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  • Draws confirmed for reworked rugby league world cups

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    Tonga has been given a tough draw at next year’s Rugby League World Cup, including a showdown with arch-rivals Samoa at Parramatta.

    The Kristian Woolf-coached Tongans have been drawn in Group C, which means they play matches against Group B sides England, Samoa and Lebanon.

    Their round-three showdown with Samoa on November 1 at CommBank Stadium is set to be a sellout after 44,682 fans watched the Samoans beat Tonga 34-6 at Suncorp Stadium in this year’s Pacific Cup.

    Defending World Cup champions Australia will kick off the 10-nation men’s tournament against Pacific Cup holders and Group A rivals New Zealand on October 15 at Allianz Stadium.

    The Kangaroos, who swept England 3-0 in the recent Ashes series, will then play the remaining Group A sides Fiji and the Cook Islands in the following weeks.

    Group A’s four sides play each other once in the three round-robin clashes ahead of the semi-finals, and the final at Suncorp Stadium on Sunday, November 15.

    The semi-finals will be held at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium and Sydney’s Allianz Stadium.

    Group B and C feature three teams apiece, but sides in each will play three games against those in the opposite group.

    Tonga, PNG and France make up Group B.

    Tonga have been handled a difficult draw in the men’s tournament.  (Getty Images: Matt King)

    The top two sides from Group A go through to the semi-finals, while the six teams in Groups B and C will form a ladder of their own, with the top two playing semis.

    That makes Tonga’s task, which includes clashes against England in Perth on October 17 and their showdown with Samoa, tougher than any other team’s.

    World Cup titles for men, women and wheelchair will be contested in Australia and Papua New Guinea, with 14 nations and 26 teams playing 53 matches across 31 days.

    The Women’s World Cup boasts eight sides with Australia, Samoa, England and Wales in Group A. Group B consists of New Zealand, PNG, France and Fiji.

    Each team will play three matches against the other teams in their group. The top two teams from each group will progress to the semis.

    Australia and Samoa will open the tournament at CommBank Stadium on October 16.

    The same two-group format applies in the Wheelchair World Cup, with England, Ireland, Wales and the USA in Group A and Australia, Scotland, France and New Zealand in Group B.

    All the wheelchair showdowns will be held at Wollongong’s WIN Entertainment Centre.

    Australian Rugby League (ARLC) chairman Peter V’landys said the World Cup would build on the success of both domestic and international rugby league.

    “Rugby League World Cup 2026 couldn’t come at a better time on the back of record-breaking NRL and NRLW seasons, a successful Ashes series, and the most exciting Pacific Championships ever,” he said.

    “Representing your country is the ultimate honour and doing so in a World Cup is the ultimate stage. The talent, skill, physicality, passion and raw emotion on display will be something like we have never seen before.

    “This will be the best and most successful Rugby League World Cup on record.”

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  • How Kiwis players rated in Pacific Championships win over Samoa

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  • King Charles III to visit Australia and Samoa as he recovers from cancer

    King Charles III to visit Australia and Samoa as he recovers from cancer

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    LONDON (AP) — King Charles III is preparing to visit Australia and Samoa in October, an itinerary that will span 12 time zones and test the monarch’s stamina as he recovers from cancer treatment.

    The trip, announced on Sunday by Buckingham Palace, marks a watershed moment for the 75-year-old king, who has been slowly returning to public duties after taking a break following his cancer diagnosis in early February. The decision to undertake such a long journey will be seen as a sign of Charles’ recovery, even though the program in Australia will be “limited.”

    The visit to Australia will be a critical moment for the king as he tries to shore up support for the monarchy at home and abroad. The trip will mark the first time since he ascended the throne that Charles will visit one of the 14 countries outside the United Kingdom where the British monarch remains head of state, a link that is a source of pride for some but an unwelcome reminder of Britain’s colonial dominance for others.

    While he will undoubtedly be welcomed by fans waving the flag and singing “God Save the King,” Charles is also likely to hear anti-monarchy voices in a country where 45% of voters in a 1999 referendum supported creating an Australian republic. Prime Minister Anthony Albanese’s Labor Party supports ditching the monarchy, but the government says it isn’t a priority and there is no timeline for another referendum.

    “It’s clear that there’s a real reevaluation going on there as to whether the Commonwealth, and certainly the realms, want to retain their connection to the British monarchy or not,” Ed Owens, a historian and author of “After Elizabeth: Can the Monarchy Save Itself?” told The Associated Press in an interview before the trip was announced. “So, you know, there are troubled waters ahead.”

    Albanese said he and Governor-General Sam Mostyn, the monarch’s representative in Australia, would welcome Charles and Queen Camilla. Albanese noted Charles had already made 15 official visits to Australia, the most recent in 2018. The monarch had also spent several months in an Australian bordering school as a teen in 1966.

    “The King has a deep regard for our great nation, and has always spoken warmly of the time he has spent here and the astounding beauty of our extraordinary continent,” Albanese said in a statement.

    The palace provided few details of the tour. Charles and Camilla will visit the Australian Capital Territory and New South Wales as well as making a more formal state visit to Samoa, where the king will appear at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, the palace said.

    The capital territory is home to Canberra, Australia’s national capital. Sydney, Australia’s largest city, is in New South Wales.

    Charles holds the symbolic title of head of the Commonwealth, a voluntary association of 56 independent nations, most of which have historic ties to Britain. The annual heads of government meeting will be held Oct. 21-25.

    However, the trip will not include a stop in New Zealand.

    “The King’s doctors have advised that a further extension to Their Majesties’ trip should be avoided at this time, to prioritize His Majesty’s continued recovery,” the palace said in a statement.

    Albanese said planning for the visit was still underway and more information would be made public in due course.

    Isaac Jeffrey, national director and CEO of the Australian Republic Movement, the peak body advocating for an Australian republic with an Australian head of state, called for a meeting with Charles and questioned why Australia should pay for the royal visit.

    “This visit is a great opportunity for all Australians to ask themselves whether the British Royals really represent a modern Aussie democracy,” Jeffrey said in a statement.

    The trip comes at a time when the health problems of Charles and Kate, the Princess of Wales, have highlighted the challenges faced by a slimmed-down royal family as the king pledges to cut costs.

    With fewer working royals available to carry out the endless round of ribbon cuttings, awards ceremonies and state events that make up the life of a modern royal, the remaining family members have been forced to take on more events.

    Charles’ cancer diagnosis occurred at the same time that the Princess of Wales — one of the most popular royals — underwent abdominal surgery and later announced she, too, had cancer. Prince William took time off to support his wife and their young family.

    That left Camilla, the king’s sister, Princess Anne, and his youngest brother, Prince Edward, to shoulder the load. Princess Anne was briefly hospitalized last month after an accident thought to involve a horse left her with a concussion.

    ____

    Associated Press writer Rod McGuirk in Melbourne, Australia, contributed to this report.

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  • Samoa Cupcakes – Oh Sweet Basil

    Samoa Cupcakes – Oh Sweet Basil

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    Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolatey, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!

    I’m so thrilled that stores have started making knock off Girl Scout cookies so that I don’t have to wait until March to devour all my favorite Girl Scout cookie flavors. Keebler has a version of the Samoa cookie and Walmart even has it’s own Great Value version. So you can make these Samoa cupcakes all year round!

    Samoa Cookie Inspiration

    I love cupcakes and Samoa cookies so why not mash the two together?! Voila! It’s seriously a party in your mouth. I chose to use a yellow cake for the cupcake to mimic the shortbread in the cookie and then I dipped it in ganache similar to how the bottom of a Samoa is covered in chocolate.  

    I was going to top the cupcake with just a caramel/coconut mix but what kind of cupcake would that be without a buttery frosting?! The caramel buttercream is divine! I could eat it by the spoonful! And we top it with a sprinkle of toasted coconut!

    Oh and for extra good measure I drizzled more caramel and ganache on top of the cupcakes creating a delicious mess.  These Samoa Cupcakes are going to blow your minds!  Enjoy!

    Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!

    Ingredients for Samoa Cupcakes

    There are a few steps that go into making this cupcake recipe, but don’t worry, every ingredients and step is worth it! Here are the ingredients you will need:

    Cupcakes:

    • Dry Ingredients: All-Purpose Flour, Cornstarch, Baking Powder, Baking Soda and Salt
    • Wet Ingredients: Butter, Sugar, Eggs, Vanilla and Sour Cream

    Ganache:

    • Milk Chocolate Chips
    • Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips
    • Heavy Whipping Cream

    Caramel Frosting:

    • Butter
    • Powdered Sugar
    • Caramel Sauce
    • Vanilla

    Topping:

    • Samoa Girl Scout Cookies
    • Sweetened Coconut Flakes
    • Caramel Sauce

    The measurements for each ingredients can be found in the recipe at the end of this post. Keep scrolling down for all the details!

    Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!

    How to Make Samoa Cupcakes

    Now that you know all the ingredients you need, here is the step-by-step guide to making them:

    Cupcakes:

    1. Prep: Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F and line muffin tins with paper liners.
    2. Combine: Add all the dry ingredients to a large mixing bowl and mix to combine.
    3. Beat: Add the butter and sugar to the bowl of a stand mixer with the paddle attachment and beat until light and creamy.
    4. Mix: Add the eggs one at a time mixing thoroughly between each egg. Then mix in the vanilla and sour cream.
    5. Combine: Add in the flour mixture and mix until just combined.
    6. Bake: Spoon the batter into the cupcake liners and bake until a toothpick comes out with a few moist crumbs or clean. Let the cupcakes cool before dipping in the ganache.

    Ganache:

    1. Combine: Place chocolate in a bowl and pour the boiling hot whipping cream on top and then cover the bowl with a plate or plastic wrap and let sit for 2 minutes.
    2. Whisk: Mix with a whisk until smooth.
    3. Cool: Let it cool for 10 minutes, stir occasionally.
    4. Dip: Dip the tops of cupcakes in the chocolate and then let the chocolate set for 10-15 minutes before piping on the frosting.

    Caramel Frosting:

    1. Beat: Add the butter to the bowl of a stand mixer (or use a hand mixer) fitted with the paddle attachment and beat until the butter becomes pale in color.
    2. Mix: Reduce the speed of the mixer and add the rest of the ingredients for the frosting. Once the powdered sugar had mixed in, increase the speed of the mixer and beat until fluffy.
    3. Frost: Place the frosting in a piping bag with a piping tip (I love the Wilton 1M tip) add the frosting to the top of the chocolate dipped cupcakes.
    4. Finishing Touches: Drizzle the cupcakes with the any leftover ganache, the caramel sauce and sprinkle with the toasted coconut (see section below). Stick half a cookie into the top if desired.

    The complete instructions can be found in the recipe card down below. You can also print or save the recipe there.

    Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!

    How to Toast Coconut

    If you didn’t already know, toasted coconut is A-mazing!  All you do is spread your coconut on a baking sheet and bake it for 5-8 minutes on 350 degree F and you’ve created irresistible flakes of heaven. They give the cupcake so much flavor and a little crispy crunch. And if you know me, I’m all about texture.

    What is Ganache?

    Ganache is a whipped filling, glaze, icing, or sauce, for pastries made from chocolate and cream.

    Is Confectioners Sugar the Same As Powdered Sugar?

    Yes, they are the same thing. Sometimes it is also called icing sugar.

    Why Do Cupcakes Stick to the Paper Liners?

    A number of things can cause cupcakes to stick to the liners, so here are a few tips that I’ve found to help:

    • Spray the liners thoroughly with non stick cooking spray.
    • Sometimes the quality of the paper liners cause food to stick. Buy good quality paper liners.
    • Slide a deep pan of water onto the lower rack of the oven, to add extra moisture and prevent sticking.
    • Let the cupcakes cool completely before removing the paper liner.

    Indulge in the delicious flavors of Samoa Girl Scout cookies with these decadent Samoa cupcakes. Topped with chocolate ganache, caramel buttercream frosting, and toasted coconut, they are the perfect treat for any occasion.

    More Cupcake Recipes to Try:

    Servings: 24

    Prep Time: 35 minutes

    Cook Time: 18 minutes

    Total Time: 53 minutes

    Description

    Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!

    For the Caramel Frosting:

    Prevent your screen from going dark

    For the Cupcakes:

    • Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and line muffin tins with paper liners.

    • In a mixing bowl, combine flour, cornstarch, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

      2 1/4 Cups All-Purpose Flour, 4 1/2 Tablespoons Cornstarch, 1 teaspoon Baking Powder, 1/2 teaspoon Baking Soda, 1/4 teaspoon Salt

    • In the bowl of a standing electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and sugar until light and creamy.

      3/4 Cup Butter, 1 1/2 Cups Sugar

    • Add in the eggs one at a time, beating to incorporate each.

      3 Eggs

    • Mix in the vanilla and sour cream.

      1 Tablespoon Vanilla, 1 1/4 Cup Sour Cream

    • Mix in the flour until just combined, scraping the sides of the bowl as needed.

    • Spoon batter into cupcake liners and bake for 15-18 minutes or until toothpick comes out with only a few crumbs or clean.

    For the Ganache:

    • Place chocolate in a bowl and pour the boiling hot whipping cream on top and then cover the bowl with a plate or plastic wrap and let sit for 2 minutes.

      1/2 Cup Milk Chocolate Chips, 1/2 Cup Semi-Sweet Chocolate Chips, 1/2 Cup Heavy Whipping Cream

    • Mix with a whisk until smooth and then let it cool for 10 minutes, stir occasionally.

    • Dip the tops of cupcakes in the chocolate and then let the chocolate set for 10-15 minutes before piping on the frosting.

    • Reserve what is left for drizzling on top.

    For the Caramel Frosting:

    • In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter until pale.

      1 Cup Butter

    • Mix in the powdered sugar and then the caramel sauce and vanilla.

      4 Cups Powdered Sugar, 1/2 Cup Caramel Sauce, 1 teaspoon Vanilla

    • Beat until fluffy.

    • Place frosting in a piping bag fitted with an open or closed star tip.

    • Pipe onto chocolate covered cupcakes.

    • For assembling:

    • Drizzle leftover ganache (if it has thickened, place it in a plastic bag to pipe it over the cupcakes) and caramel over the frosting.

      Caramel Sauce

    • Stick half a cookie onto the top of each cupcake and then sprinkle with toasted coconut.

      12 Samoa Girl Scout Cookies, 1 Cup Sweetened Coconut Flakes

    How to Toast Coconut

    If you didn’t already know, toasted coconut is A-mazing!  All you do is spread your coconut on a baking sheet and bake it for 5-8 minutes on 350 degree F and you’ve created irresistible flakes of heaven. They give the cupcake so much flavor and a little crispy crunch. And if you know me, I’m all about texture. Store covered at room temperature.

    Serving: 1cupcakeCalories: 439kcalCarbohydrates: 57gProtein: 3gFat: 23gSaturated Fat: 14gPolyunsaturated Fat: 1gMonounsaturated Fat: 6gTrans Fat: 1gCholesterol: 70mgSodium: 220mgPotassium: 105mgFiber: 1gSugar: 43gVitamin A: 605IUVitamin C: 0.2mgCalcium: 43mgIron: 1mg

    Author: Sweet Basil

    Course: 500+ Best Dessert Recipes

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    Post originally written by Melanie from Garnish & Glaze.

    Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!Girl scout cookie meets cupcake in these rich chocolaty, caramel, and toasted coconut Samoa Cupcakes!

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