisbane powerbrokers agreeing to stage a historic NRL exhibition game against Phil Gould’s Penrith Panthers in Hawaii.
The Hawaiian government has delivered a multi million-dollar grant for the Broncos and Penrith to play at the 50,000-seat Aloha Stadium.
Hawaii, population 1.42 million, is a tourist hotspot for many NRL stars seeking off-season breaks drinking pina coladas on some of the world’s best known beaches.
But Broncos and Panthers stars will pack boots alongside their budgy smugglers as the clubs prepare to stage the first game in NRL history on Hawaiian soil.
SHATTERED: Molo returns to training
INJURED: Reed out for Knights clash
DARK KNIGHT: Boyd ready to draw a line
Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium makes for a perfect rugby league ground.
Hawaii’s Aloha Stadium makes for a perfect rugby league ground. Source: Supplied
Former Wallabies stars Mark and Glen Ella, who run an event management company, have emerged as key figures in top-secret talks with Hawaiian officials.
The Broncos and Penrith boards have ratified the exhibition game, which is scheduled to be held on Saturday, October 17 — two weeks after the NRL grand final.
The Hawaii proposal, which has been in the planning phase for months, is subject to final approval from the NRL.
Hawaii rugby league boss Steve Johnson confirmed the Broncos and Penrith’s interest in spruiking the NRL gospel in a region which features a large Polynesian contingent.
Hawaiian locals will get their first taste of top-level rugby league next month when Samoa and Tonga square-off in the second instalment of the Pacific Test on July 18.
“The Broncos board is aware of the game and has approved it subject to NRL sanction,” Johnson said.
“Mark and Glen Ella have been in negotiations with the Hawaii government and we are thrilled to have the Broncos and Penrith’s support.
“We understand the NRL will be keen to support this remarkable event which is at no cost to them.
“This is not an end-of-season holiday, it’s a genuine attempt to expand the game. This is a chance for the game in America to embrace rugby league.
“We have convinced the Hawaiian government that rugby league is a vehicle to grow tourism.”
A trip to Hawaii will surely be better than a cold night in Penrith.
A trip to Hawaii will surely be better than a cold night in Penrith. Source: News Corp Australia
Rugby league’s links to Hawaii span more than 30 years. In 1984, league legend Paul Sironen played gridiron for the University of Hawaii before returning to Australia to launch his first-grade career with Balmain two years later.
It is estimated the cost of travel and accommodation for the Broncos and Penrith will be around $500,000. Channel Nine boss David Gyngell has been contacted to televise the event at Aloha Stadium, which is similar in size to Suncorp Stadium.
“The NRL is making a concerted effort to promote rugby league in the Pacific Islands and this is an extension of that, Hawaii has large Samoan and Tongan populations,” he said.
“Penrith are committing $250,000 worth of sponsorship and we have a strategic plan to grow the game in Hawaii.
“We are looking to start up a local rugby league competition so this is a serious exercise.”
Originally published as Hawaii to host Broncos-Panthers NRL game
COMMENT ON THIS STORY

So Steve Johnson runs the Hawaii Rugby League. I assume he is the same Steve Johnson from the old AMNRL set up? Last time I checked, Hawaii was a state of the USA so why is there no mention of the USARL? Does anyone from the USARL care to comment?

 

[ParraEelsNRL]

http://www.couriermail.com.au/sport...n-game-in-hawaii/story-fniabm4i-1227415074480

link mate.

 

[gyallop]

I presume that as this is an NRL match it has nothing to do with the USARL. The USARL are east coast of USA are part of the RLEF. The Hawaiians are in the middle of the pacific ocean and have done things with aussie and island groups in the past which is just common sense. It is exciting though as it has gone off here and looks like they will get a lot of aussies heading over.

 

[Craigo]

I presume that as this is an NRL match it has nothing to do with the USARL. The USARL are east coast of USA are part of the RLEF. The Hawaiians are in the middle of the pacific ocean and have done things with aussie and island groups in the past which is just common sense. It is exciting though as it has gone off here and looks like they will get a lot of aussies heading over.

Are you serious? The USARL only has a mandate on the east coast and the NRL just lobs into another country and does as it pleases without consulting that countries governing body? Last time I checked, Hawaii has been a state of the USA for over 50 years.

 

[langpark]

Are you serious? The USARL only has a mandate on the east coast and the NRL just lobs into another country and does as it pleases without consulting that countries governing body? Last time I checked, Hawaii has been a state of the USA for over 50 years.

I think he's also wrong in saying they are RLEF members, they're not. Canada and Jamaica are, but USA are not.

 

[gyallop]

Are you serious? The USARL only has a mandate on the east coast and the NRL just lobs into another country and does as it pleases without consulting that countries governing body? Last time I checked, Hawaii has been a state of the USA for over 50 years.

For their own competitions mate. Bit like Dogs v Storm in pre season trial at Suncorp this year they didn't ask the QRL or Broncos to play up here.

 

[gyallop]

I think you missed the point. League in USA is played on East Coast and Hawaii is in the middle of the Pacific and the people are Pacific Islanders, they have do footy stuff with other Pacific Islands and Australia not mainland USA or Europe

 

[biggestbroncosfan]

For their own competitions mate. Bit like Dogs v Storm in pre season trial at Suncorp this year they didn't ask the QRL or Broncos to play up here.

troll this is a different country we're talking about here! even the Samoa vs Tonga match it just seems the AMNRL is trying to reclaim Hawaii..

 

[East Coast Tiger]

What amnrl?

There is no reason why the clubs (nothing to do with the NRL) would ask or even liaise with the usarl. It has nothing to do with them. They have no presence in Hawaii for a start.

 

[gyallop]

troll this is a different country we're talking about here! even the Samoa vs Tonga match it just seems the AMNRL is trying to reclaim Hawaii..

Troll., nice to have an intellect enter the dialogue. The NRL have more staff than the USA has players if you think they even know the USARL or AMNRL exist let alone have their contact details I bet Santa still comes to your house!! Now whether they should have reached out to them is irrelevant as they didn't have to. It's just a fact.
AMNRL stepped away and let USARL take over so why drag up that tired shit anyway.
Are you going over for a look?

 

[Rodney]

Hawaii is supposed to have its own governing body, or at least used to.
They got an invite to the APRLC and stated they wanted to play effectively as a national team representing the cultural area of Hawaii and it distanced itself from the USARL and AMNRL (although the AMNRL tomahawks annually played there).

http://rugbyleaguespotlight.com/rlif-says-aloha-hawaii/

However the governing body has had no social media presence in a year at least and the bits before that were just relaying highlights packages from the NRL.

Does anyone know if the NGB is still alive or whether its just this promotions group running the show?

 

[Choo Choo]

The USARL are affiliate members currently seeking full member status. The USARL is also recognized as the NGB for rugby league in the USA.

 

[taste2taste]

Will people turn up for an exhibition game ?

The article refers to this as a rugby game , I wonder if they'll turn up expecting a game of union.

 

[The Partisan]

Less than a week before this scheduled event.

Anyone the wiser on the line-ups of the Tongan / Samoan teams ? Are they all domestic players ???

Who is footing the bill for the travel, accom, expenses etc ?

Have Ben Dobbin and Wendell Sailor been seen strutting their stuff on Waikiki Beach ?


Is this actually on ???

So many questions !!!

 

[The Partisan]

 

[gyallop]

This is on the Samoan facebook page
Rugby League Samoa (RLS) at Honolulu International Airport
21 hrs · Edited ·
Toa Samoa head coach Matt Parish has arrived in Hawaii
Matt Parish is in Honolulu with the Toa Residents accompanied by their coach Ponifasio Vasa and Asst coach John Lemisio. The squad consists of players based in Samoa, New Zealand and Australia. A debut for two Queensland and two New Zealand based players who will run out onto Aloha Stadium in the Blue of Toa Samoa!
The team now has a three day turn around before playing Tonga at Aloha Stadium on Saturday. The RLIF sanction test match will be the first time for many of these players to represent Samoa.
Toa Samoa Residents 2015 Hawaii Tour
Ionatana Tino [Apia/Australia]
Aotealofa Tuimavave [Brisbane-Australia]
Tyson Lofipo [Brisbane-Australia]
Faalele Iosua [Apia Barracudas-Samoa]
David Fetalaiga [Marist Saints-Samoa]
Arden McCarthy (Vice Capt) [New Zealand]
Gordon Lemisio [Marist Saints-Samoa]
Emile Fanene [Marist Saints-Samoa]
David Masoe (Capt) [Apia/Australia]
Simon Ieremia [New Zealand]
Heing Faanoi [Apia Barracudas-Samoa]
Willie Peace [New Zealand]
Asora Tuiloma [Scopa-Samoa]
Iati Jnr Talia Iati [Scopa-Samoa]
Vaiaga Sasa [Vaitele West Tigers-Samoa]
Robert Bartley [Scopa-Samoa]
Lemisio Pati [Scopa-Samoa]
Isitolo Poleka [Apia Barracudas-Samoa]
Ponifasio Vasa [Coach]
John Lemisio [Asst Coach]
Filifilituna Tovio [Team Manager]
Taefu Asalele [Team Manager]
Matt Parish [Technical Advisor]
Dan Asuao [Liasion Officer - Hawaii]
George Meleisea [Hawaii Chapter]
Leo Brown [Non travelling reserves]
Leti Faalavaau [Non travelling reserves]
Ramon Filipine [Non travelling injured player]
Manuia le taaloga lenei vaiaso [Bless our beautiful country]

 

[RedVee]

Samoa Residents Vs Tonga Residents - does that make it a Test match?