Samoa and Tonga secure spots in NWC 2027

By Elizabeth Winter

Five Pacific nations came together in Tonga last week, competing for two places at the Netball World Cup Sydney 2027. 

The Cook Islands, Fiji, Papua New Guinea, Samoa, and Tonga battled it out across a week of international netball, showcasing the sport’s growing depth, talent and competitiveness across the Pacific. 

Netball Australia and the Australian Government proudly supported the competing teams through PacificAus Sports, continuing to grow and develop netball across the Pacific.  

After a strong showcase from all teams, the Samoa Tifaimoana and Tonga Tala secured their places at the 2027 Netball World Cup, where they will join the likes of Australia on home soil next August. 

THE TALA SOAR 

Having entered the tournament ranked seventh in the world, with the added pressure of playing on home soil, the Tonga Tala had plenty on their shoulders.  

Fresh from competing at the Commonwealth Games against some of the world’s leading teams, including Australia, England, and South Africa, the Tala commenced their campaign with valuable international experience behind them.   

After a strong start against the Cook Islands and PNG Pepes, the Tala faced their old rivals the Fiji Pearls. 

Fiji came out strongly, taking the lead in the opening quarter, but the Tala fought their way back to secure the win, and with it, their place at the 2027 Netball World Cup.  

For captain Hulita Veve, qualifying for Tonga’s second-ever World Cup was a momentous occasion. 

“To go to our second World Cup is huge for us and our country. We hope the people of Tonga are proud because we do it for all of you, so thank you for your love, support, and prayers,” Veve said.  

Their qualification builds on years of development and international competition for Tonga, including the Tala-Tutone Tour which took place last year in Nuku’alofa as part of the PacificAus Sports program.  

The tour providing valuable international matchplay for the Tala, as well as an opportunity for Tonga Netball Association to prepare for being the host nation of the Oceania Qualifiers. 

President of Oceania Netball Federation and CEO of Tonga Netball Association Salote Sisifa said this preparation for Tonga was crucial in the lead up to hosting the qualifiers.  

SAMOA STAND THEIR GROUND 

The Samoa Tifaimoana had strong preparation in the lead up to the qualifiers, taking part in a three-match series against the Australian Pathway team during the Ocean of Power Tour.   

The series provided Samoa with valuable international matchplay experience, trialing combinations and making final selections ahead of the qualifiers.   

Several debutants took the court for the Tifaimoana at the qualifiers, marking the beginning of their international careers, including midcourter Mia Swan who was thrilled to be making her debut.  

“I feel so proud putting on the blue for the first time. It’s so cool doing this in front of our family as well,” she said.  

Former Tifaimoana athlete and head coach Natalie Mathews was proud of what the squad achieved, particularly after Samoa missed qualification for the 2023 Netball World Cup in South Africa.  

“We’re intentional about what we’re trying to do. It’s great to see the debutants out there, and super exciting to have the girls competing and doing the job we need to do,” Mathews said.  

The Tifa Moana showed consistency and composure throughout the tournament, securing their place at the 2027 World Cup before facing longstanding rivals the Tonga Tala in their final match.  

In a fiercely contested final clash, Tonga came away with the win in front of a passionate home crowd, bringing the qualifiers to a thrilling close. 

For Netball Samoa CEO Justine Wilson-Ata, seeing the Tifaimoana qualify for the World Cup was a significant moment.  

“I'm so proud of what we have been able to achieve, as it was no easy feat rebuilding," Wilson-Ata said. 

"All the teams put up a tremendous battle and we are grateful to our Pacific sisters for pushing us to be better. 

"These qualifiers also highlighted just how much each Pacific nation has grown which excites me for what is to come for our small but mighty nations." 

FIJI PEARLS SHOW RESILIENCE

The Fiji Pearls entered the tournament under new head coach Michelle Parsons, who has spent recent months building the team and strengthening connections with athletes across Fiji and the Fijian diaspora.   

As part of their preparations, the Pearls competed in the inaugural Spirit Series in Sydney, before hosting an invitational tournament in Fiji that brought together athletes from across the country as part of the selection process. 

Kicking off their qualifiers campaign with a hard-fought win against the Cook Islands, Fiji proved they were a force to be reckoned with.  

Following narrow losses to Samoa and Tonga, the Pearls showed resilience to finish their campaign strongly, defeating the PNG Pepes in their final match of the tournament.  

Despite missing out on qualification, the Pearls left Tonga with further international experience and a foundation to build on as the team continues its development. 

"We are incredibly proud of how far we have come so quickly," Fiji Pearls head coach Michelle Parsons said.  

"The girls showed everyone they are full of fight and proved to themselves they can believe in their skills and their connection. They have enjoyed the challenge and proving themselves against the other nations.  

"This tournament has been a wonderful endorsement for netball in the Pacific and Oceania."  

PNG PEPES BUILD FOR FUTURE

For the PNG Pepes, the Oceania Qualifiers provided another opportunity to build their skills against teams who have consistently proven tough competitors in recent years.  

A key part of the Pepes’ preparation was the return of a national netball league in Papua New Guinea through the Butterfly Netball League. 

The competition has provided increased opportunities for local athletes in Port Moresby to gain regular matchplay and develop their skills, helping to strengthen the pathway into the national team.  

Head coach Lua Rikis has been working alongside Australian coaching expert Simone McKinnis as part of the continued development of the Pepes and their high-performance environment.  

McKinnis is proud of the growth made during the past few months and acknowledges there is still work to do.  

"It's a tough competition, teams are fighting for a place in the World Cup. The girls had some really great games where they really pushed and challenged teams," McKinnis said.  

"They've come a long way from the first time I watched the Pepes play in January, the girls have really improved, and that's from the focus Lua's put into them," 

"There's still a long way to go, but it was so good to have this competition, understanding what works and how things can improve, because that's the most important part of coaching."  

COOK ISLANDS MAKE THEIR MARK 

The Cook Islands brought a young squad to Tonga, with many athletes playing in their first international tournament.  

While they lacked the experience of some of their opponents, the team made their mark through determination and resilience.  

“Our young Cook Islands squad showed grit, heart, and flashes of brilliance against pure experience,” Netball Cook Islands said. 

“Taking on top-tier opposition tests your limits, but it also shows exactly what this rising team is capable of. Every quarter gave our up-and-coming players invaluable court time, crucial lessons, and the test required to grow at this level.” 

The experience provided the young squad with valuable exposure to international matchplay, creating an important foundation for their continued development.  

BUILDING CAPACITY OFF THE COURT  

While the teams battled it out on court, the Oceania Qualifiers also provided a valuable setting for capacity building across the wider netball workforce. 

Through Netball Australia’s Ocean of Power program, supported by the Australian Government, a group of eight aspiring bench officials from the participating nations took part in training throughout the tournament, developing their skills and gaining valuable international experience.  

Representing Netball Fiji, bench official Meli Rauluni gained important lessons to take back to their netball associations at home.  

“I've learned the importance of communication, teamwork, accuracy, and staying focused throughout the game,” Rauluni said.  

“This has been a very meaningful opportunity for me to grow, gain international experience, and represent my country. 

“I'm very grateful to Netball Fiji and the Australian Government, and I hope to continue learning, gaining experience, and improving so I can contribute more to netball in Fiji as a whole.” 

The bench officials will continue their development through further training at the PacificAus Sports Netball Challenge this November in Brisbane, creating pathways that build local capability that continue to grow beyond the tournament.  

THE ROAD TO SYDNEY 2027 

The Oceania Qualifiers showcased the growing depth and competitiveness of netball across the Pacific, with all five nations demonstrating the talent, determination, and ambition within the region.  

For Samoa Tifaimoana and Tonga Tala, their focus turns to preparing for the world’s biggest netball stage, representing the strength of the Pacific as netball across the region continues to grow. 

Watch all match replays from the Oceania Qualifiers on NetballPass. 

See all results from the Oceania Qualifiers on World Netball.  

PacificAus Sports is an Australian Government sports diplomacy program that provides Pacific athletes, officials, and administrators access to high-performance training and elite competition. Through partnering with Australian national sporting organisations, like Netball Australia, the program aims to strengthen relationships across the Pacific through sport.  

Interested in Netball Australia’s international development work? See more here.