Rugby union in the Northern Mariana Islands

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Rugby union in the northern Mariana Islands is a minor but growing sport.

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History

Rugby came to the Marianas via three separate streams, firstly, through the visits of British, New Zealand and Australian sailors; secondly, through the American presence, which has been there from the turn of the twentieth century; and thirdly through contact with neighbouring Pacific islands, where the game is popular.

Rugby is strongest in Saipan, where there is a formally established rugby club, which plays games against touring sides, and visiting ships. [1] However, dominance by US media, tends to mean that rugby gets little media coverage. In addition, geography and population cause other problems. Saipan RFC has players from Samoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, New Zealand and Fiji. [2]

In 1995, Guam Rugby Club undertook tours to Saipan, Palau, Pohnpei (Micronesia), and continental Asia. [3] The main rivalry tends to be between Saipan and Guam, and they have played each other a number of times since 1990. [4]

Rugby Sevens has been a sport in the South Pacific Games since the late 1990s.

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This is a list of all the recorded matches played by the Northern Mariana Islands national football team, which represents the Commonwealth of the Northern Mariana Islands in international men's football. The team is controlled by the governing body for football in the Northern Mariana Islands, the Northern Mariana Islands Football Association, which is a member of the East Asian Football Federation (EAFF) and since December 2020 a full member of the Asian Football Confederation (AFC).

Rugby sevens at the 1999 Pacific Games was contested by ten men's teams on 5 June 1999 at Wettengel Rugby Field in Guam. Fiji claimed the gold medal after defeating Papua New Guinea 40–12 in the final.

Markus Toves is a Northern Mariana Islands international footballer who currently plays Kanoa FC of the Marianas Soccer League 1 and the Northern Mariana Islands national team.

References

  1. ↑ "All Hands - December 2000 - WESTPAC Liberty". Archived from the original on 2007-04-23. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
  2. ↑ "Pattayamail - Vol. XI No.16 18 April - 24 April 2003 Sports". pattayamail.com.
  3. ↑ "Play Rugby in Paradise". Archived from the original on 2008-05-14.
  4. ↑ "Saipan rugby football club - - to a new future". Archived from the original on 2009-09-21. Retrieved 2009-07-10.
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