Tahiti's rugby debut at Melanesian Cup

The Tahitian U16 national rugby sevens team made its first appearance at the Melanesian Cup, an international rugby tournament held in New Caledonia. The team competed at the Plaine des sports de Païta, where they went undefeated in the group stage.

Tahiti defeats three New Caledonia teams

In the group stage, Tahiti defeated three local teams from New Caledonia: Dumbéa Calédonians, the Club de rugby éducatif et citoyen (Crec), and the Païta teams. This performance marked a strong start for the team in its debut at the competition.

Semifinal loss to New Caledonia national team

Tahiti faced the New Caledonia national team, known as the Bassin des 5 clubs, in the semifinals. The New Caledonia team, which included clubs like the Rugby Club Calédonien and the Olympique de Nouméa, dominated the match with favorable wind conditions and a strong first-half performance.

Tahiti's third-place match ends in controversy

Despite the loss in the semifinals, Tahiti regrouped to play Dumbéa in the third-place match. Tahiti took a 21-7 halftime lead but faced a premature end to the match after a scuffle following a tackle. Both teams shook hands before the match was officially called off.

Fiji advances to final against New Caledonia

In the other semifinal, Fiji defeated Dumbéa 35-5 and faced New Caledonia in the final. The match was closely contested, but New Caledonia won 24-21 to claim the trophy. A women's U18 tournament was also held, though Tahiti did not field a team.

New Caledonia wins both tournaments

New Caledonia secured a double victory by also winning the women's U18 tournament with a 12-7 win over Fiji. The final rankings saw New Caledonia in first place, followed by Fiji, Tahiti, Dumbéa, Crec, Païta, Wallis-et-Futuna, and Vanuatu. New Zealand did not participate in the competition.