WBSC Oceania Congress: New Zealand's Rex Capil elected new WBSC Oceania President

WBSC Oceania elected Rex Capil from New Zealand as its new President during the 2025 WBSC Oceania Congress in Guam on Friday. He will serve through to 2029.

Capil, the WBSC Softball Division Board Contintal Vice-President - Oceania, served as Oceania Softball Vice President under President Robert Steffy (Guam) on the incumbent Executive Board. He commented via social media, "Exciting next four years ahead, and I'm looking forward to it."

A new WBSC Oceania Executive Board includes David Hynes (Australia, Vice President of Baseball), Carolyn Ngiraidas (Palau, Vice President of Softball), Chet Gray (Australia, Secretary-General), Vaughan Wyber (New Zealand), Inoke Niubalavu (Fiji), Glenn Campbell (New Zealand), and Louis Solaita (American Samoa).

WBSC President Riccardo Fraccari, who attended the Congress along with Chief Operating Officer Marco Ienna and Continental Liaison Aki Huang, addressed the members where he provided an update on the upcoming WBSC Congress.

"I never miss the opportunity to participate in person at this gathering because it represents an important opportunity for me to connect with our Oceania members and to engage in meaningful discussions about the challenges and opportunities that lie ahead for our sport and your continent," said President Fraccari.

The WBSC President also updated the Oceania members on the WBSC activities during the 2024 season and highlighted: "For the years 2023-2024, to support the development of Baseball, Softball and Baseball5, we allocated a total of US$8 million in funds, including Premier12 prize money."

After the Congress, the new WBSC Oceania EB hosted a workshop for their members focused on a strategic plan and opportunities offered by Olympic Solidarity.

President Fraccari reminded the members of the importance of taking the opportunity to grow Baseball/Softball through the Olympic Solidarity programme. With Baseball5 in the Youth Olympic Games and Baseball and Softball in the LA28 Games, it is possible for all WBSC members around the world to apply for development funding through their National Olympic Committee and Olympic Solidarity. President Fraccari pointed out that WBSC members received US$700,000 in Olympic Solidarity funds to grow Baseball/Softball during the 2021-24 Olympic cycle.

"With the Olympic Games confirmed to be held in Brisbane in 2032, the continued development of our sport in Oceania is a key priority of the WBSC," President Fraccari added. "The upcoming Pacific Mini Games in Palau will be the first test of our sport in the region in this quadrennium."

The WBSC praised the development plan Fiji implemented in the past years, noting it could serve as a role model for other developing members. The suggestion is to have a development officer on duty and file regular reports to the WBSC.

During the workshop, the WBSC also presented the opportunities for technical commissioners, umpires, and scorers to attend the WBSC's online Academy courses and reported about the on-site activity by David Nagy (baseball technical commissioner), Brooke Penfold (softball technical commissioner) and Kristy Andrews (scorer), who travelled to events in Guam and American Samoa to hold clinics. The WBSC is planning clinics ahead of the Pacific Mini Games in Palau.

The final part of the workshop was focused on improving participation in continental events with a new proposal to submit bidding procedures with an advance of eight to 12 months.