Manu Samoa Rugby World Cup 2011

Mapusua tries reel in toothless Sharks

2008-05-14T07:35:00.000+10:00

Two tries in three minutes, by Topsy Ojo and Seilala Mapusua, took what stuffing there was out of Saint-André's nervy, fitful side. There were two scores in second-half injury time, but a second for Mapusua and a token for the Sale centre Chris Bell were mere punctuation marks to a foregone conclusion.

Eoghan Hickey kicked the conversion and three minutes later Sale were caught napping again, Sailosi Tagicakibau charging 30 yards before slipping a passinside for Mapusua to score.

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Edinburgh end Magners League campaign on a high

2008-05-14T07:33:00.000+10:00

Good approach work by centre Gavin Evans saw the ball moved left and Deacon Manu put his fellow front row colleague Mahonri Schwalger in.

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Montpellier shock Toulouse

2008-05-14T07:30:00.001+10:00

Henry Tuilagi touched down for Perpignan while Percy Montgomery kicked two penalites to go with three drop goals from Nicolas Laharrague.

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Schedule Set for IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2008

2008-03-04T13:52:00.002+11:00

IRB PACIFIC RUGBY CUP 2008 COMPETITION SCHEDULE

Round 1
Friday April 18
Fiji Warriors vs Tautahi Gold, Churchill Park, Lautoka, 7pm
Savai'i Samoa vs Fiji Barbarians, Marist Stadium, Apia, 4pm
Saturday April 19
Tau'uta Reds, vs Upolu Samoa, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Round 2
Friday April 25
Fiji Barbarians vs Upolu Samoa, National Stadium, Suva, 7pm
Saturday April 26
Savai'i Samoa vs Fiji Warriors, Prince Edward Park , Savaii, 3pm
Tau'uta Reds vs Tautahi Gold, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Round 3
Friday May 2
Upolu Samoa vs Fiji Warriors, Marist Stadium, Apia, 3pm
Tautahi Gold vs Savai'i Samoa, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Saturday May 3
Fiji Barbarians vs Tau'uta Reds, Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka, 3pm
Round 4
Friday May 9
Fiji Warriors vs Tau'uta Reds, Prince Charles Park, Nadi, 7pm
Tautahi Gold, vs, Fiji Barbarians, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Saturday May 10
Upolu Samoa vs Savai'i Samoa, Marist Stadium, Apia, 3pm
Round 5
Friday May 16
Tau'uta Reds vs Savai'i Samoa, Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku'alofa, 3pm
Saturday May 17
Fiji Warriors vs Fiji Barbarians, Subrail Park, Labasa 3pm
Upolu Samoa vs Tautahi Gold, Marist Stadium, Apia, 3pm
Final
Saturday May 24
Ist Place Team vs 2nd place team (Hosted by top ranked team)

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Rugby: Rankings to be used for 2011 World Cup seedings

2008-03-02T18:31:00.000+11:00

World rankings will be used to seed teams for the 2011 Rugby World Cup it was announced today.

The International Rugby Board said the pool allocation draw will take place in December and that rankings will dictate the tournament seeds for the first time. The cut-off date for the rankings will be December 1.

World Cup seedings have previously been determined by the results of the preceding tournament.

The 12 automatic qualifiers from last year's World Cup in France will be spread through the four 2011 pools based on their rankings. Twenty teams will contest the tournament, with the other eight determined by a series of worldwide qualifying matches.

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Mapusua returns for London Irish against Saracens

2008-03-02T18:30:00.000+11:00

Seilala Mapusua returns to the London Irish team for tomorrow’s Guinness Premiership match with Saracens at Madejski Stadium (kick-off 1.30pm).

The Samoan international has recovered from the hand injury he suffered against Leicester Tigers on 29th December. The 28-year-old, who starts at inside centre, is partnered on the outside by Delon Armitage the latest Exiles player to join the club’s elite “100 Club” having made his 100th senior appearance in last weekend’s match against Worcester.

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Ellis and Tuilagi return for Tigers

2008-03-02T18:26:00.000+11:00

Harry Ellis and Alesana Tuilagi return from long-term injury to take their places in the Leicester Tigers squad for Saturday's Guinness Premiership match against Leeds Carnegie at Welford Road (3pm kick-off). Julian White returns from suspension and head coach Marcelo Loffreda includes Geordan Murphy and Tom Croft after international duty.

Scrum-half Ellis has not played a first-team game since injuring a knee against Bristol last April, while Tuilagi has made only three appearances since the Rugby world Cup due to a groin problem.

Loffreda, who hands the captaincy to Louis Deacon after naming Martin Corry on the bench, said: "We have had to be patient with Harry and Alesana, they are not the type of injuries to rush. But we are delighted to have them back and add to the options in the squad. They are both world-class players.

"Martin Corry has had a heavy physical load recently and Louis Deacon has always done a great job whenever he has been named captain."

Ian Humphreys gets the nod at fly-half alongside Frank Murphy, while Dan Hipkiss partners Ollie Smith in midfield. Tom Varndell joins Johne Murphy and Geordan Murphy in the back three.

White is joined in the front row by Boris Stankovich and Mefin Davies, with Louis Deacon and Croft completing the front five. Brett Deacon, Ben Herring and Jordan Crane complete the forward pack.

Corry is among a strong selection on the bench which includes Martin Castrogiovanni as well as Ellis and Tuilagi.

"We know Leeds have improved a lot since we played them last and we expect a very tough game on Saturday," said Loffreda. "They have a very good defence and they will be a tough challenge for us."

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Mahonri Schwalger makes his full debut

2008-02-18T05:03:00.000+11:00

Samoan World Cup hooker Mahonri Schwalger makes his full debut with James Hayter struggling with a shoulder problem and Ken Owens still on the recovery trail from a knee operation.

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Samoa league secures sponsor

2008-02-13T19:53:00.001+11:00

The Toa Samoa Rugby League team has given the green-light to the New Zealand based Samoa’s Event Polynesia professional boxing promoter to promote the team’s campaign ahead of the rugby league World Cup in Australia later this year.

Event Polynesia says its task will also include fundraising’s to start in April, and any commercial arrangements from now up to and after the World Cup.

The president of Samoa’s Rugby League, Peter Paul, says local league competition will start in early April with trials set for July before the world cup squad is finalised in August.

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Samoa in 4th with 38 points after 4th leg

2008-02-13T19:44:00.001+11:00

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Elvis Seveali’i back for Sharks

2008-02-13T19:43:00.000+11:00

Sale Sharks have named their team for Sunday’s Guinness Premiership game against London Wasps at High Wycombe.

Sharks welcome back Elvis Seveali’I who has been out for 11 matches after breaking his arm against Montpellier in November.

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Kiwi star Tony to play for Samoa

2008-02-04T17:44:00.000+11:00

New Zealand full-back Motu Tony has announced that he has quit the Kiwis to play for Samoa.

The 26-year-old starred in the Kiwis' 2005 Tri-Nations success but, with the World Cup on the horizon, has decided to play for the country of his birth.

"To play for Samoa is something I have always wanted to do" he said.

"This is the first fully-fledged Samoan team that has been around since I started playing professionally and I wanted to put my name forward."

Tony's decision follows that of Wigan prop Iafeta Palea'aesina, who turned his back on New Zealand last year, having been given permission to play for Samoa.

Former Warrington centre Nigel Vagana - now playing for South Sydney Rabbitohs - and Penrith forward Tony Puleta also switched from the Kiwis to Samoa to help them qualify for the World Cup.

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New Zealand win a stunner against Samoa

2008-02-03T17:01:00.000+11:00

Amazing start

Veteran Sevens commentator Nigel Starmer-Smith was in raptures over "the most extraordinary beginning to the final I have ever seen" and it set the tone for a thrilling match.

Samoa dropped the ball from the kick-off and looked to have made a horror start. But the Pacific Islanders regained the ball from a tighthead scrum and broke away.

Speedster Mikaele Pesamino scored a sensational try, his eighth of the tournament in the left hand corner in just the first minute to stun the capacity crowd.

The pride of Apia, after their 19-7 pool loss on Friday night, were up for the game and it showed.

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Samoa 22 PNG 0

2008-02-01T14:51:00.001+11:00

Samoa score first win in Pool games of NZ Sevens in Wellington against PNG, 22-0 to Samoa. Up next is Canada before the last game of the day against the series leaders New Zealand.

For full Day One draw click here

Lolo Lui cleared for Wellington

2008-01-31T13:11:00.000+11:00

Manu Samoa sevens rep, Lolo Lui has been cleared to play in the Wellington Sevens this weekend despite serving a two week suspension from the Samoa Rugby Football Union.
Lui, a star from the Wellington event last year, copped the suspension after he was cited but the SRU judiciary committee two weeks ago while playing for his Moataa club in the Smokefree Youth 10-a-side tournament at St Joseph’s grounds in Alafua.

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Palamo is new Manu Samoa coach

2008-01-31T13:06:00.000+11:00

Former Manu Samoa star, Tuala Lepale Niko Palamo has been named Manu Samoa head coach until the 2011 World Cup.

The announcement was made by the Prime Minister, Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi at his office this afternoon (January 14).

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Samoan reject back in Auckland

2008-01-31T13:04:00.000+11:00

Former Auckland prop Peter Fatialofa, one of Samoa's most dedicated servants, has returned to the New Zealand province shattered after being overlooked to take over as coach of his country's national side.

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Samoa hoping to defend their title but will have to face hosts New Zealand first

2008-01-31T13:01:00.000+11:00

Posted at 22:36 on 30 January, 2008 UTC

The Wellington rugby sevens champions Samoa believe the home team will be the ones to beat in the New Zealand leg of the IRB world series starting tomorrow at Westpac Stadium.

Samoa beat Fiji in last year’s final, but with a spate of injuries and five new players, coach Rudolf Moors believes his young side might struggle.

Samoa face New Zealand in pool play on Friday, and Moors says while there are several leading contenders, there’s a clear favourite.

“I think New Zealand’s the team to beat because they got two victories in the last tournament so for us we try to play hard and yeah we see what happens on Friday.”

New Zealand has won the first two rounds of the IRB series.

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Aussie rugby looks to Pacific Island flair

2008-01-31T12:57:00.000+11:00

The inclusion of exciting Pacific Islander players in the four Australian provincial sides is part of a plan to revitalise the Super tournament.

O'Neill added: "There may be opportunities to have specific requirements that involves players from Samoa, Fiji and Tonga. It is obvious that Europe and the UK have been picking up a lot of those very entertaining, good players out of the Pacific Islands. And perhaps we could attract them into our Super rugby competition, without hurting their eligibility to play for their home countries.

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Dale and Loki help Worcester to first win

2008-01-31T12:51:00.000+11:00

IT WASN’T pretty, but they couldn’t give two hoots about that at Sixways, as Worcester Warriors battled away to their first league win of the season and a precious step closer to Guinness Premiership survival.

With virtually no lineout possession, and a nasty habit of conceding turnovers on the floor, it turned into a long second half for Bristol, who leaked three tries. Sanderson claimed the first, dotting down a forward drive while Matt Salter was in the sin-bin, then Rawlinson picked the perfect angle to run onto Crichton’s pass to score at the foot of the posts before Dale Rasmussen went over in the corner.

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Mikaele Pesamino and Uale Mai warm up in Queenstown

2008-01-12T08:24:00.000+11:00

Samoa Sevens captain Uale Mai will join Hunt, Vito and All Black scrum half Piri Weepu in Wellington’s squad, while Mikaele Pesamino – the leading try scorer in last season’s IRB Sevens World Series – will play for Auckland.

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Samoa win Punta del Este Sevens

2008-01-12T08:23:00.000+11:00

Samoa enjoyed the perfect preparation for their title defence at the New Zealand leg of the IRB Sevens World Series next month by winning the Punta del Este Sevens in Uruguay on Saturday after beating Buenos Aires Sevens 25-0 in the final.

The islanders had several players in their squad who had played in the opening two tournaments of the IRB Sevens World Series, including Reupena Levasa and their exciting newcomer Alafoti Fa’osiliva - the leading try scorer in George last month.

However Samoa had to do it the hard way by beating three Argentinean sides in the knockout stages, starting with CASI 36-5 in the quarter-finals and then Hindú – featuring RWC 2007 players Horacio Agulla and Hernán Senillosa – 19-14 to reach the final.

Samoa then faced Buenos Aires Sevens, who had beaten Old Boys 21-7 and the Serevi Selection – featuring Waisale Serevi and IRB Sevens World Series all-time leading try scorer Santiago Gomez Cora – 19-7 en route to the final.

Buenos Aires Sevens boasted two of Argentina’s squad who had reached the Cup semi-finals at the last IRB Sevens World Series event in George in Lucas Gonzalez Amorosino and Francisco Merello, but they were unable to deny Samoa the Punta del Este crown.

Tongan boost with Plate success

There was further success for the Pacific nations as Tonga bounced back from their 24-7 Cup quarter-final defeat by Hindú to beat CASI 21-10 and then the Uruguayan national team 19-10 to win the Plate final.

Both Plate finalists were looking for a morale-boosting victory with Tonga – like Samoa – building towards the New Zealand International Sevens in Wellington on 1-2 February when they will face Argentina, Scotland and USA in Pool D.

Uruguay meanwhile will be returning to Punta del Este on 18-19 January for the CONSUR regional qualifying tournament for the Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 in Dubai, which for the first time will feature both a men’s acnd women’s competition.

The Serevi Selection had earlier ended Uruguay’s hopes in the Cup quarter-finals with a 21-5 victory. The other Pool winners were Old Boys, Buenos Aires Sevens, Samoa, CASI and Hindú while Tonga progressed as the best runner-up from the seven Pools.

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New deal for Tagicakibau

2008-01-11T15:49:00.000+11:00

London Irish winger Sailosi Tagicakibau has signed a three-year contract extension at the Guinness Premiership club.

The 25-year-old Samoa international has been in a rich vein of form recently, scoring tries in each of his club's last three games.

His previous deal was due to expire this summer but he has now committed his future until the end of the 2010-11 season, and said: "I've enjoyed my rugby at London Irish. We want to play an attractive style of rugby with ball in hand and that suits me."

He added: "We're making progress as a squad. I feel there's lots of potential for us both in this country and in Europe and I want to be part of it."

Tagicakibau joined the Exiles in January 2006 and has scored 14 tries in 46 games.

Director of rugby Brian Smith said: "Sailosi is a brilliant try-scoring winger.

"He's already one of the finest finishers in European rugby and we are delighted that he's committed himself to the club for another three seasons."

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Super Sailosi stings Sharksv

2008-01-08T19:00:00.000+11:00

Hooker David Paice was held up a few yards short, but Hodgson fed the ball out and Geraghty’s pin-point pass found wing Sailosi Tagicakibau, who raced in to score with just 90 seconds on the clock.

Having forced Sharks into conceding a 33rd minute five-metre scrum, No. 8 Richard Thorpe broke off the base and quick hands from Tagicakibau saw centre Gonzalo Tiesi storm over wide out for his second try of the season.

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Manu Samoa Rugby World Cup 2011

Mapusua tries reel in toothless Sharks

Edinburgh end Magners League campaign on a high

Montpellier shock Toulouse

Schedule Set for IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2008

Rugby: Rankings to be used for 2011 World Cup seedings

Mapusua returns for London Irish against Saracens

Ellis and Tuilagi return for Tigers

Mahonri Schwalger makes his full debut

Samoa league secures sponsor

Samoa in 4th with 38 points after 4th leg

Elvis Seveali’i back for Sharks

Kiwi star Tony to play for Samoa

More links to photos from Wellington Sevens tournament

New Zealand win a stunner against Samoa

Samoa 22 PNG 0

Lolo Lui cleared for Wellington

Palamo is new Manu Samoa coach

Samoan reject back in Auckland

Samoa hoping to defend their title but will have to face hosts New Zealand first

Aussie rugby looks to Pacific Island flair

Dale and Loki help Worcester to first win

Mikaele Pesamino and Uale Mai warm up in Queenstown

Samoa win Punta del Este Sevens

New deal for Tagicakibau

Super Sailosi stings Sharksv