The Fijian Drua are set for their first game in Lautoka this season, and prop Emosi Tuqiri is calling on the home crowd to bring the noise.

The Fiji Men’s 7s team’s training session yesterday saw several notable absentees.

Growing up along the bustling streets of Raiwaqa in Suva, basketball has always been part of life for Saula Koroi, a member of the Boston Basketball Club, preparing for the Fiji Cup later this month.

Lille scored with their first shot on target in the 68th minute through Hakon Haraldsson to earn a 1-1 draw at Borussia Dortmund after Karim Adeyemi gave the hosts a halftime lead in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday.

Real Madrid’s Brahim Diaz scored a second-half winner as the hosts edged out neighbours Atletico Madrid 2-1 in a scrappy first leg of their Champions League Round of 16 tie on Tuesday after Julian Alvarez had cancelled out Rodrygo’s opener.

A fired-up Arsenal thrashed PSV Eindhoven 7-1 away in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie on Tuesday after rattling in three goals in a 13-minute spell in the first half and then ruthlessly adding four more after the break.

After years of shying away from competing in front of huge crowds, Lelean Memorial student Samuela Kunadei finally managed to gather up the courage yesterday where he competed in their inter-house competition at the HFC Bank Stadium in Suva.

Aston Villa earned a 3-1 win away to Club Brugge in the first leg of their Champions League last-16 tie in Belgium on Tuesday, thanks to an own goal and a penalty kick in the final eight minutes.

While the battle on the field between the Fijian Drua and the Chiefs will be intense, an equally compelling showdown will take place in the coaching booths.

Fifteen-year-old Nehemiah Elder impressed at the Oceania Weightlifting Institute training camp in Apia, Samoa, earning the title “best lifter” among regional athletes.

India reached the final of the Champions Trophy beating Australia by four wickets in the first semi-final in Dubai on Tuesday.

Swire Shipping Fijian Drua development squad members, Fullback Isikeli Basiyalo and Fly-half Aisea Nawai, along with Apete Narogo from Semi Radradra’s Ubuntu team, are in contention for places in the Fiji Airways Fiji Men’s 7s team.