Thomas Airey

Auckland

Sports Journalist at Freelance

love sport, love people. Formerly sports reporter at Samoa Observer, bit more general news at Hawke's Bay Today, now freelance

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Articles

The Latest: Notre Dame says 2 football players in isolation

2 months ago | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Stan Choe |Damian J. Troise

Home / Entertainment / By The Associated Press • 13 August 2020, 12:00AM The Latest on the effects of the coronavirus outbreak on sports around the world: ___ Notre Dame tested 117 football players for COVID-19 on Monday and two tested positive, according to university physician Dr. Matt Leiszler. Of the two positive tests, one player was mildly symptomatic and the other was asymptomatic. The university said both are in isolation and their parents have been notified.
Blues in a must win situation

Oct 3, 2024 | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Vaelei Von Dincklage

Puleono Blues are working towards winning the second match of the Islands of Origin and pushing the Tumua Maroons into a decider. The head coach for Puleono Blues Vaisigano David Masoe is hoping to correct their mistake from last week. The Tumua Maroons snatched victory in the last seconds of the game. If the Maroons win the second clash, they would wrap up the series making the third match a dead rubber. They have learned their lesson from their loss in their first clash at Savaii.
Coach Lionel laid to rest

Aug 14, 2024 | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Vaelei Von Dincklage

Well-known boxing coach Lionel Elika Fatupaito was laid to rest on Wednesday afternoon at his home in Malifa. More than 50 people gathered at the Motootua chapel to pay their respect to a son, father, grandfather, and coach in Lionel Elika Fatupaito. Described as one of Samoa's longest serving coaches in boxing, a humble, soft-spoken, loving and caring person by all those who crossed paths with him.
Opetaia regains stripped IBF title

May 18, 2024 | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Sulamanaia Manaui Faulalo

The boxing pride of Samoa Jai Opetaia regained the IBF belt, which was stripped from him last December with a win over Latvia’s Mairis Briedis. The scores were 118-110, 119-109 and 117-111 for Opetaia in their rematch at Kingdom Arena in Riyadh, Saudi Arabia on Sunday. Opetaia was in control for nine rounds but was forced to hold on late. For much of the bout proved a far cry from when Opetaia dethroned Briedis in their memorable July 2022 meeting.
Vaivase-tai falls in Champions League opener

May 13, 2024 | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Sulamanaia Manaui Faulalo

Samoa’s Vaivase-tai FC went down 6-0 to Tahiti’s AS Pirae in their OFC Men’s Champions League opening game at Stade Pater in Papeete. Vatea Terai’s side were impressive in last year’s competition, losing in the semi-finals in extra-time to Suva FC and their attempts to go a stage further this year got off to the perfect start. However, it was the Samoan side who almost took the lead.
Opetaia shows why he is the best cruiserweight

Dec 24, 2023 | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Alexander Rheeney |Shalveen Chand

The left hand that cruiserweight champion Jai Opetaia connected on the chin of Ellis Zorro late in the first round knocked him out cold, ending a fight that was never competitive from the get-go. The referee, John Latham, quickly stepped in and stopped the fight with Zorro still flat on his back, looking out of it. The time of the stoppage was 2:57 of the round. “A lot of hard work goes into this. A lot of deep trenches,” said Opetaia.
Samoa's triathletes defy all odds

Dec 4, 2023 | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi |Gutu Faasau

Triathletes at the Pacific Games return with five new National Records and in a first for Samoa, top 10 rankings in the Pacific in all of the Men's and Women's events. In a statement, Head Coach Bernie Poort said although the athletes did not win any medals, the athletes exceeded all expectations. “I couldn’t be prouder of them. Most of our team are very young and new to this tough sport.
Springboks claim historic World Cup win over All Blacks

Oct 28, 2023 | samoaobserver.ws | Sarafina Sanerivi |Thomas Airey |Alexander Rheeney |Gutu Faasau

South Africa became the first nation to win four Rugby World Cup titles after holding off New Zealand in a dramatic final at Stade de France on Saturday. Four Handre Pollard penalties to two from Richie Mo’unga gave the Springboks a 12-6 lead after a first half in which All Blacks flanker Shannon Frizell was sin-binned for an incident in which Mbongeni Mbonambi was forced off injured.
Hawke’s Bay Magpies lose final 22-19 to Taranaki

Oct 20, 2023 | nzherald.co.nz | Thomas Airey

Brad Weber with a trademark pass from the ruck. Photo / photosport.nzBy Thomas AireyThe Hawke’s Bay Magpies lost their first ever NPC final on Saturday afternoon in New Plymouth, going down 22-19 to Taranaki. Hawke’s Bay were gunning for a fifth straight victory on the road but a sellout Yarrow Stadium crowd got the hosts over the line with an outstanding defensive effort.
All Blacks edge past Ireland

Oct 14, 2023 | samoaobserver.ws | Thomas Airey |Sialai Sarafina Sanerivi |Shalveen Chand |Gutu Faasau

New Zealand saw off a late siege at Stade de France to triumph 28-24 after an epic contest as Ireland suffered an eighth Rugby World Cup quarter-final defeat on Saturday. Leicester Fainga’anuku’s try helped the All Blacks race into a 13-0 lead before centre Bundee Aki danced his way over for Ireland. Ardie Savea responded but Jamison Gibson-Park’s try, with Aaron Smith in the sin-bin for a deliberate knock-on, saw their lead cut to 18-17 at half-time.