Wallis and Futuna, officially the Territory of the Wallis and Futuna Islands, is a French island collectivity in the South Pacific, situated between Tuvalu to the northwest, Fiji to the southwest, Tonga to the southeast, Samoa to the east, and Tokelau to the northeast.
Mata Utu is the capital city of Wallis and Futuna, an overseas collectivity of France. It is located on the island of Uvéa (ʻUvea), in the district of Hahake, of which it is also the capital. It is one of two ports in Wallis and Futuna, the other being at Leava on Futuna. Hihifo Airport, the main airport serving the island and city, is 5.6 kilometres (3.5 mi) to the northwest. Its population was 1,029 in 2018, up from 815 in 1998.
Hahake is one of the 5 districts of Wallis and Futuna, located in Wallis Island, in the Pacific Ocean. It is part of the Chiefdom of Uvea.
Cathedral of Our Lady of the Assumption, also known as Matâ'Utu Cathedral, is a Roman Catholic cathedral, and a national monument of France, located in the town of Mata Utu on Uvea, in Wallis and Futuna. It is a dominant edifice in downtown Mata-Utu town, capital of Wallis Island. It bears the royal insignia of Wallis, a Maltese cross between its towers. The cathedral is also known as the "Our Lady of Good Hope Cathedral". It is the seat of Bishop Susitino Sionepoe.
The Samoa national rugby sevens team, referred to as Samoa Sevens or Manu Samoa 7s, competes in the annual World Rugby Sevens Series. Representing the polynesian country of Samoa, with a population of about 202,000, the team competes against some of the wealthiest countries in the world. The Samoa sevens team is overseen by the Samoa Rugby Football Union, which oversees all of rugby union in Samoa.
Rugby union in Wallis and Futuna is a popular sport within the French overseas territory.
Sport in Oceania varies from country to country. The most popular playing sport for men in Australia is Australian rules football, while for women is netball. Australian rules football is the most popular sport in terms of spectatorship and television ratings. Rugby union is the most popular sport among New Zealanders, while in Papua New Guinea rugby league is the most popular. Cricket is another popular sport throughout the Oceania region.
The Wallis and Futuna national rugby sevens team is a minor national team that competes in the Pacific Games and in regional tournaments.
The 2013 Pacific Mini Games was the ninth edition of these Mini Games. They were held in Mata Utu in Wallis and Futuna from 2 to 12 September 2013. It was the first time the games had been held in Wallis and Futuna.
Athletics, for the 2013 Pacific Mini Games, was held at Kafika Stadium in Mata Utu, Wallis and Futuna, from 3 to 6 September 2013. There were four parasport events included, three for men and one for women.
Sailing, for the 2013 Pacific Mini Games, took place from Tekaviki Island, in front of the Vakala sailing HQ. The island is located in the northeast from Mata-Utu. Races took place from 3 to 12 September 2013. The Laser and the Hobie 16 classes were held at these Games.
Taekwondo, for the 2013 Pacific Mini Games, took place at Kafika Hall, in Mata-Utu. The events, for this sport, took place on the 9 and 10 September 2013.
Rugby union has been a men's medal sport at the South Pacific Games, being played at nine of the first ten competitions. The sport debuted at the inaugural 1963 games where the gold medal was won by the host nation. It was subsequently featured in the following games till the tenth games in 1995.
Rugby sevens at the Pacific Games was played for the first time at the 1999 South Pacific Games with only the men's tournament. The women's tournament was contested for the first time at the 2011 Pacific Games. The champions for the inaugural rugby sevens tournament in 1999 were Fiji for the men and in 2011 were also Fiji for the women. Prior to 1999, 15-a-side matches were played between the 1963–1995 games.
Rugby league at the Pacific Games was introduced in 2007 at Apia in Samoa. Rugby league nines is the form of the game currently played at the Pacific Games. The 7-a-side version of the game was played at the 2009 Pacific Mini Games.
Touch rugby was introduced to the Pacific Games in 2003 at Suva in Fiji. It is an optional sport for the Pacific Games program, and the tournaments include men's, women's and mixed competitions. The first touch rugby tournament at the Pacific Mini Games was played in the Cook Islands in 2009.
Alex Beddoes is a runner and athlete from the Cook Islands who has represented the Cook Islands at the Olympic Games, Commonwealth Games, Pacific Games, and Pacific Mini Games.
Elise Takosi is a track and field athlete from New Caledonia.
Heamatangi Tu'ivai is a Tongan Athlete and rugby player who has represented Tonga at the Commonwealth Games and Pacific Mini Games.
Elodie Menou, also known as Elodie Mevel, is a French Polynesian long-distance runner who has represented French Polynesia at the Pacific Games and Pacific Mini Games. She is the mother of runner Loïc Mevel.
