Manu Samoa Rugby World Cup 2011

Unofficial : 30-man Samoa squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

2011-08-27T11:51:00.000+10:00

Samoa

Coach Fuimaono Tafua's, 30-man Samoa squad for the 2011 Rugby World Cup. ^[18]
Head Coach: Fuimaono Tafua
Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by the International Rugby Board.

Player	Position	Date of Birth (Age)	Caps	Club/province
Ole Avei	Hooker	13 June 1983 (aged 28)	2	Bordeaux
Ti’i Paulo	Hooker	13 January 1983 (aged 28)	6	Clermont
Mahonri Schwalger (c)	Hooker	15 September 1978 (aged 32)	36	Highlanders
Census Johnston	Prop	6 May 1981 (aged 30)	30	Toulouse
Logovi'i Mulipola	Prop	11 March 1987 (aged 24)	5	Hawke's Bay
Anthony Perenise	Prop	18 October 1982 (aged 28)	10	Bath
Sakaria Taulafo	Prop	29 January 1983 (aged 28)	10	London Wasps
Daniel Leo	Lock	2 October 1982 (aged 28)	26	Bordeaux
Filipo Levi	Lock	6 September 1979 (aged 32)	24	Tasman
Joe Tekori	Lock	17 December 1983 (aged 27)	17	Castres
Kane Thompson	Lock	9 January 1982 (aged 29)	18	Hawke's Bay
Maurie Fa'asavalu	Flanker	12 January 1980 (aged 31)	10	Harlequins
Manaia Salavea	Flanker	26 March 1986 (aged 25)	8	Narbonne
Ofisa Treviranus	Flanker	31 March 1984 (aged 27)	16	Malie
George Stowers	Number 8	14 February 1979 (aged 32)	19	Ospreys
Taiasina Tuifu'a	Number 8	20 August 1984 (aged 27)	3	Newcastle Falcons
Kahn Fotuali'i	Scrum-half	22 May 1982 (aged 29)	5	Ospreys
Junior Poluleuligaga	Scrum-half	5 February 1981 (aged 30)	18	Exeter Chiefs
Jeremy Su'a	Scrum-half	10 November 1988 (aged 22)	0	West Harbour
Tasesa Lavea	Fly-half	10 January 1980 (aged 31)	5	Sale Sharks
Tusi Pisi	Fly-half	18 June 1982 (aged 29)	3	Suntory Sungoliath
Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu	Centre	31 October 1980 (aged 30)	19	Gloucester
Johnny Leota	Centre	21 January 1984 (aged 27)	2	Sale Sharks
Seilala Mapusua	Centre	27 February 1980 (aged 31)	19	Kubota Spears
George Pisi	Centre	29 June 1986 (aged 25)	7	Northampton Saints
David Lemi	Wing	10 February 1982 (aged 29)	29	Unattached
Sailosi Tagicakibau	Wing	14 November 1982 (aged 28)	18	London Irish
Alesana Tuilagi	Wing	24 February 1981 (aged 30)	22	Leicester Tigers
James So'oialo	Fullback	22 March 1989 (aged 22)	3	Northern United
Paul Williams	Fullback	22 April 1983 (aged 28)	7	Stade Français

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/2011_Rugby_World_Cup_squads#.C2.A0Samoa

Samoa target more RWC upsets

2011-08-27T11:44:00.001+10:00

amoa have long since punched above their weight on the world stage, and the 30-man squad for RWC 2011 has the talent to cause more upsets.

While the form guide may suggest South Africa and Wales are the favourites to reach the knockout stages from Pool D, Samoa will fancy their chances of repeating the upsets of 1991 and 1999, when they beat the Welsh.

Wales and South Africa will certainly not underestimate the danger of the Samoans, especially after the Islanders stunned the Wallabies in Sydney last month with their physical style and desire to succeed.

A standout performer that day was Alesana Tuilagi, one of five brothers to have played international rugby – all for Samoa bar the youngest Manu who is England’s RWC 2011 squad, who will be a threat with his size and pace.

Samoa also have strategists such as Seilala Mapusua, bound for Japan after the World Cup but until recently a key member of London Irish’s midfield. If he needs some help to plot defensive strategy, he can always turn to fellow centre, Gloucester’s Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, who was a practising lawyer before turning professional.

Second row Daniel Leo is another with experience of England’s top flight from his time with Wasps, while Toulouse prop Census Johnston, previously with Saracens, will not concede much ground to anyone.

While Samoa have a reputation for their direct, confrontational style, wing David Lemi, at 175cm and 75kg, is one of the smaller players to feature at the tournament, but possesses speed and guile in abundance.

South Africa may prove a step too far for Samoa, their match is the Islanders’ final fixture, when quarter-final qualification could come down to bonus points in what promises to be one of the tightest pools.

Samoa squad for RWC 2011:

Forwards: Ole Avei, Maurie Faasavalu, Census Johnston, Filipo Lavea Levi, Daniel Leo, Logovi'i Mulipola, Ti'i Paulo, Anthony Perenise, Manaia Salavea, Mahonri Schwalger, George Stowers, Sakaria Taulafo, Joe Tekori, Kane Thompson, Ofisa Treviranus, Taiasina Tuifua.

Backs: Kahn Fotuali'i, David Lemi, Johhny Leota, Seilala Mapusua, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Tasesa Lavea, Augustino Poluleuligaga, George Pisi, Tusi Pisi, James So’oialo, Jeremy Sua, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Alesana Tuilagi, Paul Williams.

Squad subject to RWCL approval

Source

Samoans target Wales for shot at redemption

2011-08-27T11:41:00.003+10:00

When Manu Samoa swept aside Australia less than two months from the start of the World Cup they sent a clear message – to Wales in particular –they will be serious contenders come tournament time.
Samoa are in arguably the toughest pool at the World Cup – with South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Namibia – where at least four teams boast credentials worthy of filling one of the two quarterfinal berths.
Wales have the most reason to be concerned having underestimated Samoa in the 1991 and 1999 World Cups and former All Blacks great Michael Jones, a Samoan, sees history repeating itself.
"I certainly believe they have the personnel to beat Wales," he said when reviewing the 32-23 win over Australia.
"Now they have the belief that this time they're going to get through the pool stage to the top eight."
Samoa's quest to be recognised among the sports elite nations has been hampered by the money on offer to play professionally in New Zealand, Australia and Europe which has drawn their leading players away.
The players have the money but the union does not and it had to raise 6.5 million tala (US$2.9 million) in public donations to cover World Cup costs including the warm up game in Australia.
Outside of the World Cup the Samoans are rarely all available at the same time and when coach Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua first named a 41-man squad to be pruned to 30 for the Cup, only four of the players were based in Samoa.
Several members of the side who beat Australia were absent from the squad which finished last in the Pacific Nations Cup the previous week.
But when they are together the Samoans have forged a unit renowned for a powerful, confrontational style and Springbok captain John Smit described the first 20 minutes of his 2007 World Cup match against Samoa as "the most physical of my test career."
Although Wallabies coach Robbie Deans may not have fielded his strongest side against the Samoans he made no excuses for the defeat and admitted his side was out-muscled up front.
"We got beaten in the physical exchanges, they defended strongly and they attacked the breakdown effectively and turned ball over," he said.
The forward pack is big and experienced, led by Otago Highlanders hooker Mahonri Schwalger along with Toulouse prop Census Johnston and Ospreys backrower George Stowers.
The backs include former IRB Sevens Player of the Year Uale Mai contesting the scrumhalf role with Kahn Fotuali'i of the Canterbury Crusaders.
Former London Irish centurion Seilala Mapusua guides the midfield with Paul Williams from Stade Francais and a son of All Blacks legend Bryan Williams at fullback.
Samoa, when they played under the name of Western Samoa, qualified for the knockout stage in 1991, 1995 and 1999, beating Wales in pool play in '91 and '99.
They struggled at the last World Cup in France with one win from four pool games, and see this tournament as a chance for redemption.
"There’s a lot of motivation going into this one," said New Zealand-born Mapusua, adding the team should not lack support with the large Samoan community living in Auckland.
"This is as close to a home World Cup as we’ll get, and it is a home World Cup for a lot of the boys who were born and raised in New Zealand, so it’s really exciting for us, and really exciting for our people too."
When Samoa fronted up against Australia it was the first time they had fielded all their top players since their northern hemisphere tour the previous year.
Now they want to prove that was no fluke by beating Wales in pool play which could see them finish second to South Africa in Pool D and a rematch with likely Pool C winners Australia in the quarterfinals.
COACH
Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua.
Tafua forged his coaching reputation with the Samoa sevens side and masterminded their first win in the IRB Sevens series when they won the Wellington leg in 2007. Two years later he was appointed the Manu Samoa head coach. Tafua, a former Manu Samoa and Samoa sevens captain, said his World Cup goal is "to go back to the quarterfinals".
KEY PLAYER
Seilala Mapusua
Mapusua may now be heading into the twilight of his career but he remains a potent force in the midfield from where he directs the Samoan attack. Renowned for his explosive running with the ball and rock-solid defence, Mapusua joined the Kubota Spears in Japan this year after long stints with the Otago Highlanders and London Irish. Mapusua is described by London Irish coach Toby Booth as "a guy that wants to go to war for you". In 2009 he won the Players' Player of the Year award in England.

Source

Grey Lynn to have a Samoan flavour come Cup time

2011-08-27T11:40:00.001+10:00

Grey Lynn has adopted Samoa as their official ‘second team’ during Rugby World Cup 2011.
Four events are planned to cheer on Manu Samoa and celebrate Samoan culture and roots in the greater Grey Lynn area.
The events are a Heritage Walk, two Street Parties and a Community Festival
The Heritage walk, led by local historian Sofi Ulugia-Pua will begin at St Joseph Catholic School Grey Lynn and end at the Grey Lynn RSC
Walkers will be treated to historical anecdotes, art, poetry and music along the way.
Ex-Manu Samoa players Darren Kellet, Shem Tatupu, Tony Tatupu, plus the current Miss Samoa NZ, are expected to be amongst the attendees.
“The Heritage walk promises to be a celebration of Grey Lynn’s history as a place that art and culture spring from. If you are part of Grey Lynn or are just interested in the Grey Lynn area, this walk will make you see it in a whole new way,” says Grey Lynn Business Association RWC 2011 Subcommittee Chairperson, Sunshine Yates.
The Street Parties will take place at the Grey Lynn Shops and the West Lynn Shops respectively. They are early evening, family-friendly events that will showcase local heritage and culture of the area, including a strong Samoan flavour.
The Grey Lynn Street Party is the first of the two. It promises to be a vibrant evening of food from local cafes and Pacific Island food stalls, and sounds from local Samoan choirs, jazz from Opologe Ah Sam, and the music of the Ukuladies.
The West Lynn Street Party will be a similar affair, with more details to be released shortly.

Source

Wykes leads Force to Samoa

2011-08-17T07:44:00.000+10:00

Emerging Emirates Western Force lock Sam Wykes continues to take significant forward strides in his development and has been handed the captaincy for the club’s two match tour against the Samoan Test team later this month.

Wykes enjoyed a breakout year in Super Rugby where he became a permanent fixture next to Nathan Sharpe in the second row and both his work at the lineout and around the ground came on in leaps and bounds.

With Sharpe, the club’s long serving skipper, and vice-captain David Pocock on Wallabies duties, Wykes has, off his own back, taken on added responsibility during preparations at the WA Rugby Centre ahead of matches in Samoa on the 20th and 27th August.

“Sam deserves the opportunity to Captain the Emirates Western Force on this tour,” said Head Coach Richard Graham.

“His discipline, work ethic and desire to improve reflect everything you want to see in a good leader and he has gained a lot of respect amongst the group.”

Wykes will lead a young group of players heading to the passionate South Pacific rugby nation. The Emirates Western Force will be without the services of their Wallabies representatives as well as experienced campaigners Brett Sheehan, Gene Fairbanks and Cameron Shepherd who have been ruled out through injury.

Graham has drafted seven trial players into his 26 man squad who will be auditioning for the few remaining places in the Emirates Western Force Super Rugby programme next season. The carefully selected group includes players from first division clubs in Queensland, NSW and also Western Australia with Nedlands loose forward Will Brock earning his chance to impress.

“We’ve added to our contracted group a selection of players eager to show what they can offer and we couldn’t get a better environment in which to test these guys,” Graham said.

“From a recruitment point of view I’ll have the opportunity to see the trial players under intensive conditions throughout our 12 days away whereas previously I’d be relying in part on other people’s assessments.

“In terms of the overall squad, going on a tour that doesn’t include our Wallabies and some of our more experienced players will drive the group to grow as leaders and also develop as footballers. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to get that experience.”

After coming together at the start of the month the West Australian’s have prepared well and are set for their departure on Wednesday, 17 August. It’ll be a long travel day of close to 19 hours and not much easier for the Emirates Western Force once they land having only three days to acclimatise before coming up against the impressive Samoan Test team in game one of the tour.

Manu Samoa created plenty of headlines last month when they disposed of the Wallabies in stunning fashion in Sydney to kick start their test season and will use the matches against the Emirates Western Force to fine tune their World Cup preparations.

“We are under no illusions about the need for us to be spot on with our planning because we’ll need to adapt very quickly and be on our game against a very good rugby side,” Graham said.

“They’re just about to enter the number one tournament in the world and no doubt will be at peak physical condition. In beating the Wallabies it just proved that they’re at the top of their game at the moment.”

While there are clear rugby objectives for both sides Graham is confident the tour will be the start of a strong relationship both on and off the field between the Emirates Western Force and Samoa Rugby Union.

“We’re really grateful that the Samoa Rugby Union offered this opportunity to us,” Graham said.

“We’re determined to make the most of the chance to visit a rugby heartland in the South Pacific and a country renowned for their sporting prowess as well as their wonderful hospitality.

“For both sides there is plenty to gain from the tour and we are looking forward to helping the Samoan Test team put the final pieces of their preparations together ahead of the World Cup.”

Emirates Western Force touring party

Name	Position	Height (cm)	Weight (kg)	DOB
Cruze Ah-Nau	Prop	180	115	10/08/1990
Paul Alo-Emile	Prop	180	120	22/12/1991
Phoenix Battye	Lock	204	115	28/09/1990
Nathan Charles	Hooker	183	104	09/01/1989
Nick Cummins	Wing	189	98	05/10/1987
Patrick Dellit	Utility back	192	100	21/08/1986
Kyle Godwin	Flyhalf	187	87	30/07/1992
Tom Hockings	Lock	199	112	22/02/1986
Kieran Longbottom	Prop	181	113	20/12/1985
Alfie Mafi	Wing	182	95	08/06/1988
Tevita Metuisela	Loose forward	186	107	16/10/1983
Jordan Rapana	Utility back	187	95	15/08/1989
Rory Sidey	Inside centre	188	100	04/07/1986
James Stannard	Scrumhalf	174	82	21/02/1983
Justin Turner	Scrumhalf	180	87	12/03/1990
Ted Postal	Loose forward	190	96	16/05/1991
Willie Ripia	Flyhalf	178	88	20/08/1985
Ben Whittaker	Hooker	189	113	10/10/1989
Sam Wykes (Captain)	Lock	197	109	25/04/1988

Trial Players

Name	Position/Club	Height (cm)	Weight (kg)	DOB
Tim Bennetts	Centre (Eastwood, NSW)	185	90	01/08/1990
Will Brock	Loose forward (Nedlands, WA)	187	108	24/03/1986
Angus Cottrell	Flanker (West Brisbane, Qld)	191	105	20/11/1989
Dominic Fuller	Halfback (Easts, Qld)	175	78	19/04/1986
Jay Havelu	Flanker (Gold Coast, Qld)	189	110	04/08/1988
Ruan Smith	Prop (GPS, Qld)	188	124	24/01/1990
Sam Wara	Utility Back (Norths, NSW)	183	92	24/01/1986

Team Management

Head Coach: Richard Graham

Forwards Coach: Nick Stiles

Team Manager / General Manager Rugby: Mitch Hardy

Team Support Coordinator: Adrian Blacker

Head of Strength & Conditioning: Charlie Higgins

Non-22 / ‘A’ Coach: Andrew Scotney

Senior Physiotherapist: Rob Naish

Physiotherapist: Ben Mather

Doctor: James Winton

Source

Force prepare for Samoan test

2011-08-17T07:41:00.000+10:00

mirates Western Force players are bracing for a physical encounter against an impressive Samoan Test team during the club’s two match tour at the end of August. Samoa produced a massive boilover in Sydney last month when they claimed the scalp of the Wallabies to start the Test season.

The Pacific Islanders overwhelmed the Aussies with brute strength and will be looking to finish their World Cup preparations in winning form when they come up against the Emirates Western Force.

Coach Richard Graham, who has brought his squad back together in Perth, said everyone at the club was looking forward to the contest against the Samoans.

“I think it is exactly what we need and we hope to provide Samoa with exactly what they need,” said Graham.

“It is a feather in the cap of the Emirates Western Force that Samoa chose us to trial against them in their last two games before the World Cup.

“They’re a very physical side and for us that is one of the great challenges.

“It is also a great opportunity for us as a side to stay together post Super Rugby. Going forward into 2012 the season will run longer and finish around this time. This will give us a bit of taste of playing and preparing for that added duration.”

The Emirates Western Force will be without their Wallabies contingent and a number of injured players including Richard Brown and Brett Sheehan.

Graham has mapped out some clear objectives for the tour and will trial a number of potential recruits as he looks to bolster the squad for next season.

“We need to keep testing ourselves without that quality of player (Wallabies) and hand more responsibility to the other members of our squad,” Graham said.

“I’ll also be taking a few players that I’m looking at for next season and see firsthand what they might be able to offer the club going forward. It will be good to see them over an extended period and how they respond mentally and physically.

"It is not only an opportunity to tour somewhere that will provide great rugby opportunities but also a great cultural experience,” Graham added.

Tour Matches: Samoa v Emirates Western Force

Saturday, 20 August 2011
Kick off 3.00pm (West Samoa Time GMT -11hrs) / 10.00am Sun, 21 August (AWST)

Saturday, 27 August 2011
Kick off 3.00pm (West Samoa Time GMT -11hrs) / 10.00am Sun, 28 August (AWST)

Emirates Western Force Samoan Tour Squad
Cruze Ah-Nau, Paul Alo-Emile, Phoenix Battye, Nathan Charles, Nick Cummins, Paddy Dellit, Tom Hockings, Kieran Longbottom, Alfie Mafi, Tevita Metuisela, Jordan Rapana, Cameron Shepherd, Rory Sidey, James Stannard, Ted Postal, Willie Ripia, Ben Whittaker, Sam Wykes

Trial Players
Tim Bennetts (Centre) - Eastwood (NSW), Will Brock (Loose forward) - Nedlands (WA), Angus Cottrell (Loose forward) - Wests (Queensland)

*additional players to be added in the coming weeks

Source

Manu Samoa appeal raises $800,000 plus

2011-08-17T07:26:00.000+10:00

By Tupuola Terry Tavita
The 12-hour Manu Samoa radio-thon and telethon in both Samoa and American Samoa on Friday raised over WST$800,000.
According to the Samoa Rugby Union, over $700,000 was raised in Samoa while an estimated US$50,000 (WST$110,620) was collected in American Samoa.
“But that is just the first count, we’re still sorting out the pledges,” said SRU media officer Rulla Su’a.
A flurry of corporate lunches and corporate donations prior to the Friday event pulled in around US$1.5 million.
Funding from government, major sponsors and the International Board pulled in around $2 million.
But there is still some way to go to make up the shortfall to the ultimate goal of raising $6.5 million to send a fully prepared teal to New Zealand in four weeks.
The last fundraising event in Samoa, the SRU has revealed, is a corporate dinner scheduled for 27 August at Faleata Gym One. Tables of eight diners are going at $2000.
There is also a series of fundraising events by the Samoan community in New Zealand prior to Manu Samoa’s first-up game with Namibia on 10 September at Rotorua.
“But the committee in New Zealand will be organising those fundraising events,” said Ms Su’a.
A detailed account of how much funds have been collected so far would be realized by the end of the week, said SRU.

Source

Court orders SRU to pay Peter Poulos

2011-08-17T07:23:00.001+10:00

Thursday, 11 August 2011 10:23

Aigaletaulele’ā F. Tauafiafi and Joyetter Luamanu

PLAINTIFF: Peter Poulos

The Supreme Court has ordered the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) to pay $34,000 to injured former Manu Samoa player Peter Poulos.Poulos took the SRU to court because he was dumped by the Union without insurance cover when he was injured in 2006.

Delivered on Monday this week, Justice Pierre Slicer ordered the SRU to pay $NZD6,792.94 ($SAT12,417) for Mr Poulos’ past medical and travel expenses.

A further $20,000 for future medical and travel expenses. The SRU to pay court costs and its Board to work on its previous offer of a training course to provide Mr Poulos with a possible future employment as a coach or trainer.

The Court in its ruling accepted that Mr Poulos, “believed himself to be covered for insurance at the time he entered the selection camp and did so following a conversation with Selefuti Patu, the coach and/or Fasimalo, the manager.” The court also found the SRU Board to be in breach of a general term of a contractual duty but not a specific term of insurance.

“The SRU was in breach of that contractual duty. “It had employed Peter Horne (“Horne”) as its High Performance manager. He attempted to arrange for the back dating of the insurance policy to help Poulos. He had negotiated the insurance policy, none of which was refunded. He had meetings with Poulos about the questions of payment of medical expenses. But he did little that was practical.

He was present at the meeting with Lefau Tauiliili Harry Schuster and Poulos but did little, if anything, to assist the Plaintiff with advancing the claim.“In evidence he [Horne] claimed that he believed that some of the expenses claimed by the Plaintiff were paid. The Court does not accept that claim.

He was present when Poulos and Schuster met but did nothing, as an employee or agent of the Defendant, to implement the offer made by the SRU.” In the court ruling, Justice Slicer stated if Mr Poulos was insured by the Board, the maximum he could have obtained would be $NZD80,000 or $SAT146,200.

The court also assessed if Mr Poulos was not injured at the 2006 match he could have continued playing professional rugby for a further five years. It estimated his loss of potential future earnings at $GBP280,000 or $SAT1,024,000.The decision ends a long drawn-out and emotional case for one of Samoa’s 2003 world cup star performers.

In an interview July 2010, Mr Poulos told the Samoa Observer, “What hurts is to be made to feel you’re right up there and then when something happens, people just turned a blind eye. I had virtually no support.”He says, as a professional player exposed to player safety systems in New Zealand, Japan and England he knew what was expected as a professional.

However he wasn’t blind to amateur conditions as well. “Before I became a professional I was just another club player doing my 40+ hours a week…wake up at 5am in the morning doing the runs in the cold, not getting

paid for it, you know that’s how it starts.

The hard yards but it all pays off. So even though there are different levels between amateur and professional status in terms of procedures, if they are injured, there are systems.”

The Monday, 8 August 2011 court ruling illustrates Mr Poulos’ point.“The SRU did little to assist the Plaintiff in the payment of his immediate expenses. [Vice Chairman] Schuster did not ‘follow up’ on his suggestion or direct employees, including Horne, to assist in the process.

“A tax invoice for $2,345.63 was sent to Pacific Insurance by the [NZ] Physio Rehab Group on 8 June 2006 but the claim refused. It is not fair to the Plaintiff [Poulos] for the Defendant [SRU] to contend that no invoices were provided.In the July 2010 interview, Poulos re-confirmed why he took the matter to court.

“These sorts of things happening in our country, and not just rugby, are just not right. We, the athletes, the families should not accept that things operate in this certain way. For so long we get the administrators saying, ‘We’re sorry, faamalie atu a, talofa e’, well no I don’t believe in that any more. “I’m somebody’s son.

What if I was the PM’s son? Would it be different then, would I get the treatment needed? We shouldn’t be, we’re all the same, we’re all Samoans, and I’m very passionate about that.”
SUPREME COURT RULINGDAMAGES FOR BREACH OF AGREEMENT97. The Plaintiff claims NZD$6,792.94 as costs incurred for the medical examinations in New Zealand.

That sum is properly documented and will be allowed.98. The Plaintiff still suffers from the injury and, in accordance with custom policy and the agreement allowance, should be made for future treatment.99. The Plaintiff continues to suffer from the after effects of the injury and is likely to require further treatment. Poulos has recovered from much of the injury, able to play golf and generally live a reasonable life.

Nevertheless some allowance will be made for future medical and travelling expenses. A sum of SAT$20,000 will be allowed for this head of damage.100. The evidence does not permit an accurate assessment of future expenses. The Board did offer a training course which would provide the Plaintiff with a possible future employment as a coach or trainer.

There is no evidence that Poulos followed up or rejected the proposal. These are insufficient evidence to establish the terms of ‘look after you’. It has no evidence of the present income or capacity for other paid employment. The parties will be afforded the opportunity to adduce further evidence as this head of damage.101.

The Plaintiff is required to mitigate his loss or damage. Relevant to that issue is whether he should have accepted the Board’s offer to provide training as a coach which would enable him to obtain future employment and thus mitigate against future loss of income.

ORDERS:1. The Defendant pays the Plaintiff the sum of NZD$6,792.94 for past medical and travel expenses.2. The Defendant pays to the Plaintiff the sum of SAT$20,000 for future medical and travel expenses.3.

The Defendant pays the costs of the action, subject to the Supreme Court (Civil Procedure) Rules R103.4. The parties have leave to adduce further evidence on the matter referred to in this Judgment, paragraph 100.
Source

Samoan PM wants to break IRB 'monopoly'

2011-08-17T07:12:00.000+10:00

The Samoan Prime Minister wants help from Commonwealth leaders to break down what he labels an International Rugby Board monopoly.
As the Rugby World Cup tournament approaches Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi has spoken out about the IRB rule on player eligibility which means top level players cannot represent more than one country.
"This is the most unfair organisation, the IRB," Malielegaoi said.
Malielegaoi, who is also president of the country's rugby union, has been fighting an ongoing battle against an IRB ruling forbidding players from representing a country when they have already played for another.
New Zealand has previously backed its Pacific neighbours but the Samoan Prime Minister wants all Commonwealth leaders to step in.
"The other national teams should have the guts to keep fighting and fighting and fighting to break up the monopoly," Malielegaoi said.
Relaxing the rule would give Manu Samoa a bigger selection pool.
"Obviously it would be a big boost with the experience of those players that come through the New Zealand All Black system," Samoan fullback Paul Williams said.
For Alesana Tuilagi, it's personal. He played a key role in Manu Samoa's recent whipping of the Wallabies while his brother Manu plays for England. But the IRB rule means they can never play together for their country.
"It would be great for all of our brothers to be representing our country," Malielegaoi said.
And Malielegaoi said New Zealand, Australia and South Africa have a responsibility to make that happen.
"If they continue to behave the way they are, they are all cowards, they should stand up and fight."
In a statement to ONE News the IRB says it's committed to the growth and development of Pacific rugby and is putting $33 million into the region's rugby unions.
It says it is funding several Pacific tournaments and paying for a new state of the art $1.9 million high performance centre in Apia.

Source

Tuilagi to start at sold-out Twickers

2011-08-04T07:47:00.000+10:00

Young guns Manu Tuilagi and Charlie Sharples are set to make their senior England debuts on Saturday as Wales visit a sold-out Twickenham.

20-year-old Tuilagi, who has impressed Manager Martin Johnson in training, will partner Riki Flutey in a midfield with a south-pacific flavour.

In what must be seen as an experimental team, Johnson will also hand 21-year-old Gloucester wing Charlie Sharples his first Test cap while Jonny Wilkinson directs traffic at fly-half.

Planet Rugby also understands that James Haskell will start at number eight and Danny Care will wear number nine.

Johnson will confirm the team to face Wales on Thursday with prop Matt Stevens likely to feature and Lewis Moody set to resume the England captaincy for the World Cup warm-up after missing the end of the Six Nations.

Sharples, the quickest man in the England squad, is eager to continue the form that saw him a score 18 tries for Gloucester last season.

"I played at Twickenham for St Peter's, Gloucester in the Daily Mail Cup final in 2006. I scored a hat-trick in the semi-final and another in the final. That's where the 'Champagne Charlie' nickname came from!" said Sharples, who was speaking at an England team appearance to launch Get Up for England, with O2.

"If I was to be involved this weekend and getting a cap would be the sort of thing dreams are made of.

"It would just be a fantastic occasion and I just have to keep my fingers crossed.

"I would never have believed at the start of the season that I would have got here but I feel like I am ready to play.

"It was just 10 weeks ago that I was finishing up the season with Gloucester and now I am in the England squad in the week of a Test match.

"Once the ball starts rolling, it does go pretty quickly."

Source

Manu Samoa Donations for RWC2011

2011-08-02T08:29:00.000+10:00

To help support the Manu Samoa in their bid for the Rugby World Cup please donate via these methods below:

Donations to “Manu Samoa Donations” account through any Westpac Branches in
1. Samoa Account No:2000509998
2. Australia through Westpac Bank Australia BSB 032134 Account 222617
3. New Zealand through Westpac New Zealand Limited Account 03-0252-0410719-000
  Swift code: WPAC NZ 2W
Donations through Pacific Ezi through any of their branches in Australia or New Zealand
From anywhere in the World donate through telegraphic transfers to:

Account Name: Manu Samoa Donations Account
Account Number: 2000509998
Bank Name: Westpac Bank Samoa Ltd
Swift Code PCOBWSWS

For Information for the Samoa Rugby Union Website http://samoarugbyunion.ws/ or http://www.manusamoa.com.ws

GO MANU!

Another look at the Samoa vs Wallaby bruisefest - The Big Hits

2011-07-20T14:55:00.000+10:00

Courtesy of Rugbydump.com

http://www.rugbydump.blogspot.com/

Samoa can win rugby World Cup, says PM

2011-07-20T14:29:00.002+10:00

Samoa’s stunning Test victory over Australia shows the national side is capable of winning this year’s Rugby World Cup, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi says.
Tuilaepa said on Monday he is “over the moon” after the 32-23 victory over the Wallabies in Sydney, a win he said “warmed the heart” of the Pacific Island nation.
“No-one actually thought that Australia would lose,” he told reporters.
“I myself knew we would be competitive, as the way we played in the Northern Hemisphere tour showed we can compete.
“But defeating Australia, which is the second-ranked team and is twice world champions, shows Samoa can win the World Cup.”
Former Samoan captain Pat Lam, who coaches the Blues Super Rugby team, said the win ranks alongside the team’s shock 16-13 victory over Wales at the 1991 World Cup as the country’s best sporting result.
“It’s massive, right up there,” he told Radio New Zealand.
“Australia’s number two in the world currently … (we) had no chance, according to the Aussie media and that’s probably the worst thing you can say to a Samoan.
“They had a real belief and determination and their preparation has been very good.
“The real key is they didn’t just beat them, they out-fought them, out-muscled them and out-played them completely. It was a great win.”
Lam rejects the argument that Australia lost because they had not fielded a full strength team, saying Samoa also had key players missing.
“At the end of the day, they put out what they believed was their best Test team and Samoa put out what they had available and they absolutely hammered them,” he said.
He said Samoa face a difficult task at the World Cup in New Zealand, starting in September, as they are in the so-called “pool of death” with South Africa, Wales, Fiji and Namibia.
But he is confident the Samoans can reach the quarter-finals.
“South Africa, they’ll be tough, Wales always has an issue with Samoa at World Cup time and there’s Fiji,” he said.
“So it’s certainly a winnable pool, but it’ll be a tough pool.”

Source

Look out world, it's the Aussie-beating Samoans

2011-07-20T14:24:00.001+10:00

It is one of international rugby's greatest upsets - 100-1 World Cup outsiders Manu Samoa crushing one of the favourites, Australia's Wallabies.
The small Pacific Island nation - population 180,000 - was celebrating hard last night after their team's 32-23 win in Sydney.
The celebrations were just as fervent in Auckland, where former Samoa captain Peter Fatialofa said: "I don't usually drink on Sunday, but I think I'm going to have one to celebrate."
Fatialofa, who captained Samoa in its first Rugby World Cup, in 1991, said the team had shown they were a force to be reckoned with in September.
"They're sending out a message to the other teams that they're a team to play. The good thing was that we made the win - it wasn't luck."
All Black great Michael Jones said: "I wish I was in Samoa tonight. It's going to be a great night in Apia and this will probably result in a public holiday over there. There's probably going to be a few Samoan flags around in Auckland [today]."
The victory - which reversed Australia's 74-7 trouncing of Samoa in their last meeting, at the same venue six years ago - is a setback for the Wallabies six days before they start their Tri Nations campaign against world champions South Africa.
It was the first time Manu Samoa had beaten the Wallabies.
The TAB has Samoa's odds of winning the World Cup at 100 to 1 and Australia at second-favourite, behind the All Blacks.
All Black great and NZ Rugby Union president Bryan Williams, whose son Paul is in the Samoan team and scored a try in yesterday's game, said he was "thrilled and so happy" about the result.
"I've had two very excited calls from my daughters, who were watching it ... It's a very proud day for Manu Samoa."
Williams said he would be eagerly waiting for a text from his son, a former student of Mt Albert Grammar, where Bryan Williams coaches rugby.
Auckland Blues coach Pat Lam, another former Manu Samoa captain, said it was a case of the Samoan team stepping up, rather than the Australian team playing badly.
"The thing with Samoan boys is when they get their pride on, it's over. They were tackling hard and flying into everything.
"They hammered Australia. It's a massive upset."
Samoa will play Wales, South Africa, Fiji and Namibia in their World Cup pool.
"Those teams are going to be watching this game," Lam said. " They're going to be looking out for Samoa now."

Source

Samoa bash up weak Wallabies

2011-07-20T14:23:00.001+10:00

Samoa bash up weak Wallabies

Manu Samoa added to their already formidable reputation by comfortably beating the Wallabies 32-23 in the first Test match of 2011.
Samoa played very well. In the first passage of play, they showed composure and accuracy with the ball, befitting a higher ranked country. Samoa went on to outplay the Wallabies across the park for most of the game.
The breakdown was one way traffic for the brutal Samoan forwards. They dominated so much that the Wallabies could not even rely on simple recycling plays.
Either the ball was lost or, as a minimum, it was slowed down so much that it was a very tough day for the youngster, Phipps.
The game was won and lost at the breakdown.
This game was reminiscent of the 2007 Rugby World Cup game against England.
The other countries in the same Rugby World Cup pool as Samoa – Fiji, Namibia, South Africa and Wales – should be worried and make sure that they have their health insurance fully paid up. Samoa could be the surprise packets of the 2011 tournament as Argentina were in 2007.
Wales, in particular, could become the next victim of the Samoan smash and grab raid. At least it won’t be a new experience for them.
As for the Wallabies, the back row and particularly Hodgson and Elsom had no answer to Samoa at the breakdown. Timani was found out by the step up in power and pace. His day will come, but he won’t be on the plane to New Zealand for the Rugby World Cup. Alexander has lost his running game of yesteryear.
Nothing has changed with Giteau’s play. Despite his passionate play, particularly in last line defence, he continued to go across field all day. This allowed the defence to drift and destroyed his backline’s alignment and ability to attack straight up the field, make ground and score points.
His running lines verged on making the Wallabies’ backs space a hostile and unsafe work environment. Just ask Rod Davies.
McCabe straightened the attack and made yards all afternoon. He is a value for money player. It will be interesting to see who Robbie Deans selects at 12.
Will it be a McCabe/Faingaa “straight talking” inside centre or a Giteau/O’Connor “creative type” second flyhalf?
Adam Ashley-Cooper was better than he has been in 2011 for the Brumbies, but that is not saying much. I am a big fan but he needs to recapture his form soon, for everyone’s sake.
Ioane trucked the ball up all day but didn’t find the gaps that exist in Super Rugby. Davies showed he can handle the rough stuff but needs to put the long studs in.
Gerrard played well when called upon but was too passive in his contribution to the attack.
Despite being a passionate card carrying Australian, I enjoyed seeing the Wallabies found out today. The game performed a most important function; it was a full frontal, reality check.
The debutantes and discovered and the experienced players were reminded that you can take nothing for granted at this level, and particularly only six weeks from the RWC. Test rugby requires massive physicality, bordering on self destruction. Only one team, Samoa, was playing with that commitment today.
My main concern is that, despite the Wallabies knowing what to expect, and then experiencing what they had had known to expect, they did not or could not respond or go with the Samoans.
For Manu Samoa, and World Rugby, I just hope that this squad continue to play with this self belief and commitment. If so, Manu Samoa (as Pool D runners up) could meet Australia in the Quarter Final.

Source

IRB praises Manu Samoa victory

2011-07-20T14:21:00.002+10:00

Posted at 23:16 on 18 July, 2011 UTC

The International Rugby Board says Samoa’s stunning win against Australia shows it’s investment in the Pacific region is paying off.
The Wallabies have been roundly criticised following Sunday’s 32-23 in Sydney, with coach Robbie Deans insisting his team weren’t complacent but simply didn’t play well.
The IRB’s Regional General Manager for Oceania, William Glenwright, says the Samoan team will only get better with another month and a half together leading into Rugby World Cup.

“It’s a huge result for Pacific rugby, it’s a huge result for Samoan rugby and I think it just shows what the potential of these countries are and if we can continue to work on their high performance programmes and provide the competition structure that the IRB’s been working so hard on for the past five years, then I think the future is very bright, not only Samoa but Fiji, Tonga and the broader Pacific region.”

Source

Samoa name squad for Wallabies Test

2011-07-09T12:08:00.000+10:00

Samoa name squad for Wallabies Test

ESPNscrum Staff

July 8, 2011

Winger Alesana Tuilagi ran in a try against Japan in the opening round of the Pacific Nations Cup © Getty

Samoa have announced their preliminary 25-man squad for the Test match against Australia on July 17.

The 25-man squad, named by head coach Titimaea Tafua, includes Crusaders scrum-half Kahn Fotuali'i alongside fellow Super Rugby representatives Highlanders hooker Mo Schwalger and Hurricanes (soon to be Bath) prop Anthony Perenise. Australia coach Robbie Deans will be greeted by some familiar faces as he had prop Sakaria Taulafo, fly-half Tusi Pisi, fullback Paul Williams, hooker Ti'i Paulo, half-back Lualua Vailoaloa and Fotuali'i under his tutelage while at the Crusaders.

Other well-known faces in the Samoa party include Leicester Tigers wing Alesana Tuilagi and Gloucester's maverick centre Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu. Ex-London Irish centre Seilala Mapusua and current Exiles winger Sailosi Tagicakibau are also named.

Samoa still have two matches left in the Pacific Nations Cup so the squad will arrive in Sydney in two groups. The first contingent will turn up on Sunday following the Pacific Nations Cup Test against Fiji, with the rest of the squad arriving on Thursday, the day after their final match of the tournament against Tonga. Samoa performed well in the first match of the Pacific Nations Cup, beating Japan 34-15 in Tokyo.

Tafua will announce the team to face the Wallabies on Thursday. Samoa open their World Cup campaign against Namibia on September 14 in Rotorua.

Manu Samoa touring squad:

Forwards: Sakaria Taulafo, Mahonri Schwalger (captain), Anthony Perenise, Daniel Leo, Kane Thompson, Taiasina Tuifu'a, Maurie Fa'asavalu, George Stowers, Ti'I Paulo, Logovi'I Mulipola, Filipo Levi

Backs: Lualua Vailoaloa, Tusiata Pisi, Sailosi Tagicakibau, Seilala Mapusua, George Pisi, Alesana Tuilagi, Paul Williams, Brenton Helleur, Tasesa Lavea, Eliota F Sapolu, James So'oialo, Timoteo Iosua, Kahn Fotuali'i

Fiji fall in IRB Rankings while Samoa rise

2011-07-08T13:36:00.000+10:00

Fiji has dropped to a record-low 13th spot in the IRB world rankings after a recent loss to Tonga, ensuring Samoa is the top-ranked team in the Pacific.

Fiji plunged from 10th after losing 45-21 to Tonga at Lautoka in the Pacific Nations Cup last weekend. Tonga climbed from 16th to 12th place.

Samoa, which will play Fiji in the second round of the Pacific tournament on Saturday, rose one spot to 10th although it hasn't recently played a test.

New Zealand continues to hold top spot on the world rankings list released by the International Rugby Board on Tuesday. Australia is second, South Africa third and Ireland holds fourth place ahead of England, France and Wales.

IRB World rankings:

1 NEW ZEALAND 93.19
2 AUSTRALIA 87.45
3 SOUTH AFRICA 86.44
4 IRELAND 82.51
5 ENGLAND 82.48
6 FRANCE 82.06
7 WALES 79.55
8 ARGENTINA 78.97
9 SCOTLAND 77.35
10 SAMOA 75.58
11 ITALY 73.54
12 TONGA 71.63
13 FIJI 71.33
14 GEORGIA 70.30
15 JAPAN 69.89
16 CANADA 69.78
17 USA 66.78
18 ROMANIA 65.57
19 RUSSIA 61.93
20 NAMIBIA 61.43

Source

Warren Gatland to fly to Pacific Nations Cup to check out Rugby World Cup opponents

2011-07-08T13:29:00.000+10:00

Warren Gatland will make a round trip of more than 22,000 miles to get the lowdown on Wales' World Cup opponents.
The Kiwi coach has been putting his preliminary World Cup squad through their paces at a training camp in Poland.
But he will embark on a 24-hour flight to Suva, Fiji, today in time to watch the South Sea Islanders take on Samoa in the Pacific Nations Cup on Saturday.

Advertisement >>

The local rivals meet in the second round of the PNC before facing Wales in the World Cup in September.
All too aware of Wales' dismal record against South Sea Islanders at the World Cup, Gatland will travel around the globe in a bid to give his side an edge in new Zealand.
Gatland's men have been drawn alongside both Fiji and Samoa in Pool D, alongside South Africa and Namibia.
Wales infamously lost 16-13 to Samoa in 1991 World Cup and were again humiliated 38-31 eight years later.
Fiji knocked Wales out of the 2007 World Cup, with a 38-34 scoreline.

Source

Samoa wary of Fiji in World Cup prelude

2011-07-08T13:27:00.000+10:00

July 06, 2011 By Torika Tokalau

Samoa knows their defence of the Pacific Nations Cup will be threatened this weekend when they take on the Flying Fijians in the second round of the competition at the National Stadium.

While Tonga may have defeated the Flying Fijians last weekend, Samoa knows only too well their hosts will be out a stronger team with pride to regain as they hunt for their first win.

“We’re under no illusion that Fiji will be that same team that lost against Tonga,” Manu Samoa manager, Matthew Vaea said.

Samoa prepares for a physical encounter against their island rivals and look forward to what they believe will be one of the best game build-ups for the upcoming Rugby World Cup.

“Fiji is a strong team on the world front; they proved this in the last world cup. In every Pacific game, the game will be physical and we expect nothing less than that actually. We respect Fiji and star players they boost and while we may be gunning for a win, we’re looking forward to the lessons we’ll get out of this,” Vaea added.

The match kicks off at 3:10pm on Saturday in Suva.

Source

SAMOA RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011

2011-07-08T13:26:00.000+10:00

SAMOA RUGBY WORLD CUP 2011
The national rugby team from Samoa have competed in every Rugby World Cup since 1991, and rugby fans can expect Samoa to play its toughest team yet at Rugby World Cup 2011, enthusiastically supported by the large Samoan community that lives in New Zealand.
Samoa are currently ranked 11th in the IRB world rankings, and will be in Pool D for the 2011 Rugby World Cup, along with defending champions South Africa, Wales, Fiji, and Namibia.
Samoa beat Papua New Guinea to qualify for Rugby World Cup 2011, becoming the second nation to advance through the qualifying process, and the 14th team to secure its place at RWC 2011.
Following their controversial omission from the 1987 Rugby world Cup when there were no qualifications, Samoa has played in every Rugby World Cup since then. Samoa was eliminated in the quarter finals of the 1991 and 1995 Rugby World Cup, and progressed to the quarter final playoffs in the 1999 RWC. The 2003 and 2007 Rugby World Cup saw Samoa eliminated in the pool stages.
Samoa kick off their 2011 Rugby World Cup campaign against Namibia in Rotorua on the 14th September, followed by a game against Wales in Hamilton on the 18th September. Samoa’s much anticipated third Pool D clash will be against Fiji on the 25th September in Auckland, which is the world’s largest Polynesian city with a large and passionate Samoan and Fijian rugby fan base. The final RWC 2011 pool game for Samoa will be against South Africa, again in Auckland, on the 30th September.
Nicknamed Manu Samoa, and coached by Filipo Levi, Samoa will come to the 2011 Rugby World Cup with a team able to place stronger opponents under pressure with a physical and unyielding approach to the game. Samoa will need to focus on maintaining structure and discipline if they are to achieve consistent success at the Rugby World Cup.
Samoa’s training schedule at RWC 2011 will see the team at Bay Park in Mt. Maunganui from September 7th to 10th before moving to Rotorua Boy’s High School from September 11th to 16th. Wellington will be next venue for the team for Samoa, with a two day stop from 17th to 18th September. From Wellington Samoa travel to Auckland, where they remain for the remainder of Rugby World Cup 2011, training at Western Springs from 19th to 25th September, and the Silverdale Rugby Club from 26th to 30th September.
Manu Samoa will come to RWC 2011 with the motto “Forget past mistakes. Forget failures. Forget everything except what you're going to do now and do it."

Leiua happy to be in the action for Lions

2011-07-08T13:03:00.000+10:00

Alapati Leiua would be the first to tell you not to believe everything you read on the internet.
Enjoying a break between his Hurricanes and Wellington commitments, the Northern United centre got a shock a fortnight back when he was named on the Samoan Rugby Union website as a member of their squad to prepare for the Pacific Nations Cup.
Born and bred in Samoa, he had been contacted by the Samoa selectors but had told them his allegiance, for now, was with New Zealand.
"Then the next day my mother rang me and said `you're in the Samoan team' and I was like `what the?' I didn't even say yes, they just put my name in there," said Leiua, who has been named at centre in the Wellington team to meet Canterbury in today's preseason match at the Petone Rec.
Leiua moved from Samoa to Wellington at 16, to finish his secondary schooling and established a formidable midfield partnership with Crusaders wrecking ball Robbie Fruean in the Porirua College first XV.
Largely used on the wing in his brief career with Wellington and the Hurricanes, Leiua believes his future lies closer to the action.
"In this preseason game I'm starting at centre and hopefully I'll play second-five in the second half. I think second-five is my spot now. I like the crash and carrying the ball strongly."
Without the likes of Leiua, Wellington struggled to beat Manawatu in last week's first preseason encounter. But with his Hurricanes players back from leave, Lions coach Andre Bell has been able to name a far stronger lineup for today's clash.
Four members of the All Blacks training squad have been included, with Piri Weepu starting at halfback and Neemia Tialata, Conrad Smith and Cory Jane on the bench. Tialata had been named at tighthead prop, but Bell said he deserved a later introduction into the match after his exertions with the national squad.
Canterbury's lineup is shorter on big names than Wellington's, with first five-eighth Colin Slade the only member with All Black credentials.

Source

Samoa Wins Junior World Rugby Trophy 2011

2011-06-21T09:27:00.000+10:00

Photos Courtesy of IRB.com

Samoa full back Peter Schuster’s try deep into added time proved the difference in an enthralling final that Japan had led 17-0 midway through the first half.

Georgia beat a spirited Uruguayan team 20-15 to take third place and confirm the growth of the game in this country. The legacy in Georgia is huge as eight matches were shown live across the four match days of the tournament. The standard of play was high and the style attractive, ensuring that the sustained growth of the game in this country has received a new push.

Canada took fifth place beating Russia 49-24 and USA seventh by defeating Zimbabwe 30-29.

Samoa 31 – Japan 24

The Japanese were in early control and took a 17-point lead in the first quarter with two very neat tries. They took the game to the Samoans who were perhaps surprised by their commitment.

The first try was simply executed: from the back of a scrum, number 8 Olive Taufa popped the ball to scrum half Keisuke Uchida, whose lovely long pass found wing Masakatasu Hikosaka. Hisoka cut outside one defender and inside another to touch down.

The second arrived after a lineout drive with hooker Yoshikatsu Hikosaka diving at the feet of the Samoans who were unable to stop him.

When fly half Ryodo Nakamura kicked a penalty to extend Japan’s lead to 17-0, it was hard to see how the Samoans could find a way back. They did it with their usual style, attacking from broken play and soon generating holes that they exploited.

In only the second incursion into Japanese territory, flanker Jordan Taufua dived over for the try, soon after followed by a far more extravagant dive from centre Robert Lilomaiava after he broke cleanly in the centres. A superb chip from fly half Patrick Fa’apale gave impressive centre Faavae Faavae a try in the corner to put the game 19-17 in Samoa’s favour going in to the break.

The second half continued to have some good rugby despite the lack of scoring for 20 minutes. When the try finally came it was after the Samoans managed to pass the ball under heavy defensive tackling for an unconverted try to wing Viliamu Alauni.

But Japan were not finished. Prop Mao Enoki emerged from the bottom of a rolling maul to claim the try; the angled goal from fly half Ryodo Nakamura left the score 24-24.

When the crowd thought, hoped, the game would now go to sudden death, a superbly timed flat pass from captain Fa’apale put ful lback Peter Schuster in for the winning try in the corner. Fa’apale added the goal to settle the final 31-24.

Japanese coach Yukio Motoki said “The Samoans were very strong and we couldn’t control their unstructured attacking. They kept coming at us. At this tournament we realised how high the standard is.”

Japan captain Keisuke Uchida added “The experience of playing in such as a final is something that will always be with me.”

John Schuster, a happy winning coach said “I felt that for us the key was when we managed to string phases, managed to make no mistakes and control the ball better. Japan started the game very well but we were also making a lot of mistakes in the first quarter, missing try-scoring opportunities.

“We were very lucky to win it. Japan played extremely well today; they had a well-structured game, forcing us into many mistakes. We feel very lucky to have won.”

Source

Poulos breaks his silence about cracks in the rugby system (UPDATED)

2011-06-21T09:01:00.003+10:00

Former Manu Samoa rugby player takes rugby union to court

Posted at 23:35 on 17 June, 2011 UTC

The court in Samoa is hearing a case filed by former Manu Samoa star, Peter Poulos against the Samoa Rugby Union.
Poulos is seeking insurance from the union as a result of a neck injury he suffered
in 2006.
He was diagnosed with a serious injury and was flown to New Zealand straight away.
He received all the specialist treatment and the final result showed his career was
over.
Poulos said he was told by his team’s management he was covered prior to the game he was injured in, and that gave him confidence in the system.
But he said that wasn’t the reality.

A former Manu Samoa player has broken his silence about cracks in the rugby system which has left him fighting for help.

Peter Poulos, a star member of the 2003 Rugby World Cup team said his fight is not just about rugby.
It’s about making sure there are support systems for injured athletes in all sports.
Poulos has spoken out after reading the story of Ben Lei’a, a former Marist player who is paralysed and needs someone else to perform for him the most basic of human functions. Poulos read Ben’s case and feels nothing but sorrow.
Even though he identifies with Ben’s reality, he was millimeters away from the same fate. There is frustration that Samoa is not doing enough to protect its players.

Rugby is a full contact sport and the risk of serious injury is part and parcel of the sport. Yet in Mr Poulos’ situation there’s a lot that’s to be desired.

“Basically every player is different, we come from different backgrounds, different clubs and so forth, but the common denominator with players security is what happens after they suffer an injury or permanent disability. What is there? Have we covered them after a serious injury?” The simple answer according to Mr Poulos is no, the systems to protect players well-being is just not there.

“I played rugby overseas and even at the club level to which I was fortunate to play in NZ (Waitakere, Suburbs) the Auckland 7s and development team there’s always a sense of care for you as a player,” he said. “There was infrastructure, there were systems, you know that pieces of the puzzle were there.

“And that’s what I feel with us here in Samoa is that puzzle is still a mess. And I don’t think we’re making enough of an effort to pick up enough of those pieces and put them in the right places. A lot of times all we’re left with is just a lot of talk.”

At the height of his career in 2006, Mr Poulos came back to trial for the inaugural start of the Pacific Rugby Cup tournament.
The squad was selected and “I was named captain for the Upolu Samoa team. We then had a friendly with Siumu at Siumu and that’s where I got injured under a maul.”

Mr Poulos was diagnosed with a serious injury and was flown to Auckland straight away. He got all the specialist treatment and the final result showed his career was over.

Having been told by the Upolu team management he was covered prior to the Siumu game, there was confidence in the system but it wasn’t the reality.

“When I came back after 8-weeks and after various emails I was left in the situation I had no insurance, and everything from treatment and whatever expenses was on my own head. Basically they washed their hands off me and told me to check things myself.

So I checked with the insurance company and they said no. I checked with the SRU, ‘we’ll try and work it out’.” He was left high and dry. Up to now, all medical and other expenses were forked out by Peter and his family. “What hurts is to be made to feel you’re right up there and then when something happens, people just turned a blind eye. I had virtually no support.”

As a professional player exposed to player safety systems in NZ, Japan and England he knew what was expected as a professional.
However he wasn’t blind to amateur conditions as well.

“Before I became a professional I was just another club player doing my 40+ hours a week, having to wake up at 5am in the morning doing the runs in the cold, not getting paid for it, you know that’s how it starts.

The hard yacker but it all pays off. So even though there are different levels between amateur and professional status in terms of procedures if they are injured but there are systems.”

Overseas there is greater importance on insurance and cover for injury is compulsory that to play you need to be covered.
“Here, you don’t get that sense of feeling. It’s more like play and if something happens then we’re look at it and see what we can do.”

As a result Peter is adamant, “These sorts of things happening in our country, and not just rugby, are just not right. We, the athletes, the families should not accept that things operate in this certain way. For so long we get the administrators saying, ‘We’re sorry, faamalie atu a, talofa e’, well no I don’t believe in that any more.

“I’m somebody’s son, what if Ben was your son. What if I was the PM’s son? Would it be different then, would I get the treatment needed? We shouldn’t be, we’re all the same, we’re all Samoans, and I’m very passionate about that.”

And Peter feels it’s a good opportunity for the future that his case, Ben Lei’a’s case and others who have died or in similar cases will raise awareness of the lack of support that injured players receive here in Samoa.

Source

Manu Tuilagi included in England squad

2011-06-21T08:42:00.000+10:00

June 19, 2011

Leicester duo Manu Tuilagi and Thomas Waldrom have been included in England's 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad.

Samoan-born Tuilagi, currently serving a ban for punching fellow squad member Chris Ashton earlier this season, and Kiwi Waldrom are two of five uncapped players included in the squad alongside Saracens lock Mouritz Botha, Gloucester wing Charile Sharples and Wasps scrum-half Joe Simpson.

There is also a recall for Saracens prop Matt Stevens just six months after completing a two-year drugs ban while England manager Martin Johnson has also rewarded Harlequins captain Chris Robshaw and Saracens scrum-half Richard Wigglesworth for their impressive seasons.

South African-born Stevens returned to action in January after serving a two-year suspension for cocaine use and he has not been on a losing side game since, helping Saracens win the Aviva Premiership title and the England Saxons to Churchill Cup success. Capped 32 times by England, Stevens played in the 2007 World Cup final and toured with the British and Irish Lions in 2005.

At the other end of the experience scale, Johnson has drafted Leicester's 20-year-old centre Tuilagi into the training squad after a breakthrough season at Welford Road. Tuilagi, was nearly deported last year after it emerged he did not have the right paperwork to be living in England, was voted the Premiership's young player of the year and would have been part of the Saxons campaign had he not been banned. Tuilagi, who has four brothers who played for Samoa, was granted indefinite leave to stay and declared his international allegiance to England.

Waldrom was born in New Zealand but qualifies to play for England after discovering during this season that his grandmother was born in the country. Botha, who was born in South Africa and qualifies on residency grounds, has been in prime form for Saracens this year and impressed England's coaches during the recent Churchill Cup campaign. Simpson, who was born in Australia but came to England as a youngster, made his senior bow in the non-cap tour game against the Australian Barbarians last summer and trained with the squad during this year's Six Nations.

England's foreign-born legion also includes prop Alex Corbisiero (USA), fullback Delon Armitage (Trinidad), veteran lock Simon Shaw (Kenya), flanker Hendre Fourie (South Africa) along with hooker Dylan Hartley, centres Shontayne Hape and Riki Flutey (all New Zealand).

Among the notable absentees are lock Steve Borthwick, who steered Saracens to the Premiership title earlier this year, Leicester No.8 Jordan Crane, who led the Saxons to Churchill Cup glory at the weekend, Gloucester No.8 Luke Narraway, Saracens centre Brad Barritt, Exeter chiefs flanker Tom Johnson, Northampton flanker Phil Dowson and injured Bath-bound lock Dave Attwood.

Johnson will trim his squad to 30 players ahead of the tournament in New Zealand and insists every player in the expanded group has a chance of boarding the plane. "Every one of these players has the chance to be in that final 30 going to New Zealand. The camp is going to be intense and competitive, as you would expect leading up to a World Cup, but all the players are ready for it," he said.

"We have guys such as Lewis, Jonny and Mike Tindall who have been in this situation before but also a lot of players who won't have experienced a World Cup training camp. It's now up to all of them to set down their marker over the next 10 weeks before we head to New Zealand."

England have picked five centres in Tuilagi, Mike Tindall, Matt Banahan, Riki Flutey and Shontayne Hape. The first-choice back three - Ben Foden, Chris Ashton and Mark Cueto - are joined by Sharples, James Simpson-Daniel, Ugo Monye, David Strettle and Delon Armitage while there are four scrum-halves named in Ben Youngs, Danny Care, Wigglesworth and Simpson.

Stevens is one of seven props included but his ability to pack down on both sides of the scrum makes him a favourite to make the cut. Andrew Sheridan, Dan Cole and Corbisiero all started games in the Six Nations and they are joined in the training squad by Stevens, Paul Doran-Jones, David Wilson and Tim Payne.

Waldrom offers potential cover for Nick Easter at No.8 while England boast strength on the flanks with Tom Wood, Tom Croft, James Haskell, Joe Worsley, Lewis Moody and Robshaw all named. In the second row, Botha joins Courtney Lawes, Shaw, Louis Deacon and Tom Palmer while front-line hookers Dylan Hartley and Steve Thompson have been joined by George Chuter and Lee Mears.

England's 45-man Rugby World Cup training squad:

FORWARDS: Mouritz Botha (Saracens), George Chuter (Leicester Tigers), Dan Cole (Leicester Tigers), Alex Corbisiero (London Irish), Tom Croft (Leicester Tigers), Louis Deacon (Leicester Tigers), Paul Doran-Jones (Northampton Saints), Nick Easter (Harlequins), Hendre Fourie (Sale Sharks), Dylan Hartley (Northampton Saints), James Haskell (Unattached), Courtney Lawes (Northampton Saints), Lee Mears (Bath Rugby), Lewis Moody (Bath Rugby), Tom Palmer (Stade Francais), Tim Payne (London Wasps), Chris Robshaw (Harlequins), Simon Shaw (London Wasps), Andrew Sheridan (Sale Sharks), Matt Stevens (Saracens), Steve Thompson (London Wasps), Thomas Waldrom (Leicester Tigers), David Wilson (Bath Rugby), Tom Wood (Northampton Saints), Joe Worsley (London Wasps).

BACKS: Delon Armitage (London Irish), Chris Ashton (Northampton Saints), Matt Banahan (Bath Rugby), Danny Care (Harlequins), Mark Cueto (Sale Sharks), Toby Flood (Leicester Tigers), Riki Flutey (London Wasps), Ben Foden (Northampton Saints), Shontayne Hape (London Irish), Charlie Hodgson (Saracens), Ugo Monye (Harlequins), Charlie Sharples (Gloucester Rugby), Joe Simpson (London Wasps), James Simpson-Daniel (Gloucester Rugby), David Strettle (Saracens), Mike Tindall (Gloucester Rugby), Manusamoa Tuilagi (Leicester Tigers), Richard Wigglesworth (Saracens), Jonny Wilkinson (Toulon), Ben Youngs (Leicester Tigers).

Source

Hard-up Samoa hope World Cup shows the money

2011-06-21T04:07:00.002+10:00

By Greg Stutchbury

WELLINGTON (Reuters) - Cash-strapped Samoa hope the World Cup can help them clinch a global sponsorship deal to fund their international programme and wean them from their dependency on public donations, a top Samoan rugby official has said.

"We are hoping that if we do well in the World Cup it will help us attract a sponsor globally and they will come to the party," Samoan Rugby Union (SRU) vice-chairman Lefau Harry Schuster told Reuters via telephone from Apia.

"If the team does really well then we are going to advertise internationally, because the trend is that our sevens (team) play overseas and our Manu Samoa 15s will not play at home much, they will play overseas mostly also.

"We are hoping that sponsorship will raise the profile of the team."

Samoa, a tiny Pacific Island nation of 180,000 people, announced itself on the global rugby stage when their team upset Wales 16-13 at the 1991 World Cup, but has struggled to find enough sponsorship to fund international programmes, particularly in World Cup years when warm-up games are vital.

This year the union has been forced to approach expatriates for donations and will host several fundraising events in Samoa in a bid to raise almost $2 million to fund the team's preparations for the September 9-October 23 tournament in New Zealand.

The Samoan government has apportioned about $360,000 from their 2011 budget, while two main sponsors have kicked in another $420,000.

The International Rugby Board has allocated about $126,000 for technical assistance, meaning the SRU are still short about

$990,000.

HAND-OUTS

"If we get all the money we are seeking we will be able to hold an extended training camp, to play the PNC (Pacific Nations Cup) games (in July) and have them in camp right up 'til the World Cup," said Schuster, who is also the President of the Oceania Rugby Federation.

"It's the money to run those games and keep the boys together is what we are looking for (and it) ... will cover everything. If we don't get that amount we'll still be coming to the World Cup, but it won't be ideal preparation."

The team play just one other test match after the Pacific Nations Cup -- which includes World Cup participants Japan, Tonga and Fiji -- against Australia on July 17 in Sydney before they begin their campaign in Pool D against Namibia on September 14.

They have, however, scheduled two matches against Perth-based Super rugby franchise Western Force for August 20 and 27 in Samoa, which they would need to fund and why the union has reached out to Australian and New Zealand expatriates for donations.

Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi used the news broadcasts last week to appeal for hand-outs from locals, and would host a luncheon on July 8 to ask for donations from Samoan business leaders.

A radio telethon on August 5 and a farewell dinner on August 27 would also offer fundraising opportunities, Schuster said.

"It's always a problem for Tier Two unions. It's not just us. It's a problem for Fiji, Tonga, Uruguay.

"We will always be in the same boat. It's because our economies are small and we can't afford the big bucks to run the team.

"We certainly have the athletes, but it's the money to support the athletes that will always be the problem unless we get a sponsor who is able to fund the programme for the entire year."

Source

Manu Samoa name Rugby World Cup training squad

2011-06-21T04:06:00.000+10:00

Posted at 03:25 on 03 June, 2011 UTC

Manu Samoa have announced their Rugby World Cup training squad.

Among the well known fances are captain Mahonri Schwalger, Hurricanes prop Anthony Pereise, Crusaders halfback Kahn Fotuali’i, sevens star Uale Ma’i and incoming Sale Sharks flyhalf Tasesa Lavea.

The squad is due to go into camp on June the 20th.

The full squad is:

Hookers: Mahonri Schwalger, Ti’i Paulo, Mikaele Tuuu, Steve Fualau, Ole Avei.

Props: Sakaria Taulafo, Simon Lemalu, Kas Lealamanua, Logovii Mulipola, Census Johnston, Anthony Pereise, Naama Leleimalefaga, James Johnston.

Locks: Kane Thompson, Filipo Levi, Daniel Leo, Joe Tekori, Jonathan Faamatuainu.

Openside Flanker: Ray Ofisa, Manaia Salave’a, Ofisa Trevaranius.

Blindside Flanker :Maurie Fa’asavalu, Ezra Taylor, Tasina Tuifua

No 8: Georger Stowers, Henry Tuilagi, Alafoti Faosiliva.

Halfback: Kahn Fotuali’i, Junior Poluleuligaga, Brenton Helleur, Uale Ma’i, Thomas Tusitala.

First Five: Tasesa Lavea, Tusi Pisi, Fa’atonu Fili, Roger Warren.

Midfield: Seilala Mapusua, George Pisi, Johnny Leota, Eliota Sapolu, Fautua Otto, Anetelea Tuilagi, Taputoa Rea, Herman Porter, Timoteo Iosua, Chris Slade.

Wing: Alesana Tuilagi, Sailosi Tagicakibau, David Lemi, Sinoti Sinoti, Alapati Leiua.

Fullback: Paul Williams, Ahsee Tuala, Apoua Stewart.

Source

Rugby: Battling Samoans give Ireland a fright

2010-11-15T13:35:00.000+11:00

Updated November 15, 2010 08:36:41

Samoa have gone down to defeat after a brave fight against Ireland in the opening test of their European tour.

After the match, a relieved Irish coach, Declan Kidney, said he was very glad the Samoans are not in Ireland's World Cup 2011 Pool.

Manu Samoa's team manager Matt Vaea gave us his assessment of the match which Samoa lost by 20 points to 10.

Presenter: Geraldine Coutts
Speaker: Matt Vaea, team manager, Manu Samoa

VAEA: We were hoping for victory yesterday. Obviously we didn't achieve that losing 10-20, but there was plenty of good things and positive things from the Samoa team that we can take into our build-up against England this week.

COUTTS: Well you clearly gave Irish a scare, so what are some of those things in your artillery that got you so close?

VAEA: We spent the last week or so concentrating on our set pieces and we knew we had to front up in the scrum and the lineout and areas like the breakdown and we achieved reasonably well in those areas, but the opportunities that were missing was a little bit of ball control in the rucks and not finishing off.

COUTTS: Well, you did come close. Was it a game you should have won, is it one that got away?

VAEA: Yeah, the boys were very disappointed afterwards. I think they knew that this one slipped.

COUTTS: Okay, but there are pluses that you worked on your set plays, so what's next, what are you aiming for next time around?

VAEA: Well, England has a very formidable forward pack. We talked about it tonight in our debrief and we're going to have to step up our efforts in those particular areas, set peice, scrum and line out if we want to stay in that match on Saturday.

COUTTS: Well as you did get so close. You certainly did give them a scare. What's missing, were you a bit underdone?

VAEA: No, not necessarily from the refereeing side of things. This team has come together just over a week, about a week-and-a-half, so it's a new team, new combinations and new leadership and I think the coaching staff were reasonably happy. But we're in a battle this week. We need to step it up against England.

COUTTS: Well, next as you mentioned the Combined Service before taking on England next weekend, fresh from their victory over Australia. What are Samoa's prospects?

VAEA; We need to stay competitive in the scrums. They pride themselves on their scrums and their lineouts and set pieces, so we've got a bit of homework to do this week and then take into our preparations, some of the very good things that were delivered yesterday.

COUTTS: Well, tell us a bit about the team. Is it a mixture of old and new, is there a young and old head mixture in your team and how are they fareing on the international circuit?

VAEA; Yeah a little bit. We've got a touring squad of 36 and about 17, 18 of those players are playing premiership, professional rugby here in Europe and the UK. There is another, just over a dozen, that play in the ITM Cup in New Zealand MPC and Super 14 and the balance from the Samoa 7s program and the elite group. It's a fairly divided mix and some good experience and also some young players.

COUTTS: Well, what is it down the track for you though, what is the ultimate aim, what is the ultimate goal?

VAEA: This is the first of four campaigns that will lead up to the World Cup next year. This is assembly time for us to look at the core makeup of our squad of 30 for next year and then come next year, we'll be able to test that during the Pacific Nations Cup and the Super 15 and also leading up to the World Cup.

COUTTS: Well Declan Kidney certainly had his say and he is glad you are not in Ireland's World Cup 2011 pool, so the others ought to be afraid, very afraid?

VAEA: Oh, no, look World Cup here is special, anything can happen on the day and we're in a pool that we have to win. We especially have to win the first two matches against Namibia and Wales, then we have Fiji and South Africa. So many things can change over the year, but we've got a bit of work to do.

Source

Ireland battle past Samoa

2010-11-14T19:05:00.000+11:00

Ronan O'Gara scored fifteen points, including a try, as Ireland battled their way to a 20-10 win over Samoa in Dublin on Saturday.

Ireland ended their six-match losing streak but will remain deeply concerned by their deteriorating form after struggling to dispatch the visitors.

It was not until his O'Gara's 66th-minute try that the Irish, who entered the match as much as 1/66 favourites, took control.

Number eight Jamie Heaslip crossed in the first half to help them into a 10-0 lead that was pegged back by a touch down from winger Alesana Tuilagi.

Facing their weakest opposition of the autumn and a team ranked outside the world's top ten, they toiled woefully in the third quarter.

Had Samoa made better use of their enormous superiority in possession and territory, Declan Kidney's side would surely have been facing a second defeat of the month.

The Irish scrum, anchored by props John Hayes and Tom Court, were overwhelmed in a department where they were supposed to have the ascendancy.

It was only when Cian Healy and Rory Best came on that the set-piece was sured up and it was this change in fortunes that preceded O'Gara's try.

But the result fails to mask the fact that less than a year from the World Cup Ireland have significant problems that must be urgently addressed by Kidney.

Samoa, containing nine players from the Aviva Premiership and French Top 14, looked more dangerous when they abandoned the structured gameplan that blunted their attacking instincts and will view this as a missed opportunity.

The Pacific Cup holders' Haka was greeted by only a 30,955 crowd at Aviva Stadium with pre-match fears of another low attendance proving correct.

And the likelihood of many of the crowd returning looks bleak after another poor spectacle at Lansdowne Road, which was swept with rain all afternoon.

O'Gara settled Irish nerves with a penalty moments into the game but it was due to sound defence from Tommy Bowe that their lead was not immediately overturned.

A fine tackle saw Bowe fell Tuilagi as the Leicester winger charged for the left corner, thwarting a strong attack from Samoa.

Brian O'Driscoll ran down several blind alleys before knocking on, victim of some typically robust tackling from the South Sea Islanders.

It was a competitive, finely-balanced opening quarter that was lit up when Ireland broke from their 22 through side-stepping full-back Luke Fitzgerald only to eventually run out of options in support.

Their tails up, the Irish renewed the assault through their pack and were rewarded when a series of pick and goes concluded with Heaslip driving over. O'Gara converted.

Samoa's response was emphatic with a second penalty against prop Tom Court at a scrum enabling them to set up a superb field position.

A great pick up by fly-half Tasesa Lavea and rapid hands from Seilala Mapusua released Tuilagi, who came marauding off his wing to cross under the posts with Lavea converting.

Ireland's problems at the scrum continued, a five-metre attacking platform ending when referee Keith Brown decided Hayes was guilty of collapsing.

With five minutes of the half remaining Ireland worked their way back into the opposition 22 and, spying acres of space on the left, O'Gara expertly changed the points of attack but ruined his quick thinking with a stray pass to Paddy Wallace.

Samoa lacked urgency at times with their poor kicking foiling attempts to break from their 22.

The start of the second half saw some anxious moments for Ireland as Samoa probed close to their line.

The constant drizzle had made the ball slippery and this undermined the tourists on two occasions, the second seeing openside Manaia Salavea spill forward when 10 metres from the line.

But now it was Ireland who could not escape their 22 with their backpedalling scrum causing almighty problems.

O'Driscoll eventually cleared the ball but Samoa were soon back on the offensive, ignoring one clear overlap before reducing the deficit to 13-10 with Lavea's first penalty.

Any time Ireland attempted to build some momentum, they were met by a brick wall that more often than not sent them hurtling backwards.

Winger David Lemi was lucky to escape punishment for an elbow on Stephen Ferris after Samoa had been shoved backwards at a scrum.

For all their possession, Samoa were struggling to trouble the scoreboard, and this time when Ireland escaped their 22 they struck.

A quickly-taken free kick saw Stringer pass to O'Gara, who jinked his way over the line in the 66th minute before improving his own try.

The fight had all but drained out of Samoa, who sensed their moment had passed, but the South Sea Islanders' pride prevented Ireland from scoring again.

The scorers:

For Ireland:
Tries: Heaslip, O'Gara
Cons: O'Gara 2
Pens: O'Gara 2

For Samoa:
Try: Tuilagi
Con: Williams
Pen: Williams

Ireland: 15 Luke Fitzgerald, 14 Tommy Bowe, 13 Brian O'Driscoll (capt), 12 Paddy Wallace, 11 Andrew Trimble, 10 Ronan O'Gara, 9 Peter Stringer, 8 Jamie Heaslip, 7 Sean O'Brien, 6 Denis Leamy, 5 Devin Toner, 4 Donncha O'Callaghan, 3 John Hayes, 2 Sean Cronin, 1 Tom Court.
Replacements: 16 Rory Best, 17 Cian Healy, 18 Donnacha Ryan, 19 Stephen Ferris, 20 Isaac Boss, 21 Jonathan Sexton, 22 Keith Earls.

Samoa: 15 Paul Williams, 14 David Lemi, 13 George Pisi, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Tasesa Lavea, 9 Kahn Fotualii, 8 George Stowers, 7 Manaia Salavea, 6 Ofisa Trevarinus, 5 Kane Thompsen, 4 Filipo Lavea Levi, 3 Anthony Perenise, 2 Mahonri Schwalger (capt), 1 Sakaria Taulafo.
Replacements:16 Tii Paulo, 17 Simon Lemalu, 18 Iosefa Tekori, 19 Afa Aiono, 20 Junior Poluleuligaga, 21 Gavin Williams, 22 Jamie Helleur.

Referee: Keith Brown (New Zealand)
Assistant referees: Jérôme Garces (France), Neil Paterson
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)

Source

Keep Hope Alive

2010-11-14T05:00:00.000+11:00

it’s not often i go away from watching Manu Samoa play a game, lose and feel damm good. i had this same feeling at Apia Park during the finals against Fiji in the Pacific Nations Cup 2010 and now again first match into the Northern Hemisphere Tour .....it is of Hope!

Hope especially considering it is very close the Rugby World Cup 2011. Hope that our Manu Samoa can give a South Africa run for their money, hope that we can make Wales another notch in our W column, hope that in the Fiji will be another speed hump away from where we once again destined to be in the *quarter finals* i know it’s a long way away, but never too soon to have that feeling.

A word of praise must be conveyed to the Coach, Fuimaono and the Management, in such a short time you have to get some glimpses of exciting combinations from players who probably have never even played together before. The O-sum try from Alesana from a well worked move, *let’s do it again* again England. So keep doing what you were doing, becos it looks like it working.
Stand player for me, wow there were many. Tasesa Lavea, is he our answer to the 1/5 problems, he can run and can tackle, he can catch and guess what he can place kick. His calm and collected approach really was a pleasure to watch.
Captain George the *Work Horse*,I mean how many runs, tackles, offloads a true warrior.. malo George.
Kahn was not only my but also the Irish commentators *man of the match * for someone who only his second international cap, is playing like a seasoned veteran, i can almost guarantee that you will be there for a while to come, if you keep playing like that.

and how about those hands, to say that they played well is the rain is an understatement, you couldn’t really tell at times but when they had the closes up it showed how heavy that rain was coming down, greats handling skills boys.

Lastly i wanted to say that the whole team deserves a pat on the back for a job well done, if this the performance for our first test for the Northern Hemisphere Tour then just bring it ….ia ua lelei Sano….hahahaha

*keep hope alive*

Sailosi Tagicakibau ready to clean up Bath

2010-09-11T10:07:00.000+10:00

Sailosi Tagicakibau suffered a slight knock but could hardly be happier after outwitting younger brother Michael and scoring a try in London Irish’s Aviva Premiership opener.

But the 27-year-old winger resisted the temptation to rub it in when the pair met up after Exiles’ 33-16 win over Saracens at Twickenham.

Losi said: “Michael stayed over at my house after the match and we had a little catch-up.

“We watched the game again to see the things that we did to each other. Actually one time he pushed me in the back! He said he didn’t know it was me!”

There were a few anxious moments when Losi, who missed most of the second half of last season due to an ankle problem, limped off in the 59th minute.

He said: “I was a bit worried at the time because it was the same leg.

“But it’s not actually the same injury so hopefully it will settle down and I’ll be all right for this weekend.”

Both brothers usually play on the left wing, but although Michael, aged 25, wore his customary No. 11 shirt on Saturday, Saracens switched him to the right.

And Losi said: “It must have been tactical to try to use my brother to counter me. Michael’s a very good defender. He’s 6ft 2in, is quite a physical person, likes to get involved and showed in a few of his games last season that he’s a good tackler.

“I think they put him out there to try to defend against me and mentally try to put me off a little bit as I faced running into my younger brother.”

Losi laughed: “It was good to win because if the younger brother beats the older brother, you’ll never hear the end of it!

“Michael didn’t say much afterwards and I didn’t either because I want him to push on and have confidence in the rest of his matches.

“Being the older brother, you want your younger brother to respect you. I think if I gave him banter about it, it would hurt him so I kept it to myself.

“He has come a long way and we play the return game at Vicarage Road so he’s already looking forward to that match. He’s planning on trying to change that scoreboard around.”

Losi added: “Saracens are local rivals and it was a bit of a grudge match. Scoring the try was a highlight for me and the atmosphere was awesome.”

Among the crowd of more than 75,000 were the pair’s younger brother Sireli and cousin Junior.

Losi continued: “My cousin has been over from New Zealand for the past two months coaching schoolkids for his course. He stayed over to watch the game, while Sireli, who has just started with the academy in Toulouse, flew over on Friday night and went home Sunday night.

“He turned 18 on Tuesday, so we had a get-together to celebrate his 18th.”

Losi is hoping to have something else to celebrate after tomorrow’s game against Bath, but warned: “They can turn a game right round if you’re not careful. They’ve got the players to do it in Nick Abendanon and Matt Banahan.

“Our defensive line got broken a few times against Saracens and it has to be on top to win the game.

“We’ve got the attacking ability with Delon (Armitage), who showed his class, and Topsy (Ojo) being back to score tries. But defence will win the game for us in the end.”

Source

Mikaele mystery

2010-09-04T09:59:00.000+10:00

The build-up to Sale’s opening Aviva Premiership game with Newcastle tonight has been clouded by increasing uncertainty over the future of close season signing Mikaele Pesamino.

While the Sharks high command were busy confirming James Gaskell as their new – and youngest-ever – captain, attention was equally focused on the fate of the Samoan Sevens star.

Despite agreeing a deal with Sale almost two months ago, Pesamino is still in his native Samoa and the word from the South Pacific appeared to suggest the IRB 7’s Player of the Year would not be making the 12,000-mile journey to Edgeley Park after deciding to resume his Sevens career ahead of October’s Commonwealth Games.

There was even a claim from the player’s father back in Samoa that Pesamino had originally thought he was signing for a Rugby League club when he agreed the deal with Sale.

However, Sharks head coach Mike Brewer laid the blame for the 26-year-old’s no-show on visa problems and insisted he was still fully confident the man known as ‘Lightning’ would soon be jetting into England.

Brewer, who has first-hand knowledge of the Byzantine world of South Seas rugby politics, still sees Pesamino as a key plank in his rebuilding plans – especially after agreeing generous terms.

"Mikaele’s agent is Freddy Tuilagi who’s a difficult chap to get a hold of but he’s in the UK right now – I spoke to him this week so at this stage the visa has not been granted for him," Brewer revealed.

"We’re trying to find out from the Home Office why it hasn’t been granted, whether it’s an administration error or whether it’s something we did not know about when applying for the visa.

"From previous history and precedent there is no reason why it shouldn’t be granted because he has played international rugby for Samoa within the last 18 months.

"He’s in exactly the same position as Paul Williams who joined us in the summer and Paul was granted a visa without any problems.

Source

Player Club Updates / English Premiership ( Aviva Premiership )

2010-09-04T09:41:00.000+10:00

The English Premiership, also currently known as the Aviva Premiership because of the league's sponsorship by Aviva,[1] is a professional league competition for rugby union football clubs in the top division of the English rugby system. There are twelve clubs in the Premiership. The competition has been played since 1987, and has evolved into the current Premiership system employing relegation to and promotion from the RFU Championship, known as National Division One before the 2009–10 season. Clubs competing in the Aviva Premiership qualify for Europe's two club competitions, the Heineken Cup and the European Challenge Cup. The current champions are Leicester Tigers, who won a record ninth title in 2009–10. Exeter Chiefs were promoted to the top flight for the first time in their history after defeating Bristol in the RFU Championship Final on 26 May 2010, while Worcester Warriors returned to the second tier after a 6 year stint in the Premiership.

London Irish
1. Seilala Mapusua
2. Elvis Seveali'i
3. George Stowers
4. Sailosi Tagicakibau

Leicester Tigers
1. Alesana Tuilagi

London Wasps
2. David Lemi
3. Sakaria Taulafo

Gloucester Rugby
1. Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu

Harlequin F.C.
1. Maurie Fa'asavalu
2. James Johnston

Newcastle Falcons
1. Filipo Levi

Leeds Carnegie
1. Henry Fa'afili
2. Alfie To'oala

Sale Sharks
1. Anitelia Tuilagi
2. Mikaele Pesamino
3. Paul Williams

Worcester Warriors
1. Dale Rasmussen

Samoa Schools crush NSW Country in tour opener

2010-08-31T08:47:00.002+10:00

August 30, 2010 - 11:37am
Story by: ARU

Samoan Schools have opened their tour of Australia with a big win over NSW Country
Samoan Schools made a strong start to their four-match tour of Australia on Saturday with a clinical 57-3 victory over NSW Country at Hunter Valley Grammar School in Maitland.

Samoa came out of the blocks firing and piled on nine-tries to nil with flanker Oneone Soisoi, centre Robert Lilomaiava, and wingers Samoa Toloa and Utu Poliko each bagging two tries with centre Saena Vili also finding the chalk.

Poliko also had a top day with the boot, kicking six conversions to complete the match with 22 points while NSW Country flyhalf Jack Rixon kicked his side’s lone penalty.

In Wednesday’s double header at T.G. Millner in Eastwood, Samoa will take on NSW Combined Catholic Colleges at 12.15pm and Fiji will open their four-match tour of Australia with a hit out against NSW Combined High Schools with kickoff at 1.45pm.

The Australian Schoolboys and Australia A Schools will play three matches in Sydney next month.

The fixtures are highlighted by the Australian Schoolboys chance to share the international stage with the Qantas Wallabies at ANZ Stadium in Sydney where they’ll play the curtain raiser to the Bledisloe against Fiji on 11 September.

Source

(Mikaele Pesamino) Pesa's future unclear

2010-08-31T08:42:00.000+10:00

Mystery surrounds the future of the IRB 7’s Player of the Year, Samoa’s Mikaele Pesamino since his unexpected return to Samoa last Saturday.
Last month the Samoa wing sensation signed a contract with a Guiness Premiership winning English club.
The club which was understood to be Sale Sharks in the United Kingdom had signed Pesamino for a six figure sum. However, this did not happen as Pesamino returned to Samoa from New Zealand last Saturday not even making it to the UK.
Pesamino was not available yesterday for a comment but his father Mikaele Tuafiso said he was upset about had happened.

“For the past four weeks he has been in New Zealand unsure of what to do because he was misinformed on the terms of the contract. He never made it to the United Kingdom,” said his disappointed father.
Mr. Tuiafiso said Pesamino told him at the airport before he departed for New Zealand that it was a league contract he had signed.

However, Sale Sharks is a rugby union club, not a league club.
“I am confused and I don’t know what is going on,” said Mr Tuafiso.
“He told me his passport was still in Australia. I blame the agents for the contract here in Samoa for not clarifying its terms to my son.”

The agents Mr. Tuiafiso was referring to are Lauaki Fred Tuilagi and Tagaloa Faafouina Sua.
Tagaloa told the Samoa Observer yesterday that the last he heard from Tuilagi, Pesamino’s contract was confirmed and he was set for the UK.

“That was last Wednesday,” he said.
“I’ve been really busy so I haven’t had the chance to contact Lauaki again. But I have no idea what has happened with Pesamino’s contract, it would be best for you to contact Lauaki.” said Tagaloa who is the local agent for Global Pro Sports.

Lauaki who is in the United Kingdom could not be reached for a comment.
Stephen Betham Manu Samoa 7s coach is also unaware of why the rugby star has come back.
“He texted me last week and said he wanted to come back and play for the team,” said Mr. Betham.

He then called Pesamino who explained his intentions of coming back to play for the Manu Samoa 7s.
“I told him that he could still make the team that’s off to Australia in four weeks and his performance there would determine if he will be named for the Commonwealth squad.”
Mr. Betham said it is a big bonus to have Pesamino back but he would still have to put in a lot of work if he wants to make the team for the Commonwealth Games.

Source

Patience pays off as Chiefs get scrum-half Junior Polu

2010-08-19T06:43:00.000+10:00

EXETER Chiefs have finally unveiled Samoan scrum-half Junior Polu as their 11th summer signing.

Polu — full name Aukusitino Poluleuligaga — has joined the Sandy Park side from Super 14 outfit Waikato Chiefs.

The 29-year-old's arrival comes after more than a month of waiting for his visa application to be confirmed. The Chiefs' latest signing brings a wealth of experience with him, having played in the top leagues in France and New Zealand, as well as enjoying an earlier spell with Harlequins in the English Premiership.

And Polu insists that his knowledge of the game will help him add a new dimension to the Chiefs' squad as he prepares to battle it out with Haydn Thomas and fellow countryman Garrick Cowley for the No. 9 jersey

He said: "I've been around for a while, played for a few teams around the world, so I have a lot of experience and leadership.

"I also bring a lot of enthusiasm as well and I am really excited to be at Exeter.

"It's an exciting time to come to the club and I guess it's made me even more hungry to play and do well.

"They have offered me a contract and I am determined to repay that faith they have shown in me.

"I had a short stint with Harlequins before, so the Premiership's not entirely new to me, but I am looking forward to playing in it again for the Chiefs."

Polu is still settling in at Sandy Park having only arrived in the city on Sunday.

But he says that his first impressions have all been positive. And he thinks the spirit among the players will set them up well for their first Aviva Premiership campaign.

"There is a lot of excitement about the place," said Polu.

"The whole place is pretty impressive, it's a real professional set-up. The coaching staff and players are all good guys and everybody seems ready to make that step up."

Source

Connacht Vs Manu Samoa , November 9

2010-08-19T06:40:00.000+10:00

Meanwhile, Connacht has announced it will play a match against Manu Samoa at the Sportsground on Tuesday, November 9. Connacht Rugby has a long association with Samoa - Gavin Willams and Ofisa Treveranus have both been capped by the Samoan National side having played with Connacht, whilst Ray Ofisa and Niva Ta’auso (both regulars on the Connacht team) also hail from the Navigators Islands.

Source

Junior Polu signs with Exter

2010-08-19T06:37:00.000+10:00

As it is, Baxter yesterday signed an 11th newcomer in Samoan scrum-half Junior Polu, once of Harlequins. Any English arrivals – full-back Luke Arscott from Bristol, fly-half Ryan Davis from Bath, for instance – have been distinctly low profile. By the time they had beaten Bristol home and away to win their promotion, most Premiership clubs’ transfer business had already been done with available players who would have been of interest to Baxter signed elsewhere.

Source

Manu Tuilagi Junior granted work permit

2010-07-13T10:58:00.000+10:00

Leicester Tigers wing Manu Tuilagi - the youngest of the famous Samoan rugby family - has been granted permission by the Home Office to remain in the United Kingdom; a decision which could see him play for England one day.

The 19-year-old was originally denied permission to stay in the UK, but the Home Office have reconsidered and Tuilagi has now been granted indefinite leave to remain in the country, which will allow him to play for the Tigers.

Peter Wheeler, Leicester Tigers' Rugby Director, said: "This is great news for Manu because he wants to play rugby professionally in this country.

"On behalf of Manu and his family, Leicester Tigers would like to thank everyone who has shown their support for his case.

"We are very grateful for the support of Leicestershire Members of Parliament Edward Garnier, Keith Vaz and Andrew Robathan, as well as the Rugby Football Union.

"We would also like to express our thanks to the Leicester Mercury and its readers who helped to stimulate such great public support, and to The Rugby Paper who helped to raise awareness and excellent support from within the rugby community.

"The legal team acting on Manu's behalf said the support of everyone who wrote letters or joined social networking groups and petitions helped to illustrate to the authorities exactly the strength of feeling in the community for giving this young man the right to remain in this country and play his part for English rugby."

Tuilagi, the sixth member of his family to enjoy links with Leicester Tigers, said: "I always wanted to stay in Leicester, I went to school in this area and my friends are here.

"It is a big day for me to be told this good news and now I can concentrate on my rugby career with Leicester Tigers.

"I would like to say thank-you to everyone who has supported me throughout this difficult time and I hope I can repay them by doing my best for Leicester Tigers in future."

Manu, who played at centre for Leicester against the Springboks last November, is comfortable at centre or on the wing and many consider him the best player in his famous rugby-playing family - no mean feat considering the exploits of Freddie, Henry, Alesana and Anitelea before him.

The youngest Tuilagi, however, is no doubt as famous as his older brothers, with a Facebook group in his honour, 'Petition To Get Manu Tuilagi A Work Permit', boasting some 4,566 members in double quick time these past few days.

The man himself even posted a message on the Facebook page after the news of his work permit broke, with him writing: "thanks for all your support im over the moon. i cant say thank you enough! :)"

Source

Southland Stags fly in Samoan hard man

2010-07-13T10:56:00.000+10:00

Samoan international Kane Thompson has been whisked into the Stags setup as forwards coach David Henderson bolsters his stocks for what will be an arduous 2010 campaign.

Thompson played 22 games for Southland in 2006-07 after transferring from Wellington.

The 28-year-old spent most of his time playing at lock for the Stags during his first stint in maroon, but this time he is back on a one year deal as a No8.

Rugby Southland chief executive Roger Clark said Thompson was in between contracts and made contact with Henderson recently to indicate he was keen to return to the Stags.

Clark said a decision was made 10 days ago to bring the experienced Thompson into the squad to bolster the forward stocks.

Thompson could cover lock and flanker, but it is most likely he will be at the back of the scrum for the Stags most of this season.

Clark said the Stags' coaching staff had been extremely pleased with the progress of 20-year-old Elliot Dixon leading into the season.

However, with the Stags provincial season this year 15 to possibly 17 games long it was decided asking Dixon to play most of those minutes would be too big of a call at such a young age.

Clark said with the likes of young forwards Brayden Mitchell, Alex Ryan and Dixon set to play a big part this season it was also decided having the experience of Thompson in the squad would be a big benefit.

"He's a hardened and experienced player to have around the team."

Thompson, who has been playing for the Dax club in France recently, arrived in Invercargill on Sunday and trained with the team yesterday.

Thompson will provide the squad with a big ball running option in the loose forwards to compliment flankers John Hardie, Tim Boys and Dion Bates.

He is also going to provide Southland with one heck of a lineout when Thompson does spend time at No8.

With Joe Tuineau and Josh Bekhuis in the lineup Southland already has one of the better lineouts in the country, but add Thompson to it as well and there are jumping options galore.

Other No8 options that have been part of the pre-season buildup, including Hua Tamariki,Tom Fleming and Kaleni Taetuli will probably be a little disappointed with Thompson's recruitment.

It will more than likely be the development team where they will try to continue to prove their point to selectors. wHead to our blog The Roar at southlandtimes.co.nz to check out what we think of the Kane Thompson's signing and then have your say on the matter.

Source

Sale signs Samoa sevens star Pesamino

2010-07-08T10:59:00.000+10:00

STOCKPORT, England (AP) -Samoa winger Mikaele Pesamino has left New Zealand province Auckland to join English club Sale Sharks.

The 26-year-old Pesamino was the IRB sevens player of the year last season and was the leading tryscorer in the recently finished World Series, touching down 56 times.

Pesamino, who completed his move to Sale on Wednesday, has been playing for Auckland in the Air NZ Cup since 2007.

Read more: http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/2010/rugby/wires/07/07/2080.ap.rgu.sale.sharks.pesamino.0070/#ixzz0t24LRj00

Warrior Sititi full of hope for Samoan rugby

2010-07-08T10:46:00.000+10:00

Just three years after the disappointments of the last Rugby World Cup in France, Samoan rugby is currently celebrating an unprecedented level of achievement on the international stage.

Stacked with star names plying their trade overseas, Manu Samoa failed to spark in 2007 under the superb Michael Jones, but since then the country's home-based players, operating under the IRB-funded High Performance Unit, have rocketed the nation to success on the IRB Sevens World Series and helped the senior national squad to a first ANZ Pacific Nations Cup title.

It is no coincidence that many of the players celebrating those two maiden wins are based in Samoa and have contributed to both successes: IRB Sevens Player of the Year Mikaele Pesamino impressed in the 15s code to put his hand up for World Cup inclusion, while the likes of Lolo Lui, Uale Mai, Ofisa Treviranus and Alafoti Fa'osiliva also 'crossed over' with distinction, powerhouse Fa'osiliva scoring two second half tries as a replacement in the crucial bonus point PNC win against Fiji.

The upturn in overall standards among the best players based at home in Samoa is, of course, good news for national coach Dicky Tafua, who was also formerly in charge of the country's Sevens team. Potentially, though, it also presents him with a few selection headaches ahead of next year's showpiece.

To mark the current purple patch in achievement, Total Rugby Radio currently features an interview with one of the country's finest players, long time Manu Samoa captain Semo Sititi.

Total Rugby Radio: Semo, sum up if you can what rugby means to people in Samoa

Semo Sititi: Rugby is the number one sport here in Samoa, we're really passionate for it. You can see players playing on a little field in their village, or in a little field next to the road - they wouldn't care about the cars, they just want to play rugby.

The Manu Samoa team means a lot to us - for some players I think it's their life - and we don't do it for the money, we do it for the heart, for the people, the country and the pride of our country.

TRR: You seem to be building nicely towards next year's World Cup

Semo Sititi: We've got some young guys coming up but we want to expose them on the international arena (before the World Cup). Rugby in Samoa is still amateur but if they have more tests they will know exactly what is the difference between the international arena and the amateur game.

So hopefully we've got a good build-up before the World Cup, we've got good coaches and the HPU (High Performance Unit), so hopefully we can make the quarter finals by winning all our pool games.

We want to make history and hopefully I'll still be involved with that - I'll try my best!

TRR: It must be difficult bringing all the players back from overseas and gelling as a team time and again

Semo Sititi: Firstly can I say that I'm very thankful and grateful for all the guys who play all over the world still want to come back and play for Manu Samoa. It makes me feel that you really want to be there with those guys.

When they come back to Samoa from the UK, France, New Zealand, Japan, wherever it is, they pay their own flights and I thank them from that.

They just want to be here to play for their national team. It doesn't matter if we stay in a luxury hotel or a 2-star hotel - we were in the HPU building where, if somebody has a shower on the bottom floor the shower on the top floor doesn't work, so we had to wait and look for a hose somewhere and used the fire hose around the building to have a shower, which is good fun for us and takes us back to where we've been and what we've been doing in the past and how we started our rugby from there.

It's fun seeing the overseas guys playing around and enjoying themselves, especially for me as I was born and brought up here in Samoa.

Maybe their parents told them 'it doesn't matter where you play, you better come back and play for Samoa!'

Hopefully because of the Rugby World Cup coming up more good players who haven't been involved this year will come and get involved because there are a few islanders who have done really well recently, and there are many others who have made a success of themselves in rugby - players like Michael Jones, John Schuster, Frank Bunce, Pat Lam, even Mils Muliaina with the All Blacks.

We'd love for them to come and play for Samoa, but I realise that it's a job for us and they've got to feed their families, that's our job, but if they can come back and play for Samoa that's something that really gets to our hearts.

It doesn't matter how long we get to prepare for a test, that spirit is what brings us together and it doesn't take long. ..

SOURCE: IRB/PACNEWS

No freehold lands for the World Sevens champions

2010-07-02T08:04:00.001+10:00

Saturday, 19 June 2010 12:27 Lance Polu

Lolo Lui, Captain for Manu Sevens

APIA: 17 June 2010: There will be no government land to be gifted to the Manu Samoa World Sevens rugby champions despite recent suggestions in the media. The Samoa Rugby Union Chairman and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, said there has never been any official request to that effect despite a mention of the idea during the teams first press conference the day after their return from the IRB Series with the Cup and the overall series championship.
The PM said slightly over $0.5million was distributed amongst the players. This came from what $100,000 promised by the Government as its standard gift to any team that wins a World title, $100, 000 from SIFA, $100,000 from Samoatel, Digicel and other companies and individuals that will all be listed in a public notice by the Samoa Rugby Union.

"Government has fulfilled all its promises to the team, not only money, but a national holiday and that their names and villages have been etched in history through a parliamentary motion and Hansard and the National Museum," Tuilaepa said.

Tuilaepa also confirmed that he had been in contact with the Governor of American Samoa, Togiola Tulafono who has already extended an invitation to host the champions in American Samoa so they can pay their own tributes.

"We have agreed for the players to go over on 1 and 2 July, after the Pacific Nations Cup as some of the players are involved in the competition," said Tuilaepa.

"It means they will be honoured with more monetary and gifts in kind over there," he said.

On Tuesday this week, Tuilaepa said the Manu Samoa Sevens victory has united Samoa and American Samoa in a national sense of pride despite their political boundaries.

"It's power that sports can have to bring national unity and pride despite political and social boundaries," he said.

He was speaking during the launch of the role of sports in alleviating poverty as one of the Millenium Development Goals set by the United Nations to be achieved by 2015.

Source

Samoa win first ever PNC in dramatic finale

2010-06-28T13:14:00.000+10:00

Hosts Samoa defeated Fiji 31-9 in the final ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 match to win their first ever PNC trophy in a dramatic finale.

Having already won the IRB Sevens World Series this year, the PNC triumph is another feather in the cap of Samoan rugby, and it was IRB Sevens Player of the Year nominee Alafoti Fa'osiliva who stole the show late on at Apia Park.

Having lost 31-23 to Japan last week, Samoa needed a try scoring bonus point and a winning margin of more than 13 points to win the PNC for the first time and scored their first try of the afternoon when lock Joe Tekori scored in the 16th minute.

Lolo Lui added the conversion, and the crowd erupted when Mikaele Pesamino demonstrated why he was named IRB Sevens Player of the Year in the 22nd minute, chipping over the Fijian defence before showing great speed to collect and score.

PNC STANDINGS>>
PNC RESULTS>>

Fiji were also looking for their first ever PNC title and hit back with three Taniela Rawaqa penalties, one before and two after half time, to cut the deficit to 14-9 and with just 15 minutes left to play, despite traling by five points, Fiji looked to be on their way to the title as Samoa needed to score two more tries.

But Alafoti Fa'osiliva was brought on by Fuimaono Tafua and had an immediat impact scoring two tries in the space of three minutes spurred on by the home crowd.

MATCH DETAILS>>

Fa'osiliva's first came from a Samoan scrum on the Fiji try line as he picked up the ball from the base and powered across the line. Lui missed the conversion but was on hand to convert Fa'osiliva's second.

Census Johnston's determination paid off in the build up after he chased Lui's clearance kick from the Fiji restart and was on hand to pounce on a Fijian fumble.

The prop kicked ahead and F'osiliva showed incredible speed and composure to also kick the ball closer to the try line, before collecting and scoring Samoa's fourth try to the delight of the crowd at Apia Park.

Any hopes Fiji had of a comeback were dashed when they lost Rupeni Nasiga to the sin bin, however, before David Lemi and Uale Mai combined to secure the 31-9 victory for the hosts, with the latter crossing and Lui adding the conversion.

Samoa captain Mahonri Schwalger:

"This win was for the people of Samoa.We came into the game with no pressure but just to give our best shot and prove our worth to the people of Samoa."

Samoa coach Fuimaono Titimaea:

"This is exactly what we wanted and I'm so proud of the boys' performance as they followed the plan we set for the match. The players just did all the right things."

Source : irb.com

Samoa to play Scotland 2010

2010-06-25T08:20:00.000+10:00

Samoa match: Pittodrie set to stage international again

Published Date: 24 June 2010

THE November internationals will see New Zealand and Australia visit Murrayfield Stadium on Test match duty.The three-match series against Southern Hemisphere nations is completed by a fixture against Samoa, and the SRU has already indicated that the fixture would be held at a different venue to help take international rugby to a different audience.

Chief executive Gordon McKie has revealed that is heading to the north-east – most likely to Pittodrie, home of Aberdeen FC.

"We plan to take Samoa out of Murrayfield and are looking at an alternative venue," said McKie. "It makes more sense to do that than have three games here (at Murrayfield] and supply-and-demand in Perth and Aberdeen will make that a sell-out, but we haven't yet finalised which one.

"We are keen to move them out to put the game to a region. On the last two occasions we've been to Aberdeen there has been a spike after the event in terms of interest and participation and a willingness on the part of the local authority to invest in facilities. That interest is now prevalent not just in Perth, but also Inverness, where we had a fantastic turnout for the under-20 international last year, and where the local authority are desperate to get more games."

Source

2010-06-11T07:42:00.000+10:00

Fan asked for souvenir and ended up in medal muddle

Published Date: 10 June 2010
By HELEN MARTIN and DAVID McCANN
WHEN a rugby-mad teenager went souvenir-hunting at Murrayfield he left with more than he'd bargained for.

While chasing autographs and mementoes from his sporting heroes at the final whistle following the Emirates IRB international sevens, Euan Catteral, 17, approached Samoa star player Mikaele Pesamino – whose team won the competition – for a keepsake.

The 26-year-old, who has scored the greatest number of tries in international sevens this season, obligingly handed over his shorts, impressively embroidered with Samoan logos.

It was only when Euan was leaving the stadium that he realised he had fallen heir to an extra trophy – an engraved medal for winning the overall sevens grand-prix series was still in the pocket.

There was no question of Euan adding that to his collection.

"I knew straight away the medal had to go back," said Euan, a former pupil of Musselburgh's Loretto School.

"I ran to the ground and managed to find Mikaele and give him his medal."

Relieved he had returned the medal to its rightful owner, Euan continued his journey home, where he had another shock awaiting him.

In the other pocket was yet another medal, for Samoa winning the Edinburgh leg of the sevens circuit.

Euan said: "Fortunately, Scotland were playing a Japan Select a couple of days later at Murrayfield, so I contacted the Scottish Rugby Union and told them that, as I'd planned to attend, I'd bring the medal with me and return it then."

An SRU spokesman said: "Euan's call was timely because it coincided with Mikaele getting in touch in a bit of a panic.

"Samoa had never won the series before and, in clinching the title in Edinburgh, he was particularly conscious that both medals were important mementoes.

"He was immensely relieved and grateful that Euan had got in touch immediately.

"We are in the process of liaising with Mikaele and his diary to ensure the medal can be returned as quickly and safely as possible.

"Meanwhile, it was great to welcome Euan and his dad to Murrayfield where, before Scotland faced a Japanese Select, he handed over the medal to international captain Chris Cusiter on behalf of Mikaele.

"Euan met with Chris in the players' area before kick-off and other members of the squad and management gathered round for a look at the medal. It's reassuring to know there are youngsters out there whose first instinct is honesty especially when they are, like Euan, heavily involved in playing rugby."

A winger with Haddington colts, Euan is planning to join the RAF in November.

Source

Manu Samoa Named for PRC

2010-06-11T07:33:00.000+10:00

Thursday, 03 June 2010

Samoa Rugby Union Chairman and Prime Minister, Honorable Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi, has officially announced the Manu Samoa final team for the forthcoming Pacific Nation’s Cup.According to one of the selectors it was not an easy job to pick out tomorrows stars, although it can be a rewarding experience watching the boys lock horns against each other, and putting on best performance on field for a spot in the Manu Samoa 15 final squad.

“The display of skills shown by the boys on field was impressive; unfortunately, we have to select 30 of the “best” players to represent Samoa”'

Source

Samoa included in rugby sevens tournament at 2010 Commonwealth Games

2010-06-10T07:53:00.002+10:00

June 09, 2010

The Associated Press
The Canadian Press, 2010
DUBLIN - Samoa has been included in the rugby sevens tournament for this year's Commonwealth Games in Delhi.
Samoa will be joined in the 16-team competition by reigning Commonwealth Games champion New Zealand, world champion Wales, host India, Sri Lanka, South Africa, Kenya, Namibia, Uganda, England, Scotland, Australia, Papua New Guinea, Tonga, Canada and Guyana.
The Dublin-based International Rugby Board says it expects sevens to make a big impact on Indian audiences during the Games, which run from October 3-14.
Samoa won the IRB sevens world series with victory at the Edinburgh sevens on May 30.

Source

Anglican Church Grammar School raids Samoa for rugby prospects

2010-04-15T07:33:00.000+10:00

C/MAIL

Tue, 13 Apr 2010

BRISBANE, Australia --- Australian Anglican Church Grammar School has been directly importing rugby prospects from the South Pacific nation of Samoa. The private East Brisbane school, better known as Churchie, says the students have been brought in from their island home â€“ between Hawaii and New Zealand â€“ as part of an "education and service program" run by senior school deputy head Bruce Hodges. The scholarship scheme has drawn at least 14 boys through the gates since 1998, each staying for two to four years on free board and tuition and many playing two seasons in the First XV. One of the recruits achieved the revered rugby prize of Australian Schoolboys selection and another made Queensland Schoolboys, while others have gone on to youth and Test football for Samoa and the first-grade competition in Brisbane. Churchie headmaster Jonathan Hensman said: â€œ(The program) is not specific to rugby. The thing that made Bruce love it was not rugby performance related. â€œIt was about community service. (Anything else) is a lot of misinformation. A lot of gossip.â€ But one of the Samoan enrollees has told The Courier-Mail how Hodges â€“ who co-coached last year's First XV and is the school's former director of rugby â€“ appeared at his village school in mid-2007. â€œHe just turned up and said he was holding trials for a scholarship to Churchie, â€ Zach Schuster, 19, said. Schuster said he was not even on the list of six nominees supplied to Hodges by his school, St Joseph's College, Alafua, on the outskirts of the capital Apia. â€œI was watching and (Hodges) said if you want to join, join in, so I thought I'd have a random crack at it, â€ he said. With the late addition of Schuster, the day-long â€œtrialsâ€ involved 15 boys, including eight sent from another school. â€œBasically (Hodges) went over physical skills like sprint tests . . . physical ability tests. He ran us through some rugby skills drills,â€ Schuster said. â€œThe next day, he interviewed us and looked at our academic marks for the last two years.â€ Hodges had painted the Churchie scholarship as an opportunity to gain "spiritually, mentally, academically and sports-wise," Schuster said. But he said the teacher had then returned to Australia. Two weeks later, the Samoan national rugby body got involved. â€œThe 15 of us were asked to go up to the Samoan Rugby Union Training Centre,â€ Schuster said. â€œMatthew Vaea (a former Samoan international and now the country's high performance unit rugby services manager) put us through about a week of further tests (designed to) start cutting down the numbers. There was weights and more ball-carrying stuff.â€ A backrower and prop, Schuster said a month or two elapsed before Hodges told him over the phone that he had won a spot at Churchie. Another St Joseph's student was also chosen. â€œThese were the (boys) that had stood out at the trials," Schuster said. He said the pair had played rugby together at under-16 level that year. "The team had a pretty strong season," he said. Hensman said the â€œPacific Rimâ€ program encompassed a group of Churchie seniors travelling to Samoa for up to 10 days every two years, teaching children in village schools and donating equipment and software. He said Hodges and the other tour escort, Churchie's director of service John Collins, also would interview candidates seeking an â€œopportunity to complete their senior years" at the school. However, referring to 2007, Schuster said "there was no service trip this particular year". And Hodges had arrived alone. â€œIt was just him,â€ he said. Schuster, whose father is a public servant in Samoa, played two years of First XV rugby for Churchie and was selected for last year's combined GPS team. He is now playing Premier Colts rugby at the University of Queensland, where he is studying for a Bachelor of Social Work. Schuster's fellow recruit, second-rower Pago Pago Haini, also played in the 2009 First XV and has returned to Samoa. Hensman said the Pacific Rim program had been discontinued this year as it had become too costly to support the incoming boarders. He said a private trust had been providing most of the funds. Hodges declined to be interviewed. The imports Highly decorated rugby players who participated in Churchie's "Pacific Rim" program include: Paletuatoa Toelupe (attended 1999-2000). Strong-running, 100kg centre who was a part of Churchie's 1999 undefeated premiership side. Four internationals for Samoa and a current member of its Sevens team. Toelupe played for Brisbane Easts in the club's 2008 Premier Rugby grand final. Andrew Viliamu (2001-03). Hooker. Australian Schoolboys representative, 2003. Samoa under-21 team, 2005. Graduate of Samoa's International Rugby Board High Performance Unit. Herman Porter (2003-04). Easts' Premier Rugby centre. Man of the match, 2008 grand final. Mania Ieti (2004-05). Queensland Schoolboys representative, 2005. Hooker and captain of Samoa under-19 team, 2006. Brisbane Souths first grade player.

Source

Pools and schedule set for London Sevens

2010-04-14T15:18:00.000+10:00

The pools and match schedule for the Emirates Airline London Sevens at Twickenham on May 22-23 have been announced by the International Rugby Board.

Samoa currently lead the Series by three points from New Zealand and as a result are the top seeds in the 16-team tournament with New Zealand, Fiji and Australia also heading a pool.

The opening match will be a repeat of the Cup final in Adelaide last month with Samoa looking to beat USA and get their challenge for a fourth successive Cup title off to a flying start before facing Italy and Argentina in Pool A.

Defending champions England will face two traditional sporting rivals on day one in Australia - the side they beat in the Hong Kong Cup quarter finals - and Scotland, with Russia the other side in Pool D.

New Zealand, winners in Dubai and George in December, are joined in Pool B by crowd favourites Kenya, RWC Sevens champions Wales and Portugal.

South Africa, the defending IRB Sevens World Series champions, will be hoping to end a run of five straight losses to Fiji this season when they come face to face in Pool C, which also features Canada and France.

VIEW THE LONDON SEVENS MATCH SCHEDULE >>

VIEW THE LONDON SEVENS POOLS >>

More than 30,000 tickets have already been sold for the event with fans being encouraged to dress as their favourite superheroes in an attempt to break the record for the largest gathering of superheroes on the final day.

CLICK HERE FOR MORE TICKET INFORMATION >>

"The scene is set for what promises to be a highly-competitive tournament played in front of a record crowd in London. With just two events left to be played it is anyone's guess as to who will be crowned champions with just six points seperating Samoa and New Zealand at the top of the standings," said IRB Sevens Manager Beth Coalter.

"This has undoubtedly been the most competitive Series to date and the likes of USA, Australia, Kenya, South Africa, Fiji and of course Hosts England will be looking to record their first Series title of the year. It will be two days of compelling action."

"Following Rugby Sevens's Olympic inslusion there has been a marked increase in profile and attendance for the record-breaking Series and I am sure that London will be superbly attended once again," added Coalter.

England Sevens Head Coach Ben Ryan said, "We can't wait to return to Twickenham and get our title defence underway. We are up against tough opposition in the pool stages with Russia, Scotland and Australia but coming to London for our home event is always special and I'm hoping this will give the players an extra boost as they play in front of their family and friends.

"Last year the crowd were fantastic, they really got the behind the players right the way to the final. This year promises to be even more exciting with the superhero fancy dress theme and we hope to see as many fans as possible out in fancy dress on Sunday taking part in the record attempt."

Source

Samoa Sevens movin’ on up

2010-04-14T15:13:00.002+10:00

Samoa is the fast-rising force in sevens rugby and the last two rounds of the IRB World Series look set to be a battle royale between Samoa and New Zealand for the crown.
The high energy efforts of Stephen Betham’s charges have reaped the rewards – two tournament wins out of the last four.
They have proven their mental toughness, `condition`ing, physicality, commitment and composure. Throw in the searing pace of the circuit’s leading tryscorer Mikaele Pesamino (with check dots,) and you have a recipe for success. For so long just a solid player on the sevens merry-go-round, Samoa is now a genuine contender for South Africa’s title and is pushing the Kiwis to the limit, having beaten Gordon Tietjens’ men four times on the trot.
Everywhere you go in the sevens and rugby world there are pockets of support for this side. Samoans, like Kiwis, are good at coming out of the woodwork to cheer on their boys.
In the shy yet skilled Lolo Lui and the seasoned and smart Uale Mai, Samoa has a side around which to build a title tilt. Lui has shown he is capable of splitting any game open with a try or long range, often completely unexpected, drop goal. Mai is the master of the dropout, allowing Samoa to claim far more kickoffs than most teams. Then he will hurt you with a piece of individual brilliance, such as his solo try in the Adelaide Cup final against the surprise package USA. It is strange indeed that these two stars have not been given more opportunity in the 15s game for their country. Lui, in particular, could be the answer to the No 10 issues that have bedevilled Manu Samoa since the departure of Darren Kellett in 1995.
There is a totally committed support cast through the likes of Timoteo Iosua, who scored the winning try against New Zealand in the Adelaide Cup quarter-final, Simaika Mikaele and Alafoti Faosiliva. Crucially, these people are all based in Samoa, they train together and are clearly tight. They have made the proud Samoan people even prouder.
It is all a far cry from the situation faced by the Manu Samoa side, the national 15s team. Stagnant at No 12 in the world rankings, Samoa’s chances of pushing up into the top eight echelon appear remote for the foreseeable future. They are thrown together at short notice every June and November and are expected to gel. It does not happen that easily, not when you are flying in from France, Japan, New Zealand or Australia, in different states of `condition`, often fatigued after a long season, carrying niggles. On paper, there are some big names, and Mahonri Schwalger, Filipo Levi and Seilala Mapusua know what pro rugby is about.
But Sanzar’s obsession with the profit motive knocked on the head any move to have a Samoan side competing in Super Rugby. This could have meant much of the top talent staying closer to home, enabling the selectors to scrutinise form far easier. There are good men, some of them Manu Samoa legends, who are doing their best to keep their name up in lights, Filipo Saena and Aleki Toleafoa in Australia, and Peter Fatialofa and Mathew Vaea in New Zealand. But they are doing it with one hand tied behind their backs.
The chances of a repeat of the 1991 and 1995 giant-killing runs to the Rugby World Cup quarter-finals hinge on Samoa beating both Wales and Fiji on these shores next year. Good luck to the boys. They are going to need it, but what a fillip it would give the game in Samoa and for all those who would love to see this popular team move up in the world. Tonga was the darling of the 2007 RWC but what have we seen from the Ikale Tahi since those memorable moments when they put the wind up the eventual winners?
Sad to say it, but the professional game has blunted the Samoan sword, forcing the cream of its talent to ply its trade in Japan, in France and in the UK.
The IRB needs to get these guys more exposure, just like they give to this admirable sevens side from the South Sea Islands, as commentator Nigel Starmer-Smith puts it. If it’s good enough for Argentina, it is good enough for Samoa.

Source

Vailele wins Blue Sky Sevens 2010 Flag Day Sevens Rugby Cup

2010-04-14T14:58:00.000+10:00

Vailele came prepared to take the Blue Sky Cup to Apia— and that it did after beating Tepatasi in the final of the 2010 Amerika Samoa Blue Sky International Sevens tournament held at the Veterans Stadium over the weekend for two days.

“We arrived in American Samoa with one purpose in mind,” Penelope Lafaele, the 20-year-old captain of the Vailele championship team told this correspondent after the match. “To avenge our loss in last year‘s final and to win the Blue Sky tournament.”

Last year, Vailele lost the Cup championship final to Moata’a.

Last week, Vailele won with style and flair while Moata’a was knocked out in the Cup quarterfinal rounds.

The men in red and black fought a hard battle against the Tepatasi from Aleipata and walked away with the championship victory, 17-10.

Vailele also received $5,000 for winning the championship Blue Sky Cup.

The young Vailele captain, Lafaele was named the Most Valuable Player of the tournament. He received a trophy and $250 in cash.

Lafaele said he would like to play for the Manu Samoa sevens team in the future. An alumni of Pesega College, Lafaele represented the Samoa Barbarians that played in Namibia and other parts of the world recently.

The champions dazzled the crowd, estimated between two and three thousand spectators with their fancy footsteps, scissor movements, and with their speed.

“Clearly, Vailele was the top team among the 24 that competed in the two day competition,” commented tournament director, Vincent Fepulea’i. “The Vailele boys deserved the championship. They played with fire despite the absence of four of their stars that are in the Manu Samoa IRB sevens team,” added Su’a Tagaloa Fa’afouina, president of the Marist St. Joseph’s Sports club in Lotopa, Samoa, who served as tournament consultant.

The Vailele stars in the Manu Samoa sevens IRB squad are: Mikaele Pesamino, Simaika Mikaele, Reupena Levasa and Pale Toelupe.

Vailele scored three touchdowns and converted one for its 17 points while Tepatasi failed to convert its two tries, scored for 10 points.

The winning team, Vailele showed its championship caliber on the first day as the champions rocked Utulei Power 38-0 and crushed Marist Pago 38-0 in their second match. Advancing to the quarterfinal rounds on the second day, Vailele eliminated Lauli’i Lions, 28-5 and stopped Marist Angels, 12-7 in the semifinal game to reach the championship Cup final.

Tepatasi is known in the Apia rugby circles as the Kenyan team of Samoa. “I don’t know if these players ever run out of steam. They run and run and never get tired. In Apia we call the Tepatasi, the team from Kenya because they are like marathon runners,” explained Gaogo Schmidt, who was a member of the tournament committee.

Tepatasi players from Aleipata showed their stamina against the Tafuna Green Machine last Friday as they ran in nine tries to register the highest points scored in the two day tournament, a whopping 55-0 score. On its second game, it tied with the Avele Old Boys five points each to top its pool B and enter the Cup quarterfinal rounds on Saturday. Tepatasi beat Malie Sharks 10-5 and ended the Tama O le Pisaga’s chance in the semifinal with a 7-3 triumph.

But Vailele had other ideas and clobbered the so-called Kenyan Tepatasi team in the Cup final 17-10.

Chief Executive Officer of Blue Sky, Adolfo Montenegro was very impressed with the quality of play displayed by the visiting teams from Apia as well as the local players. “It was awesome and exciting to watch the two days of rugby competition. The players performed well and the large crowd that turned up enjoyed the action,” Montenegro said.

Blue Sky was the major sponsor of the two-day event and Montenegro said his company would sponsor the tournament again next year. “We are 100 percent supportive of the competition and are absolutely involved in next year’s Flag Day rugby tournament.”

Tama O le Pisaga defeated Marist Angels, 7-5 to take third position in the play off between the two losing Cup semifinalists. In the Bowl final, Vailele Pago took the championship with a 12-7 victory over Vailoa while the Avele Old Boys blanked Nu’uuli 5-0 to win the Plate championship.

BOWL COMPETITION CONTROVERSY

A big controversy arose in the Bowl competition. Fagatogo Blues beat Vailoa 14-10 in the semifinal to reach the championship match against Vailele Pago. But the Vailoa manager lodged a complaint to the disciplinary committee saying that the Fagatogo Blues #2 team that defeated his team used two players from the Fagatogo Blues #1 squad. The committee investigated and found evidence supporting Vailoa’s complaint.

Based on that— the three man disciplinary committee disqualified the Fagatogo Blues and declared Vailoa the winner by default.

The tournament was using current laws of the of the game “as framed by the International Rugby Board” (IRB). Tournament committee and representatives of all 24 teams that participated discussed the rules last Thursday before the tournament started on Friday, April 9.

Rule 17/18 does not permit a team to borrow a player from another team if all of its registered 12 player are free of injury and fit to play. Fagatogo Blues #2 did not seek permission for the two replacement players from the other Fagatogo Blues team. All its 12 players in its roster were fit and able to play, according to the findings of the committee.

According to rule 18 “A team can only take a replacement player (from another team) when it is not in a position to select 10 fit players for any match in the Tournament”. In case of an injured player, the medical officer in charge must certify that, that player cannot play any more matches before a borrowed player is sought.

Copies of the tournament rules were given to managers of each team and were also printed in the tournament program.

MANU SAMOA SEVENS TEAM

Governor Togiola Tulafono, secretary of the Office of Samoan Affairs, Tufele Li’a and members of the Fono watched the games including the Bowl, Plate and Cup finals.

The Manu Samoa sevens team joined in the parade by the 24 participating teams. Team manager, Tausa Fa’amaoni presented a Manu Samoa jersey as a mealofa to Governor Togiola. Togiola thanked captain Lolo Lui, manager, coach and the players of the Manu Samoa for being great ambassadors for the people of the two Samoa in the international rugby scene.

“You are our team. You are our perenise that have made us all proud. You have carried the name of Samoa well.” He had one request for the team, “A tou toe malo, se’i tatagi mai se tiulu susu i luga o le televise se’i matou fa’alogologo atu iai.”

The Manu Samoa players performed their siva tau twice in front of the two opposing stadiums to honor their fans and to thank them for their support.

Most of the teams including the Manu Samoa sevens players and the tournament organizers returned to Samoa on Sunday.

Source

Rugby World Cup 2011 ticket details unveiled

2010-03-31T09:43:00.001+11:00

Types of Tickets

Tickets will be available in either Packs (Venue Pool Packs, Team Pool Packs and Quarter-final Weekend Packs) or individual tickets depending on the Sales Phase. Each ticket product will be available in up to five Price Categories.

A handling fee of NZD $15 is payable per transaction and will be charged to each successful application. Additional fees may be payable depending on the payment and/or delivery method selected. All prices are in New Zealand dollars ($NZ) and include NZ GST at the current rate.

Please click here for a price category representation of each venue.

Note: During Phase 1 & 2 tickets will be allocated on a category basis only. Seats will not be allocated and tickets dispatched until May 2011.

Get More Info;
http://tickets.rugbyworldcup.com/info/ticketprices.aspx

Forbes admits Samoa have mental edge

2010-03-30T14:13:00.002+11:00

New Zealand captain DJ Forbes admits Samoa have grabbed a psychological advantage, as well as the International Rugby Board sevens series lead, with two rounds remaining.

Samoa's come-from-behind 24-21 defeat of Forbes' men in the Hong Kong final overnight (NZT) made it five-from-five in matches between the sides this season. New Zealand haven't lost to any other team.

With tournaments remaining in London and Edinburgh in late May, Samoa lead with 124 points while New Zealand have 121. Third-placed Fiji have a distant 94, meaning it is a two-horse race for the title and one which Forbes and coach Gordon Tietjens must lift their team for.

"They've got that mental edge on us now but Sevens can go any way," Forbes said.

"We're still in the hunt, that's the main thing, and we've got two more tournaments to front up. It's going to be a long break to make sure we dig deep and come out firing in London and Scotland."

The loss in the prestigious Hong Kong final was New Zealand's best effort against the Samoans in this series. The match was there for the taking when two Kurt Baker tries put them 14-0 up before Samoa had touched the ball.

"Not taking anything away from Samoa but we've beaten ourselves again," Forbes said.

"We were just pushing those 50-50s and paid the price. It's heart-wrenching. We had some good support here and a good team. No superstars, just a bunch of hard-working grafters and that was probably the pleasing thing."

In front of a capacity crowd of 40,000 Samoa drew level at 14-14 by half-time with Simaika Mikaele forcing his way through from close range out wide to open Samoa's account.

Scoring machine Mikaele Pesamino broke through to touch down under the posts for the Samoans to hand them the initiative immediately after the break.

New Zealand could have levelled the tie again through Forbes but Australian referee Andrew Lees missed what looked like an obvious off-the-ball foul on the veteran forward as he hared after his own up-and-under.

Pesamino seized the initiative for Samoa, breaking one tackle to score under the posts after taking the ball at speed in the midfield, putting the Pacific islanders 24-14 ahead.

New Zealand weren't finished and replied under the posts with the last move of the game, but it was too little too late.

Samoa coach Stephen Betham said composure was key to their victory, "just keeping ourselves in the game and knowing that the game isn't over until the final whistle".

"(At 14-0 down) I sent a message onto the guys that as long as we got points before half time we were still in with a chance, and just to keep their cool. Twenty minutes is a long time and I take my hat off to them," Betham said.

"(Composure) it's something that was missing before in Samoan rugby but we're working on their mental abilities, especially to overcome mental barriers, and we're slowly achieving that.

"We've still got two to go, still a long way to go, but we'll enjoy the win."

Samoa, who last won in Hong Kong in 2007, had held off England in the semi-finals 28-24.

New Zealand were also pushed to the limit against defending champions Fiji in a festival of running rugby which proved to be the most entertaining game of the competition.

Star of their semifinal was Baker, who crossed the line four times as the Kiwis edged the creative and powerful Fijians 33-28.

Source

Sevens raises Olympic hopes for Pacific nations

2010-03-29T12:27:00.000+11:00

HONG KONG (AP) -In the 114-year history of the Olympic movement, tiny Fiji and Samoa have never so much as won a medal.

But their prospects changed on Oct. 9, when the International Olympic Committee voted to include rugby sevens in the 2016 Games in Rio de Janeiro.

The two Pacific island nations may not boast any world-class sprinters or swimmers - but they both happen to be very, very good at the condensed form of rugby.

Fiji is a two-time World Cup champion. Samoa has never lifted the Melrose Cup, but it's a formidable contender on the IRB Sevens world series. And the Samoans are in particularly hot form this year, having won three straight titles in Las Vegas, Adelaide and Hong Kong.

On the sidelines of the Hong Kong Sevens - the biggest and most prestigious event in rugby sevens - as organizers and IRB officials revel in their recent Olympic inclusion, Fiji and Samoa are also looking ahead to 2016.

"I haven't known any athlete from Fiji who has competed in the Olympic Games. I think this is the only opportunity for us to compete,'' retired Fiji sevens legend Waisale Serevi, who worked on the rugby bid for Olympic status, told The Associated Press.

"Our country hasn't won any sort of medal at the Olympic Games. So it gives us the chance to win at least some sort of medal and to be recognized on the Olympic stage,'' Samoa sevens coach Stephen Betham said.

Betham said he expects Samoa's rugby officials to soon start screening teenagers for Olympic potential.

"Our high-performance unit will be looking at surveying schools and how to identify players who can play in the sevens arena and get them to start high-performance programs,'' he said.

But the two countries are also careful not to get ahead of themselves. In the six years between now and the Rio Games, the sevens landscape is expected to become more competitive, not just dominated by the Pacific islands and traditional powerhouses such as New Zealand, Australia, England and South Africa, which also excel at the traditional 15-a-side format. And only 12 teams will qualify for the 2016 Games.

"We have an opportunity, but we must bear in mind that a lot of other teams also want to get a medal,'' said Serevi, a member of Fiji's World Cup-winning squads in 1997 and 2005.

"It's a long way to go. We have just got to have the right plan to get there,'' Fiji sevens coach Iliesa Tanivula said.

For two countries at the opposite end of the spectrum, it's a different kind of excitement. China and the United States combined for a total 87 gold medals at the Beijing Olympics in 2008, but rugby is often an afterthought in both countries.

In the U.S., Olympic status for rugby sevens may give the game a higher profile, U.S. sevens coach Al Caravelli said.

"It's really legitimized the sport,'' Caravelli told reporters, adding that the sevens national team is already enjoying new resources, such as access to the U.S. Olympic training center in San Diego, California.

Former American football recruit Zach Test switched to rugby sevens two years ago. The 20-year-old Olympic hopeful says he thinks short, fast-paced sevens games are an ideal for the American broadcast market.

"It's going to take off. It's the perfect American sport. It's a 14-minute game, then you can have a commercial, and then there's another game,'' he said.

The U.S. team reached a milestone recently in Adelaide, Australia by making a surprising run to its first-ever cup final in world sevens series.

In China, rugby takes a back seat to diving, table tennis and badminton. Currently, it's mainly played at the university level, lacking the nationwide network of city and provincial teams that China uses to groom talent in other sports.

China sevens coach Jiang Xuming said it's still unclear how much Chinese sports officials will beef up their rugby program, but he's hopeful there will be a push to make it a national sport.

"The situation will definitely be much better than it is now,'' Jiang said.

Source

Samoa take Hong Kong Sevens title (pics)

2010-03-29T12:15:00.002+11:00

AFP - New Zealand collapsed after a perfect start to hand Samoa a 24-21 win and the showpiece Hong Kong Sevens on Sunday in a repeat of the Las Vegas final.

And after three days, 60 games, 846 minutes of rugby, and more than half a million pints of beer in the humid southern Chinese sunshine, thousands of jubilant supporters watched Samoa crowned champions.

The Kiwis, holders of nine previous Hong Kong titles, were unable to avenge their defeat to Samoa in the US in February, leaving the Pacific islanders to take the glory in a thrilling finale in front of a 40,000 capacity crowd.

"It was like any other cup final. At 14-0 down we had to keep our composure and they stuck to their guns right until the end," Samoan coach Stephen Betham said.

"I think the people back home will be so happy. The boys just played their hearts out for the people back home."

Hong Kong is the sixth stop on the eight-leg Sevens World Series with further tournaments to come in England and Scotland.

There was action on and off the pitch for the thronged spectators to enjoy, including a punch-up as the French took defeat to the Portuguese rather badly and bars selling an estimated half a million pints of beer.

"This is my first time and it's amazing. I've seriously never seen so many fit men in one place," said travel agent Sarah Kukri, 28, from London, who was enjoying punch and canapes in the hospitality village.

She could have been talking about the players but was actually referring to the thousands of spectators who turned up clad in a wide variety of fancy dress, including as superheroes, Native Americans, boxers, strongmen, cavemen, spacemen and postmen.

New Zealand drew first blood in the final with quick scores under the posts for Kurt Baker, the four-try star of the Kiwis' semi-final win, and were 14-0 up before Samoa had even touched the ball.

But the pre-tournament form team drew level at 14-14 by half-time with Simaika Mikaele forcing his way through from close range out wide to open Samoa's account.

Scoring machine Mikaele Pesamino, who was later named player of the tournament, broke through to touch down under the posts for the Samoans to hand them the initiative immediately after the break.

New Zealand could have levelled the tie again through DJ Forbes but Australian referee Andrew Lees missed what looked like an obvious off-the-ball foul on the veteran forward as he hared after his own up-and-under.

Pesamino seized the initiative for Samoa, breaking one tackle to score under the posts after taking the ball at speed in the midfield, putting the Pacific islanders 24-14 ahead.

New Zealand weren't finished and replied under the posts with the last move of the game, but it was too little too late.

"We ran out of time but we shouldn't have let it get down to that," Forbes said after the hooter.

"We were trying to score off everything when we needed to settle down and set up a few more rucks.

"We've been behind in the World Series before and we've come through. Hopefully we can turn things around but obviously the key will be the team that works the hardest over the break and hopefully we'll get up for the next two."

Organisers hope the Hong Kong Sevens, where thousands of fans -- many of them in fancy dress -- roared on 24 teams over three days of rugby, will have reinforced interest in the sport ahead of its Olympic debut in Brazil in 2016.

Hong Kong took the fourth-tier shield final to rapturous applause and a standing ovation, beating Russia 19-17.

Canada took the third-tier bowl while Australia won the consolation plate competition.

Samoa, who last won in Hong Kong in 2007, had held off England in the semi-finals 28-24.

New Zealand were also pushed to the limit against defending champions Fiji in a festival of running rugby which proved to be the most entertaining game of the competition.

Source

Samoa take HK Sevens, series lead

2010-03-29T12:14:00.000+11:00

Samoa defeated New Zealand 24-21 in the final of the Hong Kong Sevens to clinch their third successive IRB title and take a three-point lead in the world series.

New Zealand lead at half-time after two tries to Kurt Baker but tired quickly in the second half and only managed a consolation try to Toby Arnold at the final whistle to narrow the scoreline.

Samoan stars Mikaele Pesamino and Simaika Mikaele both grabbed a double and each team had a player sin-binned late in the first half as tensions simmered over between the arch-rivals.

Samoa now lead the world series with extra points from the HK round and have beaten New Zealand in their last four encounters.

In the semis, Baker scored four tries for New Zealand in their 33-28 win over Fiji while Samoa downed England 28-24.

In the other finals, Australia overwhelmed South Africa 12-5 to take the Plate while Canada saw off Wales 35-19 to win the Bowl and the home crowd has something to cheer about as Hong Kong beat Russia 19-17 for the Shield.

The next round of the series is in England at the end of May.

Source

2010-03-23T12:28:00.003+11:00

Photo courtesy of : http://www.adelaidesevens.com

Video: Samoa Sevens close gap on New Zealand

2010-03-23T09:31:00.000+11:00

Samoa produced a brilliant display over the three days of the Adelaide Sevens and deservedly won their second Cup title of the season with one last bone-crunching display against first-time finalists USA, 38-10.

It was the Samoans' fifth Cup title in IRB Sevens rugby but the first time they have strung two wins together back-to-back, having also taken the spoils in February at the USA leg in Las Vegas.

In winning the latest round of the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series, the islanders also cut New Zealand's overall lead to just two points heading into this weekend's Hong Kong showpiece. Fiji lie third and Adelaide semi finalists Australia have risen to fourth, ahead of England, Kenya and South Africa.

The USA also made huge strides in Adelaide by reaching their first ever Cup final but had no answer to the powerful Samoans, for whom forwards Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Simaika Mikaele and Ofisa Treviranus were ruthless, punishing the slightest mistake and providing a platform from which Uale Mai and Lolo Lui could dictate play.

Source

Manu Samoa 7s – it’s time to deliver

2010-03-23T08:55:00.000+11:00

Manu Samoa 7s – it’s time to deliver
Written by Aigaletaulele’a F. Tauafiafi
Tuesday, 09 March 2010 12:09

Since exploding onto the world rugby stage in 1991, Samoa has yet to deliver on that enormous potential. The promise to scrag the global game by the neck as Shem Tatupu, Apollo Perelini, Sila Vaifale, Too Vaega, Brian Lima, Stephen Bachop and company graphically illustrated 19 years ago. It’s been frustrating times for the many supporters of Manu Samoa over the years – but perhaps it’s because XVs is not the format for delivery.
“I certainly believe we should look at prioritizing Sevens. With the way our Manu 7s team is going and with the game’s entry to the Olympics we should look at holding more Sevens games and tournaments to develop and strengthen the game locally like Fiji’s doing”, says a key member of the 1991 Manu Samoa team, Solamalemalo Keneti Sio.

He’s the team member that famously told Frank Bunce when given the ‘13’ jersey, “if you don’t have enough then take my heart as well”. Those words immortalized in Toa Samoa’s war chant, “O lo’u fatu lea, o lo’u loto lea. O a’u o le Toa. Le Toa Samoa.” As a true Samoan, those words still make hairs stand on end.

But 19-years on, Samoan rugby seems ready to come out of the shadow and fulfil its immense promise. And this time there is real substance to that line of thought that at any other time in its history. There’s finally the realization, yes we are that good. There’s the self-belief as shown in Las Vegas we can beat anyone, there’s the reality that yes, Samoa has arrived and on its own terms. Reaching three finals out four in the iRB World Sevens Series and defeating NZ three times out four is testimony of that reality.

Gone are the inconsistencies, gone is the choking during crucial games. Now on display is a team with a thinly veiled steel, a team able to close down and grind a win, a team that believes when the chips are down, when the clock is running out and it’s behind there’s the knowing smile they will score the final touchdown, they will kick that last minute conversion, their destiny is in their control because they know that on their day they are the best. And that’s almost every other day.

What’s come to the fore is we have a Samoan team that’s come to know; and unashamedly admits to liking and enjoying the great feeling called - winning. There’s belief in this team. And standing tall amongst that blooming Manu 7s tree are Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Ofisa Treviranus, Simaika Mikaele and youngster Afa Aiono in the forwards as Shem, Apollo and Sila trailblazed 19-years ago.

Steering the ship as Bachop and Bunce did are Uale Mai and Lolo Lui. But of greater significance is the fact as the world ushered in the 21st century a new breed has emerged with the x-factor to take Samoa to the top is at hand. That breed is made up of three layers of which two are humming just right.

First is the mix of forward and backs is nigh on perfect backed by the express pace of Mikaele Pesamino, the creativity and unpredictable genius that is Fautua Otto, with the undoubted world class talent of Alatasi Tupou in the backs.

In the forwards there is athleticism and power showcased by the likes of Falemiga Selesele, Meki Purcell and Maselino Paulino. Then there is confidence in the feeder system churned out by the High Performance Unit with more types of the above players coming through. The second layer has also been reached.

The right coach to take the team forward. One with the professionalism and technological nous to maximize modern tools to Manu’s advantage – there’s none better than Stephen Betham as results attest to that. Heck, look at Robbie Deans and Graham Henry, they’ve got it easy, one can only imagine if Betham followed their well beaten path.

But it’s the third layer that’s the most crucial. No matter if the first and second layers achieve 100% efficiency it’s the third layer that spells the difference if Samoa is to reach the potential showcased in 1991. The third layer is the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU).

It has the sole power and strategic knowledge and infrastructural resources to provide the enabling and supporting environment for layers 1 and 2 to fully express Manu Samoa 7’s potential. It’s the owner of the Manu Samoa 7s team.

It has the sole authority to make resources available to allow layers 1 and 2 to focus single-mindedly on winning the World Sevens Series and Olympics 2016. Yes ‘win’ not just qualify.

Coach Betham on his victorious return from Las Vegas told Samoan media, “Keeping the players together is at the mercy of the Samoa Rugby Union, they are not ours. If the mother union prioritises the XVs and calls some of the players for that purpose that’s something beyond our control. It’s the way things are.” Yet he candidly admits the stre
ngth of this current squad is in keeping them together.

“Right now we have a team that has molded together into one big family of 18. Within that environment each individual knows what needs to be done and what commitments need to be made. Getting each player to take responsibility for their own actions within the context of the family is one of our key strengths.”

This is the difference seen in this Samoan team. There is a true feeling of togetherness, of good communication, clarity of vision mixed with strong leadership. Sure there are challenges for the mother union preparing for the Rugby World Cup 2011. Sure there are players in the squad that will want to figure in that equation.

But the reality is Manu Samoa 7s currently lies second on the World Series ladder, it has a royal opportunity to cement its push for a World Series title something that’s never been done before nor had a real shot at it – it’s so close we can all dare to taste it, even if it’s only halfway there.

But what can the SRU do to incentivize players and team to go up another notch? Observer Sports spoke to members of the public and the consensus is players need to be taken better care of financially. Taking the matter further, members were asked to put forward solution and following is distillation of members comments and recommendations.

Many commentators talk about a two-tier package for Betham’s squad. The first tier is specific to the 12 player traveling squad only to put them on contract on par with the Manu Samoa tour allowance of NZ$700 weekly with a NZ$500 bonus for winning on top of the benefits already promised.

[According to Observer Sports research those benefits include $30,000 for winning Adelaide, and 50% to players of Hong Kong prizemoney (US$100,000 for winning cup, or US$25,000 runner-up, or US$12,000 for semi-final appearance).

The second half of the Tier-1 package is when the team return to homebase after Hong Kong that players are put on a retainer of SAT$700 weekly. The major reason is this package ensure there is freedom to focus on training as family financial commitments should be taken care of which means there will be fierce competition and honest commitment to stay in the top-12.

The second tier package is aimed at the six members outside of the traveling 12. They should be on a retainer say $350 weekly with those named as Non-Traveling reserves on $450 per week.

This arrangement ensures these players are always looking for ways and opportunities to break into the top 12-squad. At the same time they need to stay at the top of their game to maintain their place in the top 18 from the other 12-members of Betham’s original 30-man squad selected late last year.

The end result if there’s an injury in the top-12, the replacement is in top nick to take advantage and then making doubly sure they stay there even when the injured player is fully fit again.

According to these knowledgeable members of the public it’s a small investment to keep players hungry while at the same time raising the profile and prestige of being in Manu 7s 12-man traveling squad. A quick calculation shows the total amount needing to maintain the Tier-1 and Tier-2 packages to the final leg in Scotland will cost approximately $100,000 tala.

Money aside this writer at least believes this is a crucial keys that will allow Manu 7s to deliver the potential promised at Cardiff 1991, at the same time setting the platform towards gold in Rio 2016.

Yes, SRU can take the carotid from Solamalemalo’s heart and put in better financial packages for the boys, “O lo’u fatu lea, o lo’u loto lea. O a’u o le Toa. Le Toa Samoa.”
Keep your eyes on this space as Observer Sports bring updates on Manu 7s preparations as well as our Preview to Adelaide starting on 19 March 2010.

MANU SAMOA 7S SQUAD FOR ADELAIDE & HONG KONG
Simaika Mikaele, Afa Aiono, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Pale Toelupe, Ofisa Treviranus, Paul Chan Tung, Lolo Lui (C), Reupena Levasa, Mikaele Pesamino, Timoteo Iosua, Fautua Otto, Uale Ma’i. Management: Stephen Betham (Head Coach), Tausa Faamaoni Lalomilo (Assistant Coach/Manager), Ulima Tofi (Physiotherapist). Non-travelling reserves: Alatasi Tupou, Falemiga Selesele, Apelu Faaiuga.

SAMOA SEVENS 30-MAN SQUAD 2010
Forwards: Simaika Mikaele, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Afa Aiono, Apelu Faaiuga, Pale Toelupe, Ofisa Treviranus, Falemiga Selesele, Misioka Timoteo, Kirisimasi Lesa, Maselino Paulino, Meki Purcell.
Backs: Paul Chan-Tung, Lolo Lui, Reupena Levasa, Mikaele Pesamino, Fautua Otto, Timoteo Iosua, Jerry Meafou, Morgan Salesa, Lei’a Saofaiga, Sani Niue, Taulagi Afamasaga, Alatasi Tupou, Leo’o Malaefono, Etuale Pitone, Pesamino Alauni, Pati Tele, Sagele Su’a, Tali Vaai.

Source

Samoa take Adelaide Sevens

2010-03-21T20:33:00.000+11:00

Samoa romped to Cup success against USA in Adelaide to win back-to-back tournaments for the first-ever time in the IRB Sevens World Series.

As a result of the 38-10 success, they cut New Zealand's lead to just two points heading into next weekend's Hong Kong tournament. Fiji currently lie third and Cup semi-finalists Australia have risen to fourth, ahead of England, Kenya and South Africa.

The USA made huge strides by reaching their first ever Cup final but came up short against the powerful Samoans, for whom the forward triumvirate of Alafoti Fa'osiliva, Simaika Mikaele and Ofisa Treviranus were again outstanding.

The match-winner for the islanders, though, was Mikaele Pesamino, who crossed for a hat trick of tries in the final and 11 in the tournament, extending his personal tally to 40 for the season, the leading mark.

Earlier, Australia had beaten Fiji for the second time in succession, James Stannard's two late tries firing them to a popular 26-21 win.

World Series leaders New Zealand beat Fiji in the first Plate semi final to win through to the final against reigning Series champions South Africa, who saw off Wales.

England recovered from the disappointment of losing two matches on day one by winning all of their matches on Sunday to take the Bowl trophy, beating Kenya 33-12 in the final and taking four points towards the World Series.

Ben Ryan's side followed a 47-0 victory against Papua New Guinea with a 19-0 win against France and then proved too strong for the ever-popular Kenyans.

Two tries by giant Alisi Tupuailei helped Japan to a fine 22-19 victory against Tonga in the Shield Cup final. Earlier Japan beat Niue to reach the final.

Results: Day three, Adelaide

Cup

Quarter-finals:
South Africa 14-17 Argentina
Wales 10-12 USA
Australia 26-22 Fiji
New Zealand 19-24 Samoa

Semi-finals:
USA 28-12 Argentina
Samoa 26-12 Australia

Final: Samoa 38-10 USA

Plate

Semi-finals:
New Zealand 24-21 Fiji
South Africa 29-0 Wales

Final: New Zealand 21-14 South Africa

Bowl

Quarter-finals:
Japan 15-21 Scotland
Kenya 25-7 Nieu
England 47-0 Papua New Guinea
France 38-0 Tonga

Semi-finals:
Kenya 36-12 Scotland
England 19-0 France

Final: England 33-12 Kenya

Shield

Semi-finals:
Japan 22-5 Nieu
Tonga 45-0 Papua New Guinea

Final: Japan 22-19 Tonga

Source

Rugby Photograph of the Year 2010 launched

2010-03-19T10:44:00.000+11:00

Rugby Photograph of the Year 2010 launched
(IRB.COM) Wednesday 3 March 2010

The International Rugby Board has launched the IRB/Emirates Airline Rugby Photograph of the Year 2010.

A trip for two to the Emirates Airline Dubai Rugby Sevens awaits the winner of this prestigious annual competition.

Now in its fifth year, the competition aims to capture the true spirit of Rugby and its core values, from team work, camaraderie and friendship to fair play, respect and discipline.

The 2009 edition attracted a record 500 entries from amateur and professional photographers alike in 28 countries worldwide, truly representing Rugby's universal appeal, with stunning entries received from both the professional and community Game, showcasing a kaleidoscope of Rugby from the fields of Fiji to local school children playing in the snow.

The winning entry was taken by Henry Browne of Action Images and featured Samoa international Seilala Mapusua scoring a try for English club London Irish against Leicester Tigers

Entitled 'The Flying Samoan', Browne's photograph was taken at the Madejski Stadium in England on March 1, 2009, and captures the unrivalled passion and enjoyment that can be found in Rugby and the special relationship that players share with their fans.

Tournaments including the IRB Junior World Championship in Argentina, the IRB Sevens World Series, Women's Rugby World Cup, RWC 2011 Qualifiers and a host of international and domestic Rugby matches can all be included, together with any domestic Rugby from the school playing field to the international arena.

The judging panel, which is chaired by Paul Morgan (Rugby World Editor) will select the entry they think most captures the Spirit of Rugby when they meet in London in September, with the winner being announced in the IRB World Rugby Yearbook 2011 in association with Emirates Airline in November.

Photographs must have been taken between July 31, 2009 and September 9, 2010 and entries must be received by 19:00 GMT September 10, 2010.

To enter the competition photographers must email a jpeg of no less than 300 dpi of their chosen photograph to photooftheyear@irb.com. For full details of the particular requirements and terms and conditions of the competition, click here.

Source

Samoa 7s gets royal send-off

2010-03-14T13:59:00.003+11:00

Written by Aigaletaulele’a F. Tauafiafi
Saturday, 13 March 2010 10:06

The Manu Samoa 7s team was farewelled in fine style by its naming rights sponsor SIFA this week. The team heading to Australia and Hong Kong lying second on the World rankings behind New Zealand is on track to vie for top honours yet again.

In a light-hearted presentation, the Minister for Finance, Niko Lee Hang reminded the team and guests about a similar send-off in 2007. “I was given the privilege to address the Fuimaono coached 2007 team. And I’m very proud of that occasion since the team went on to record a famous win in Hong Kong.
“So being here doing the same duty again, I feel is no coincidence. I firmly hold to the belief that things happen in pairs and I’m banking that the team will deliver and if it comes true then you all are witness to the truth of my words.”

Manu Samoa 7s squad for Australia and Hong Kong with Board of SIFA.
All 12-squad members and 3-three non-traveling reserves received gifts and special US$ envelopes for the upcoming trip.
Manu 7s Manager, Tausa Faamaoni reciprocated on behalf of the team outlining the three principles driving the spirit of the current squad, ‘Commitment, Trust and Discipline.’

The Samoa International Finance Authority (SIFA) has paid SAT$1.2 million for the naming rights of the Manu Samoa XVs, Manu Samoa 7s, Manusina and Under20 for 12 months from August 2009 t0 2010. According to Chief Executive Officer for SIFA, Alosamoa Erna Vaai, “The use of our Manu Samoa brand as the primary promotional vehicle for the Authority is driven by both patriotic and commercial reasons”.

Historically Samoa’s Internat
ional Finance Centre has focussed on the Asian market mainly because of its long and close relationship with the People’s Republic of China, the prosperous and fast growing economies in the region, the popularity of Manu Samoa 7s Team at the Hong Kong 7s Tournament and the time zone flexibility allowing registration of a company yesterday.
For Alosamoa the Manu 7s is a premier differential between SIFA and its competitors, mainly from the Caribbean and Mediterranean, for offshore banking. “You see, most of the key and influential people in our industry target the Hong Kong Sevens to come together and invariably do business.

“So for SIFA this is where and when we have the biggest edge because we have a team in the tournament that’s one of the glamour teams, not just making up the numbers, it’s the Manu Samoa and that’s huge exposure for SIFA. That is magnified many times because the Caribbean and Mediterranean don’t have a rugby team and therefore the Manu Samoa 7s is crucial for our profile and promotion and is the reason why we don’t hold back in pushing that fact to our clients during the Hong Kong 7s.”

If the Manu Samoa 7s win the tournament, “I can’t quantify exactly as there are many overlapping factors involved, the immense benefits SIFA and Samoa get from the team’s success but what I can say is that it makes a significant contribution to getting more investors to use SIFA’s financial services and products.”
The team leave this morning for Sydney enroute to Adelaide.

The Manu Samoa 7s team team leaving at 10:30 this Saturday morning are: Simaika Mikaele, Afa Aiono, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Pale Toelupe, Ofisa Treviranus, Paul Chan Tung, Lolo Lui (C), Reupena Levasa, Mikaele Pesamino, Timoteo Iosua, Fautua Otto, Uale Ma’i. Management: Stephen Betham (Head Coach), Tausa Faamaoni Lalomilo (Assistant Coach/Manager), Ulima Tofi (Physiotherapist)
Non-travelling reserves: Alatasi Tupou, Falemiga Selesele, Apelu Faaiuga.

Source

Samoa to host ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010

2010-03-12T10:06:00.002+11:00

The International Rugby Board has announced that Samoa will host the 2010 ANZ Pacific Nations Cup. The awarding of the key international tournament to the Samoa Rugby Union represents a further boost to the continued development and promotion of Rugby both in the country and across the whole of the Pacific Islands.

Fiji, Tonga and hosts Samoa will be joined by Japan for the strategically important IRB-funded tournament which will provide vital preparation for each of the participating Unions as they build towards Rugby World Cup 2011.

The two-week festival of Rugby kicks off on June 12 with a mouth-watering encounter between Fiji and Japan in Lautoka. Last year the two teams delivered a compelling spectacle in the final round of matches with Fiji edging the match 40-39 at the death. Samoa and Tonga play their opening match the same day in Apia, and two rounds later a new name will be etched onto the coveted Trophy.

With all but one of the matches again being played in one country, the 2010 tournament offers a platform for the delivery of key legacy initiatives, including refereeing and coaching workshops and junior rugby clinics and competitions, all geared towards the strategic goal of increasing competitiveness throughout the Pacific Islands.

"The hosting of the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup matches in Samoa is a very exciting development for a tournament that is well-established as a major event on the Rugby calendar," said IRB Chairman Bernard Lapasset.

"Samoa has a rich and proud Rugby heritage and I am sure that the Samoa Rugby Union will embrace the opportunity to showcase their country and the Union with the first major international fifteen-a-side tournament to be hosted in the country."

"The Game continues to achieve growth around the world through the IRB's £48 million Strategic Investment Programme, and this tournament is a key element, providing the Participating Unions with an expanded competition calendar and a dedicated player development pathway aimed at increasing competitiveness at Test level, and ultimately at Rugby World Cup," added Lapasset.

Samoa Rugby Union Chairman Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi, said: "The Samoa Rugby Union is honoured and delighted to be this year's hosts for the IRB Pacific Nations Cup. Being undoubtedly the Pacific Islands' [not Island's as many islands ] Premier tournament, Samoa will certainly be looking forward to a tremendous festival of entertaining Rugby."

Samoa Rugby Union Chief Executive Officer Su'a Peter Schuster, said: "Hosting the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2010 will be a special moment for the Samoa Rugby Union and the people of Samoa as it will be the first major Rugby tournament played in the [ teh ] country since last year's tsunami disaster. We are looking forward to welcoming Fiji, Japan and Tonga to Samoa, for a competition that will be a source of excitement and joy for everyone in the country."

Source
TOURNAMENT SCHEDULE

Seven of the Best: Las Vegas tries

2010-03-11T11:00:00.001+11:00

Sevens Analysis: The secrets to success

2010-03-11T10:25:00.001+11:00

The last two rounds of the IRB Sevens World Series in Wellington and Las Vegas underlined just how tactically demanding the grand prix style circuit is for the teams taking part.

From the acres of space at Wellington's Westpac Stadium, the teams transferred their skillsets and playbooks to the Sam Boyd Stadium in Vegas, usually a haven for American Football and narrow at 58 metres across.

Imperious in the first two tournaments in Dubai and George, New Zealand were also toppled from their perch on successive weekends by Samoa, who first lost out to Fiji and then exacted revenge in very different surrounds the following weekend in Vegas.

How Fiji and Samoa won those respective Cup victories makes interesting reading - notably Samoa's approach on the narrow pitch in Las Vegas. The IRB's statistical analysis reports are now available from both tournaments, below, and include key findings on the champion teams.

Samoa's Vegas victory

- DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT >>

- Samoa's average match score was 26 points to 7.
- Stephen Betham's side scored a try every 43 seconds of possession, while it took their opposition 119 seconds on average to score against them.
- Samoa scored 25 tries and conceded 11 in their six matches.
- The current overall top try scorer in the IRB Sevens World Series, Mikaele Pesamino (28), scored 11 of their 25 tries.
- Nearly 50% of their tries originated from within their own half.
- Samoa averaged only 45% of the total possession in their matches.
- With the likes of Uale Mai and Lolo Lui back near their best, the Samoans achieved a high passing rate - 10.9 passes for each minute of possession.
- Tactically, they avoided physical contact. Samoa contested only 1.8 rucks per minute of possession. They also averaged five rucks per match, as opposed to the 11.5 averaged by their opposition.
- Samoa achieved the highest retention rate at their own rucks - 87% - and achieved a 23% success rate at opposition rucks. They committed 2+ players in defence on 35% of occasions.
- Samoa were one of only four teams in Las Vegas to kick contestable restarts more often than not (the majority of sides preferred to kicked long for territorial gain on the narrow pitch).
- Samoa won the Cup title despite being penalised proportionally more than any other team, and being awarded a red card.

How Fiji won in Wellington

- DOWNLOAD FULL REPORT >>

- Fiji's average match score was 31 points to 8.
- Iliesa Tanivula's side scored a try every 44 seconds of possession, while it took
their opposition 163 secs to score against them.
- Fiji scored 29 tries and conceded 8 in 6 matches.
- 50% of their tries originated within their own half.
- They regularly had a passing movement that contained 5 or more passes. One in 3.8 contained 5 or more passes.
- They avoided physical contact more than any other team, entering only 0.6 rucks per minute of possession and averaging two rucks per game, as opposed to 10/ game by their opposition.
- The Fijians were the highest kicking team, averaging 3.7 kicks per game.
- They were the most successful team at regaining their own restarts, regained 1 in 1.6 of contestable restarts

Source

Pools and matches set for Hong Kong Sevens

2010-03-11T09:53:00.001+11:00

The pool draw has been made for this year's Cathay Pacific/Credit Suisse Hong Kong Sevens on 26-28 March, the 24-team event which is also the sixth stop on the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series.

Traditionally the Hong Kong tournament offers the aspiring rugby nations of Asia an opportunity to showcase their development, and this year is no exception with Japan, Hong Kong, China, Thailand, Korea and Chinese Taipei split across the six pools.

Source

Schedule set for Pacific Rugby Cup 2010

2010-03-11T09:40:00.000+11:00

The International Rugby Board has announced details of an exciting new format for the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup 2010, which will be played from May 5-29.

For the first time, the key player development tournament will follow a more traditional single-hosting format with the Fiji Rugby Union awarded the hosting rights for an event that has become a showcase for emerging talent in the Pacific Islands.

Fiji will host rounds two to five as well as the final. The first round of the tournament will see local derbies hosted by Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. The new format will present a more festival atmosphere for players and spectators alike, while maximising commercial and broadcast potential.

The opening round of the tournament will see 2006 champions Savai'i Samoa taking on 2007 winners Upolu Samoa in Apia, reigning champions Fiji Warriors against Fiji Barbarians in Sigatoka and Tau'uta Reds taking on 2008 winners Tautahi Gold in the Tongan capital Nuku'alofa.

Source

Rudd helping to fund Pacific Island Rugby

2010-03-11T09:28:00.000+11:00

Rugby has been the national sport of Samoa, Fiji and Tonga since the Marist Brothers introduced the sport there over 90 years ago. It is a religion and part of their culture.

And thanks to Kevin Rudd, it’s going to stay that way for years.

Australian Prime Minister Kevin Rudd has commissioned former Australian Sports Commission chief Jim Ferguson to examine options to help the Pacific through rugby, leading to a soon-to-be-finalised package of measures in a $15 million, five-year, multi-sports program.

Mr. Ferguson examined 15 options, including that of greater Pacific involvement in the Super 14.

He proposed a $6m development program that includes scholarships for Pacific players.

The final package, to be announced next month, will not involve government support of greater Pacific involvement in rugby’s Super competition. Many of the best Pacific players are more involved in European club competitions, and some Super rugby teams have long benefited from having islanders on the roster.

This investment would also add to the millions and millions of dollars the IRB give to Samoa, Tonga and Fiji rugby after every Rugby World Cup.

Source

IRB Sevens Points System

2010-02-19T12:48:00.001+11:00

i. Series Ranking Points

16-team tournament

Previous New
Cup Winner (1)
Runner Up (1)
Semi Final (2)
Quarter Final (4) 20 points
16 points
12 points 24 points
20 points
16 points

Plate Winner (1)
Runner Up (1)
Semi Final (2) 8 points
6 points
4 points 12 points
8 points
6 points
Bowl Winner (1) 2 points 4 points

Shield Winner 0 points 0 points

24-team tournament (Hong Kong)

Previous New
Cup Winner (1)
Runner Up (1)
Semi Final (2)
Quarter Final (4) 30 points
24 points
18 points
8 points 30 points
25 points
20 points

Plate Winner (1)
Runner Up (1)
Semi Final (2) 4 points
3 points
2 points 16 points
10 points
8 points
Bowl Winner (1) 1 points 5 points

Shield Winner 0 points 0 points

ii. In the event of two or more teams being equal on Series points for any position on the Series table, such position shall be determined on the margin of points scored for and against the team, with the highest margin of points scored for and against being considered the leading team in the respective position.

iii. In the event of (ii) above not providing a decision, the position on the Series table will be determined on the basis of the team scoring the most tries in the Series.

iv. In the event of (iii) above not providing a decision, the position on the Series table will be considered equal (i.e. a tie)

v. In the event of a tournament being abandoned, there will be no Series points allocated.

Source

Video: Samoan finisher hits top form in Vegas

2010-02-19T12:45:00.001+11:00

There is no question that the USA Sevens in Las Vegas was for everyone involved the most eye-opening of new rugby experiences and one which ended, like every other tournament, with a superb showpiece finale.

Much of the rugby talk before the tournament centred on the narrowness of the Sam Boyd Stadium pitch, usually a haven for American Football. At 58 metres wide, the pitch was narrower than the norm and forced a tactical rethink for the coaches, but Samoa's Mikaele Pesamino did not seem to mind one bit.

The poacher supreme still found enough space to scorch over for eight tries on day one - including a hat trick against Scotland and a record-equalling five against Chile - and 11 in all as Stephen Betham's side triumphed over New Zealand for a second time in two weeks.

Source

Pools and Matches set for Adelaide Sevens

2010-02-19T12:42:00.000+11:00

Australia will renew its staunch Rugby rivalry with England in March after the two sides were drawn in the same pool for the Adelaide international Sevens, the fifth event in the 2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series.

The tournament will be staged at the historic Adelaide Oval over three days, 19-21 March.

Source

Samoa beat NZ in USA Sevens final

2010-02-19T12:37:00.002+11:00

An understrength New Zealand couldn't contain a rampant Samoa, who claimed the Las Vegas sevens rugby title with a dominant 33-12 win in the final today.

Struggling with the absence of three key players, the New Zealanders couldn't fight off their Samoan hex this season, having lost all three games against them including last weekend's semifinal in Wellington.

Victorious in the first two tournaments of the year in Dubai and South Africa, New Zealand still hold a handy lead at the halfway point of the International Rugby Board series on 84 points, with Samoa clambering to second on 70 past Fiji on 68. The Fijians were stunned 28-7 by Australia in their quarterfinal.

Once again New Zealand struggled with the physical, swarming nature of Samoa's defence. They trailed 7-14 at halftime but never looked like stopping a team who possessed the tournament's two best players in Mikaele Pesamino and Alafoti Fa'osiliva.

Both scored two tries in the final -- Pesamino's trademark intercept on the stroke of halftime breaking New Zealand hearts and helping lift his tournament tally to 11 tries -- while the other went to Reupena Levasa.

New Zealand crossed in the first half through Kurt Baker and in the second via Tim Mikkelson but they looked an ineffective attacking unit without speedy winger Sherwin Stowers.

Stowers injured his leg during the impressive 21-7 semifinal defeat of Kenya while Ben Souness appeared to suffer a shoulder injury in the same game. Neither could play the final, nor could Save Tokula who was suspended after being sinbinned in the 12-5 quarterfinal defeat of South Africa, a match he starred in.

New Zealand were too strong for a Kenyan side who started brightly through a try to Victor Odour but couldn't prevent Zar Lawrence responding before the break and Baker and Lote Raikabula sealing the result after halftime.

Raikabula was a key figure, pulling off some important tackles in another quality team defensive effort while setting up Baker's try with a quick tap and offload.

The Kenyans may have paid the price for an exhausting quarterfinal in which they needed eight minutes of extra time to beat England 26-21.

New Zealand had things slightly easier in the defeat of South Africa courtesy of early tries to Souness and Baker.

Samoa were fortunate to reach the final, needing a late Pesamino try to beat the improving Australia in the other semifinal.

Source

Man-of-the-match Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu in Biarritz blitz

2010-01-19T11:55:00.000+11:00

HEAD coach Bryan Redpath had one clear message for his team after their best performance of the season against Biarritz: 'Now show me you can do it again'.

Gloucester's lack of a bonus point means they have little or no chance of progressing in the Heineken Cup, but a win over Newport Gwent Dragons on Sunday will more than likely qualify them for the Amlin Challenge Cup quarter-finals.

It means they must do something they have done only once in the best part of 13 months at Rodney Parade – win away from Kingsholm.

Redpath said: "The key thing was winning the game and gaining confidence from us pushing on and playing in the right areas of the pitch to give ourselves a chance.

"We've got enough to get us into the quarter-finals of the Amlin Cup. We've got to go next week and make sure we do it again.

"The key thing was starting 2010 with some clear objectives, and getting some things put in place to allow us the chance to push up tables and contend for things."

The collective effort of the pack, plus a number of fine individual performances in the backs, meant the Cherry and Whites were able to throw off the shackles with a performance the fans have been waiting for all season.

Man-of-the-match Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu was at the centre of everything Gloucester created, one of many breaks setting up the second try for Tim Molenaar, after Lesley Vainikolo scored the opener, his first of the season.

Talking about Fuimaono-Sapolu, Redpath said: "He was outstanding in defence and attack. I thought Akapusi Qera was outstanding too, as was Gareth Delve. But Ellie was exceptional, he had probably his best game so far.

"Nicky kicked well and Tim Molenaar's try at the end there off Ellie's break was great.

"Some of the opportunities which we took made the difference. We went from strength to strength in the game.

"There were a lot of good performances. We set some standards last Monday that we wanted to try and stick to.

"We want to make Kingsholm a hard place to come and win. I thought the players were great in sticking to the targets we set prior to the match."

The sight of Mike Tindall running on with water bottles was a welcome one, while Redpath had some encouraging news on Alasdair Strokosch, who went off injured at the end of the first half.

"He twisted his ankle off a restart," Redpath said. "It doesn't look too concerning. But for Strokes to come off it had to be sore."

Source

Sailosi Tagicakibau’s return to training boosts London Irish

2010-01-16T12:23:00.001+11:00

nuary 15, 2010

The return to training of flying wing Sailosi Tagicakibau has given London Irish a massive lift, says team-mate Elvis Seveali’i.

Tagicakibau has not played since fracturing an ankle in a 9-9 draw at Harlequins on October 31.

But the club’s top try scorer this season joined up with the rest of the squad for the first time this week as they prepared for Sunday’s crucial Heineken Cup clash against Scarlets in Llanelli.

And Seveali’i said: “Losi is training with us again. He will maybe not play this weekend, but the fact he is back is good. It lifts the team to see him.

“Hopefully he will be all right for the following weekend (when Irish complete their Pool 6 games by entertaining Heineken Cup holders Leinster at Twickenham on January 23).

“We have other guys back too like Topsy Ojo so it is good to see them making the team stronger.”

Seveali’i has not played for Irish since grabbing the match-winning try for Exiles in their 23-19 win over previously unbeaten Saracens on December 27.

And his participation this Sunday is by no means certain due to a leg injury suffered in training a fortnight ago.

The outside centre was scheduled to make his comeback in last Saturday’s postponed Guinness Premiership clash at Worcester Warriors after missing the previous weekend’s 24-22 defeat at Northampton Saints.

He said: “I’ve got a little niggle. It is ongoing at the moment.

“We will see how it is for the weekend. We still have a couple of days to go. Hopefully I can pull through.”

Irish’s shock home defeat to Scarlets still wrankles with the Samoan star, who pounced on a chip through by Seilala Mapusua to score one of his side’s three tries that day.

“We would be in the quarters now if we had won that game,” he said.

“At least it is still in our own hands. But at the same time they got something over us.”

Seveali’i believes Exiles were guilty of complacency after their stunning 12-9 win over Leinster in Dublin.

He said: “Coming off the big one the week before, we were thinking we could cruise. We are were all a bit complacent at times and we didn’t win the kicking game.

“But we will go with all guns blazing on Sunday. Four points would put us in a good position to go through. Regardless of how we get it, that is the minimum. If we get five that is a bonus, but if we lose it is going to make things very hard to qualify.”

Only the six pool winners and the two runners-up with the best records go through to the last eight.

Source

Samoa captain out of Suva showdown

2010-01-16T12:22:00.000+11:00

Samoa captain out of Suva showdown

Samoa Sevens star Lolo Lui will not be part the national team taking part in the International Sevens at the Suva Rugby Festival next week.

Samoa Rugby Union official Peter Schuster said Lolo Lui is still recovering from a back injury suffered in George on the second leg of the IRB Sevens World Series. Lui is still a doubt for the next leg of the World Series in Wellington (5-6 Feb).

The Digicel Suva Rugby Festival, to be held on 15-23 January 2010 at various venues in the Fijian capital, will involve more than 200 rugby teams and is the start of the build-up towards Suva Rugby's centenary festivities in 2012.

Main Sevens draw at the Suva Rugby Festival:

Pool A: Fiji Barbarians, Tonga invitational, Waimanu, Northern Sharks
Pool B: USA invitational, Western Force, Army, Police
Pool C: Manuwatu, PNG invitational, Suva, Wardens
Pool D: Samoa Barbarians, Canada Maple Leafs, Ratu Felise, Veiyasana

Source

Samoa 7s star Mai to play Digicel Suva Rugby Festival International Sevens

2010-01-16T12:18:00.000+11:00

Samoa 7s star Mai to play here

Indra Singh
Friday, January 15, 2010

INSPIRATIONAL Samoa sevens representative Uale Mai will feature at the Digicel Suva Rugby Festival International Sevens next week.

Mai will jet in from New Zealand to be with the Samoan side. This was confirmed last night by tournament media manager, Jeremy Duxbury.

Meanwhile, Ratu Filise will use this weekend's Bodyguard Sevens in Nadi to give their players a hit-out before taking part international sevens. The champion side from Namatakula, in Nadroga, has entered two teams for the two-day event at Prince Charles Park. Ratu Filise team manager Dreu Vukailagi said the only reason they wanted to participate in Nadi was to test their players before the big event. Vukailagi said his boys know they would have to prove themselves.

"The boys have been training hard from last month and we thought that it would be a good idea to give them a run this weekend," Vukailagi. For us, we know we have to give our top performance during our pool play in the Suva Sevens especially with Samoa, Canada and Veiyasana Malaysian Fijians in our pool.

"We've been telling the boys that if they want to make the Fiji Sevens squad then they will have to prove themselves by beating Samoa.

"The boys know the sevens selectors will be there to scout for potential players and if they play well then there is no reason why they can't be called up. Fiji has always found the Samoans a tough nut to crack during the IRB Sevens Series but we want to show our local rugby fans that we have quality players who can do the job."

Namatakula Village has produced a number of players who went on to represent the country in the abbreviated code, such as Noa Nadruku, Keleto Loboilagi, Mesake Seavula, Etuate 'Honda' Gusuivalu, Luke Erenavula and the late Temesia Kaumaia. Ratu Filise's campaign in the Suva Rugby Festival is expected to be led by three players from Namatakula who were members of the Fiji Bati Rugby League team, Kaliova Tani, Jo Ravueta and Jone Macilai.
End of story

Source

Stephen’s sevens squad for 2010

2010-01-12T14:40:00.000+11:00

Stephen’s sevens squad for 2010
Written by Fatu Tauafiafi
Saturday, 09 January 2010 10:09

Afa Aiono as captain of the under20s. Now 22 he’s hugely experienced on the international sevens and part of 2010 squad.
Manu Samoa Sevens head coach selects the 30-players to carry Samoa’s hopes for 2010.

Very clear about the priority ahead, “To stay in the top-8 in the iRB World Series. To that we cant afford wholesale changes like South Africa and New Zealand are doing.

They have the pool and depth of players as well as the money – we don’t.”

The 30-players named below is it, “unless someone totally outstanding comes along or someone in the 30-man squad is not committed to the cause these are the best players we have to reach the goals we need to achieve. The breakdown we have is 24 core players and six non-travelling.”

The squad contains a balanced mix of core experienced players in Simaika Mikaele, Alafoti Faosiliva, Apelu Faaiuga in the forwards and Lolo Lui, Reupena Levasa, Jerry Meafou, Timoteo Iosua in the backs.

The youngsters introduced cater to continuing key functional areas of the team. Maselino Paulino and Meki Purcell, a national basketball rep, will look to learn and share the load carried by Simaika Mikaele.

The under-19s are well represented by Leo’o Malaefono, Patrick Faapale and Sani Niue complementing the just over-20s contingent of Falemiga Selesele, Lei’a Saofaiga, Alatasi Tupou and Taulagi Afamasag
a.

“The key is to broaden our ‘core of experienced players’ horizontally with the strategic introduction of the young talents coming through.

On that line of planning we will be using the Fiji International 7s on 21-23 January to get experience and game time for the young ones while the main squad for the Wellington and USA legs trains at home.

Possibly 2 or 3 from the Fiji squad will make the iRB World Series travelling party.”
For coach Betham the planning has been done, the selection finalized its now a matter of applying the theory on paper to the practical on the world stage.

Six legs of the iRB World Series are left. Samoa is handily placed at 3rd place after New Zealand and Fiji. It’s not only a good start, it’s the best start by any Manu Samoa Sevens campaign since it all started some 12-years ago. The onus is now on management and players to maintain and fight to improve Samoa’s position; as well as developing the depth for a good tilt at the Olympics qualifiers when details are announced.

For players listed below, pick up from the usual place is at 6:30 for training to start at 7am. For players whose names are not on the list, their pick-up is at 7:30 for their training at 8am at HPU.

SAMOA SEVENS SQUAD 2010
Forwards: Simaika Mikaele, Alafoti Fa’osiliva, Afa Aiono, Apelu Faaiuga, Pale Toelupe, Ofisa Treviranus, Falemiga Selesele, Misioka Timoteo, Kirisimasi Lesa, Maselino Paulino, Meki Purcell.
Backs: Paul Chan-Tung, Lolo Lui, Reupena Levasa, Mikaele Pesamino, Fautua Otto, Timoteo Iosua, Jerry Meafou, Morgan Salesa, Lei’a Saofaiga, Sani Niue, Taulagi Afamasaga, Alatasi Tupou, Leo’o Malaefono, Etuale Pitone, Pesamino Alauni, Pati Tele, Sagele Su’a, Tali Vaai.

Source

Rugby starts 2010 strongly

2010-01-12T14:36:00.000+11:00

Written by Fatu Tauafiafi
Sunday, 03 January 2010 15:18

Manu Samoa Head Coach, Fuimaono Tafua is a man in a hurry. Last week his training squad made up of the top rugby players in Samoa were put through their paces. The reason is earnest preparation for trials to select Samoa’s team for the upcoming Samoa TriNations in New Zealand.

Sevens National Coach Stephen Betham was also on hand keeping a watchful eye on his nominated players for the upcoming Wellington Leg of the iRB World Sevens Series on 4-5 February. Betham said, “The player turnout was good and having them training this early means players will be more conscious about their fitness and mindset focused on performance.”

For players aiming to make rugby their chosen mode of income, making the Manu Samoa is a key part to getting a professional contract. Flanker cum lock Tim Nelson just failed to make the cut for last year’s Manu Samoa Pacific Nations Cup squad. This year Tim is more determined to go one better and that meant an earlier than usual hit-out. He was one of the standout players for the Bulldogs. His two-tries against Marist propelled the Bulldogs into the semi-final.

“Because I hadn’t been playing much rugby, I decided to turn out for the Rugby League 9s tournament just before Christmas so I can get some much needed play and start my program”, said Mr Nelson.
Having gained selection into the Fuimaono training squad for the February Tri-Nations Mr Nelson told Observer Sports the festive season meant alot of merrymaking sacrifices, “There’s certainly been less drinking, more vegetables in the diet and much earlier waking hours to hit the road on those early morning runs”, he laughed.

On a serious note, his goals is firstly to make the playing squad for the Tri-Nations “From that base I’ll hopefully secure a jersey for the Pacific Rugby Cup and then the big one, a Manu Samoa jersey for the Pacific Nations Cup.”
The Manu Samoa jersey’s value is invaluable to aspiring professional rugby players. Stalwart Manu Samoa back Eiota Sapolu-Fuimaono who currently plays for Bath in Euro
pe admits, “It was through the Manu that I gained my contract.”

And now the latest to reap benefit off the Manu Samoa gravy wagon is Sakaria ‘Zak’ Taulafo. He won selection into the Manu Samoa northern hemisphere tour on the back of some excellent scrummaging for the Tasman Makos, an NPC New Zealand rugby side. A big unit standing 1.83m tall and weighing 118kg, the lure of possible World Cup selection was the catalyst for trialing. “That was in my mind and why I went to the trials – just to get closer to the Samoan [World Cup] side,” he said. “I’m really excited”, Taulafo told Wayne Martin of the Nelson Mail.

His performance on tour was enough to convince Wasps director of rugby Tony Hanks he’s the man needed to bolster the Wasp front row. It is without a doubt, that Zak’s 18-month contract with Wasp would not have happened if he wasn’t on the Manu Samoa tour.
If the same opportunity comes along for Tim Nelson, “My choice of a professional club or franchise to play for would be the Wellington Hurricanes”, says Tim without pausing.

For coach Fuimaono his take is simple. He’ll congratulate players getting contracts off the Manu Samoa brand but for those players in the training squad if they don’t get their butts down to USP Alafua by 8am tomorrow (Monday, 4 January) they can kiss their professional aspirations good bye.

Samoa training squad for Tri-Nations
Forwards: Andrew Williams, Semiperive Semeane, Roysiu Tolufale, Logovii Mulipola, Tito Siaosi, Siaosi Ott-Iona, Maselino Paulino, Simaika Mikaele, Afioae Maiava, Ray Pese, Falemiga Selesele, Misioka Timoteo, Alafoti Faosiliva, Ofisa Treviranus, Tim Nelson, Afa Aiono, Aomavaega Malo, Solomona Aimaasu, Faanunu Faamatuainu.

Backs: Chris Faaofo, Faatalatala Fagasoaia, Roger Warren, Lolenese Talapusi, Peti Ah Mu, Jerry Meafou, Leoo Malaefono, James Roache, Esera Lauina, Reupena Levasa, Timoteo Iosua, Fautua Otto, Fatu Fanolua, Mikaele Pesamino, Sani Niue, Paul Chan Tung, Fale Sooialo, Penelope Lafaele, Lei’a Saofaiga, Taulagi Afamasaga, Lolo Lui, Gasolo Salima, Michael Tavae
Reserves: Alatasi Tupou, Kose Seinafo, Titi Esau, Faatoina, Notise Tauafao, Morgan Salesa, Isamaeli Asotasi, Risati Muagututia, Samuelu LAgalaga, Maene Tofilau, Kirisimasi Fale, John Sala.

Source

France scores 7 tries to overwhelm Samoa 43-5 in a rugby union international

2009-11-23T10:29:00.000+11:00

THE ASSOCIATED PRESS (CP) – 1 day ago

SAINT-DENIS, France — France scored seven tries to overwhelm Samoa 43-5 in a rugby union international on Saturday and raise expectations ahead of its match next week against New Zealand.

Francois Trinh-Duc scored two tries, Dimitri Szarzewski, Vincent Clerc, Yannick Jauzion, Thierry Dusautoir and Benjamin Fall all touched down. Scrum half Morgan Parra added eight points through conversions.

Substitute Jo Tekori scored Samoa's lone try.

France, which beat the world champion South Africa 20-13 in its previous game, will face New Zealand next week in Marseille in its last November test.

"First of all we wanted to show respect to our opponents," France captain Sylvain Marconnet said. "I'm very proud of the lads."

Facing a weak Samoan defence, France scored on almost every attacking move in the first half despite coach Marc Lievremont fielding an understrength team at the Stade de France.

The French, who secured their second win in as many games against the Samoans, scored in the third minute when hooker Szarzewski picked up the ball five metres from the line and touched down after weaving through the defence.

France extended its lead four minutes later when fullback Maxime Medard set up Clerc to run in under the posts for his 22nd try.

The Samoans were under heavy pressure and conceded a third try in the 13th minute after Trinh-Duc cleverly chipped the ball over the defence for Jauzion to touch down.

Samoa's Lolo Lui and Faatonu Fili missed three penalty kicks combined in the first 25 minutes.

Dusautoir scored a try in the 28th after the intervention of the third official following good lead-up work by the French pack and lock Sebastien Chabal in particular.

Fall celebrated his debut with a try in the 36th minute when he latched onto Julien Bonnaire's kick.

We had some concentration lapses in the second half," Fall said. "We'll have to think about this against the All Blacks otherwise we will be punished."

Samoa began to get back into the match after the interval with some heavy tackles, yet they were unable to threaten the French defence.

France stretched its lead further in the 60th when Parra off-loaded to Trinh-Duc, who avoided a tackle and dived to touch down. Parra missed the conversion and was replaced by Julien Dupuy.

Trinh-Duc scored his second try seven minutes later after Fall retrieved the ball following a bad clearance.

The Samoans scored a consolation try through Tekori in the 71st minute following a nice move by the forwards.

Copyright © 2009 The Canadian Press. All rights reserved

Wales cling on for victory against Manu Samoa

2009-11-14T09:18:00.000+11:00

Wales' Pacific Island jinx nearly struck again on Friday as they laboured to a scrappy 17-13 win over Samoa in Cardiff.

They rode their luck though, ending up holding on desperately to a four-point lead after Seilala Mapusua's intercept try had brought the Samoand back into the game on the hour mark.

It looked so good after five minutes. Wales had stretched the Samoans this way and that, winning an early penalty and scoring a gem of a try when Leigh Halfpenny collected Dan Biggar's kick on the wing. But that was about it. For the rest of the match, the Welsh simply struggled to match the physicality of the men in blue and their own organisation faltered as a result.

Offloads didn't stick, the decision-making went awry. Dan Biggar eschewed three big overlaps in the run up to Mapusua's intercept before then hanging on to the ball too long and chucking out a sitter for the experienced centre to pick off and score. This was a young team which needed to learn, but any team has to do better than that with 65 per cent of the possession.

Samoa did not offer anything unexpected, indeed the sophistication of their own play was at a lesser level than usual. Rarely in the first hour did they pose a major attacking threat. Lolo Lui was sin-binned for a murderous charge on Dwayne Peel which left the scrum-half stunned for a good three minutes. ONly later in the game did the Samoans break free, but it was too late. Welsh fans will not like to consider what might have been had they tried it a bit earlier.

The Tuilagi brothers were also flinging their weight around with barely legal abandon and the rest of the blue shirts marauded around the fringes of rucks, exploiting well the leeway given to them by referee Peter Fitzgibbon. It was disruptive and effective, but Wales had to rise above it. They didn't, and nearly paid the price.

There were good things too. Some of the handling, particularly from the forwards, was almost dainty. There was an encouraging number of line-breaks - eleven to Samoa's two in the end - which at least shows that the team is heading in a good direction.

The first of those was by Alun-Wyn Jones, who tock an inside pass from Biggar and offloaded to Peel. Peel accelerated before offloading to Warburton and then being flattened by Lui. Warburton was brought down a metre short and his tackler was penalised for not releasing too. Lui went to the bin as Biggar clipped over the points.

Right from the restart Samoa equalised, with Welsh chasers in front of Peel's box-kick, but with the Welsh already creating problems out wide, Biggar spied David Lemi off his wing and hoisted a fabulous cross-kick into Halfpenny's arms for the winger to do the rest.

Biggar extended the lead on sixteen minutes after George Stowers was caught holding on in a tackle, and with Wales' kicking game vastly superior, Samoa could not get out of their half.

As the game approached the half-hour and Warburton - excellent on the night - once again found a hole to get through, before James Hook - another standout performer - was denied by a crunching tackle from Alesana Tuilagi, you sensed Wales were turning the screw. A try before the break might have killed things off.

Instead Samoa found their way into Wales' half with some good kicking themselves, and Fa'atonu Fili missed one sitter of a penalty before landing a second and sending the teams into the changing rooms at 11-6 to Wales.

The second half began as the first had ended, Wales in the ascendancy, finding small holes but not opening them up enough. James Hook had the best opportunity, tearing away down the left where he could have passed inside or chipped. Instead he dummied and held on and was cleaned up by Lui having insolated himself in the process.

Still, Halfpenny and Biggar had both notched kicks to put the Welsh a comfortable 17-6 ahead, but then Biggar made his howler just as the Samoans were looking ripe for the picking and within a minute, it was 17-13.

From then, it only got worse. Samoa found a second wind of hurricane-strength and had Wales desperately clutching on in defence. Mapusua and Uale Mai almost combined to scoring effect down the right. David Lemi's chip and chase was wonderfully rescued by Halfpenny at the last gasp. Welsh attacks continued to lack the fluency or cohesion of the first half and shades of 1991 hung in the air.

Alas for Samoa it was not to be. But with only three days' preparation, this was an impressive display of guts and nous. For three weeks of preparation, Wales came up distinctly short.

Man of the match: A tough one to call. While the Welsh were not on song as a team, there were many individual moments of brilliance: James Hook, Ryan Jones, Andy Powell, Dwayne Peel and Sam Warburton can all hold heads high. But sticking it all together and putting his all into it when it often mattered most was the energetic Gethin Jenkins, who also produced a sterling scrummaging effort. For Samoa, mention should be made to Cencus Johnston and Junior Polu.

Moment of the match: Halfpenny's try and Mapusua's reply both featured, but Leigh Halfpenny's save of David Lemi's chip and chase was the moment when the sighs of relief began to pour forth from the Millennium Stadium stands.

Villain of the match: It makes for good viewing, but Lolo Lui should study tapes of his hit on Dwayne Peel and Alesana Tuilagi's on James Hook and spot the difference in the freeze frames: namely the lack of a ball in Peel's hand.

The scorers:

For Wales:
Try: Halfpenny
Pens: Biggar 3, Halfpenny

For Samoa:
Try: Mapusua
Con: Fili
Pens: Fili 2

Yellow cards: Lui (2, Samoa, dangerous tackle), H Tuilagi (52, Samoa, repeated infringement)

Wales: 15 James Hook, 14 Leigh Halfpenny, 13 Tom Shanklin, 12 Jamie Roberts, 11 Tom James, 10 Dan Biggar, 9 Dwayne Peel, 8 Ryan Jones (c), 7 Sam Warburton, 6 Andy Powell, 5 Luke Charteris, 4 Alun-Wyn Jones, 3 Paul James, 2 Huw Bennett, 1 Gethin Jenkins.
Replacements: 16 Matthew Rees, 17 Craig Mitchell, 18 Bradley Davies, 19 Jonathan Thomas, 20 Martin Roberts, 21 Jonathan Davies, 22 Morgan Stoddart.

Samoa: 15 Lolo Lui, 14 David Lemi, 13 Gavin Williams, 12 Seilala Mapusua, 11 Alesana Tuilagi, 10 Fa'atonu Fili, 9 Junior Polu, 8 Henry Tuilagi, 7 Ofisa Treviranus, 6 George Stowers (c), 5 Iosefa Tekori, 4 Filipo Levi, 3 Cencus Johnston, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Justin Va'a.
Replacements: 16 Andrew Williams, 17 Sakaria Taulafo, 18 Kane Thompson, 19 Jonny Faamatuianu, 20 Uale Mai, 21 Henry Fa'afili, 22 Titi Esau.

Referee: Peter Fitzgibbon (Ireland)
Assistant referees: Dave Pearson (England), Rob Debney (England)
Television match official: Geoff Warren (England)
Assessor: Bob Francis (New Zealand)

By Danny Stephens

Source

Foreigners to have say in English rugby title race

2009-09-04T07:38:00.000+10:00

LONDON (AFP) - Controversial South African flanker Luke Watson is amongst an impressive cast list of southern hemisphere big names who are set to have a huge impact on the English Premiership season which starts on Friday.

Steve Kefu, Schalk Brits, Carlos Spencer, Carl Hayman, Nick Evans, Rico Gear, Greg Somerville, Butch James, and Sisaro Koyamaibole are among around 70 southern hemisphere internationals registered with Premiership clubs for the upcoming campaign.

England coach Martin Johnson has seen several Test players opt to play their club rugby in France, but it is far from one-way traffic as the English game welcomes a host of imports.

Watson, capped ten times by his country, will join Bath in November from Western Province, having admitted further Test honours are on the back burner for the time being.

The back rower's career has been mired in controversy since he was forced into the national side by the South Africa Rugby Union in 2007, against the wishes of then-coach Jake White, and Watson says he is still not happy with the rugby environment in his homeland.

But fellow South African, and Bath captain Michael Claassens, is welcoming Watson to the Recreation Ground with open arms.

"I think he is going to be a big boost for the club," Claasens said. "He is not only a class player but he is a great leader on and off the field. He leads by example and what he said was taken out of proportion."

Bath have had an eventful pre-season, with four players leaving the club over lurid drugs allegations. But the episodes could not dissuade the 25-year-old Watson from decamping to England.

"I'm a very clean-living guy," Watson insisted. "I don't touch alcohol or anything and I think that helped with Bath's decision. It was part of the reason I was asked to go there."

Fijian back-rower Koyamaibole, who has joined Sale, could be one of the signings after two disappointing years at French club Toulon.

The 29-year-old has been on a strict conditioning regime to shed weight but Sale boss Kingsley Jones is convinced he is the man to replace Frenchman Sebastien Chabal, who has returned home.

"This guy has got the lot," Jones said. "He is the person we are missing to go forward in the back row. He can do everything Chabal did - he just needs to get his fitness right.

"He is a guy who has run 100 metres in under 11 seconds and who weighed 139 kilos. He is now down to under 127 kilos - his target is 119. Once he gets his pace he can bring a lot to the team and the Premiership."

Add in London Irish's Samoan three-quarters Sailosi Tagicakibau and Seilala Mapusa, who caused havoc last term along with Gloucester flanker Akapusi Qera, and it is clear the imports will have a huge bearing on the outcome of the English season.

Brits, a 28-year-old hooker, arrives from the Stormers to join Saracens where he will link-up with a fellow Springbok in fly-half Derick Hougaard, the former Bull, who had a stint at Leicester.

Director of rugby Brendan Venter said: "Schalk is a world-class player right in his prime, he has the 'X' factor that can turn the game in an instant."

With scrum-half Nils de Kock already at the club along with back row forward Wikus Van Heerden, and prop Frik Venter and second row Mouritz Botha joining the north London outfit, fans were worried Saracens were being turned into a South African outpost.

But Venter tried to allay their fears by saying: "We speak English at Saracens. We don't speak Afrikaans or Italian or Fijian."

Source

George Stowers is set for a new challenge

2009-09-04T07:33:00.001+10:00

By Alan Manicom
September 02, 2009

George Stowers possesses a ferocious tackle – just ask his London Irish team-mate Nick Kennedy.

The proof can also be found in a YouTube clip which shows the 6ft 3in Samoan back-row forward knocking Kennedy off his feet.

The occasion was Kennedy’s England debut against the Pacific Islanders in November last year.

Stowers ended up on the losing side and Kennedy crowned his first senior international appearance with a try.

But his team-mates have not let him forget being crunched by Stowers.

“I’ve been trying to get that clip taken down,” laughed Kennedy. “Luckily George has not mentioned it – or rather luckily he has not hit me like that again.

“As you can see from that, he is a very powerful hitter and very explosive runner so he is a great signing for us.”

Source

Thomas Connacht Sign Samoan Winger

2009-09-03T12:53:00.001+10:00

2 September 2009, 8:57 am
By Editor
Connacht have bolstered their squad with the signing of a promising Samoan winger, it has been confirmed.

Connacht coach Michael Bradley is hoping his side can make a strong start to the new Magners League campaign, with three of their first four games at home in Galway

Thomas Timani will arrive at the Sportsground next month after completing the move from Auckland in New Zealand.

The 22-year-old winger was named as the Development Player of the Year in Auckland last season and Connacht coach Michael Bradley is pleased with the latest addition to his squad.

He also confirmed that talks are taking place with a back row player in a bid to further strengthen his squad.

"We are in discussions with a wing forward and we hope that there will be a positive development shortly," said Bradley.

Source

Admin Note :
Thomas Timani played for the NEW ZEALAND Samoa in the Tri-Nation Series 2009, was also a member of the 2007 Savaii Samoa Squad. As far as i am aware he did not make the Manu Samoa squad. If there proof otherwise, please let me know.

Waratahs snare Anesi

2009-08-27T08:29:00.000+10:00

The Waratahs have added to an already-impressive backline by signing Chiefs back three man Sosene Anesi over the weekend.

Anesi, who has one All Black cap from a Test against Fiji in 2005, will join at the start of 2010, after completing the Air New Zealand Cup with Waikato this year. He will join new recruits Berrick Barnes and Drew Mitchell, among others, in Sydney.

"This is a significant signing for us," said Waratahs Head Coach Chris Hickey.

"They don't just give away All Blacks jerseys, so to secure a New Zealand Test player is pretty exciting for us as a team, and indeed the whole organisation.

"He's been part of a very strong back three at the Chiefs with Mils Muliaina, Sitiveni Sivivatu and Lelia Masaga, and he's coming over to join players like Drew Mitchell and Lachie Turner which is going to be extremely exciting.

"I'm sure he'll enjoy Sydney when he gets here, and hopefully draw a few Chiefs fans in for our home games."

Anesi made his NPC debut for Waikato in 2003 and became a regular on the IRB Sevens circuit with New Zealand in 2004.

He went on to make his Super 12 debut in 2005 - ironically, against the Waratahs - and later that year made his Test debut against Fiji at Albany's North Harbour Stadium.

Anesi's 2007 Rugby World Cup hopes ended in the early stages of the Super 14 when he was sidelined with a neck injury, however he bounced back to play eleven matches for the Chiefs in 2008.

A problematic shoulder saw Anesi miss the middle stages of the 2009 Super 14, however he came back to appear in the Chiefs' last five matches including the semi-final victory over the Hurricanes and the final against the Bulls in Pretoria.

Source

Samoa Juniors off to winning start

2009-08-27T08:27:00.000+10:00

Hosts Samoa enjoyed a winning start in the 2009 Oceania Under 19 Championship, beating staunch rivals Fiji 34-22 in the opening match of the competition in Apia.

The Samoans were dominant early on and raced to a 21-6 half time lead. Fiji captain Noa Naikataci then slotted four penalties and converted Virimi Vakatawa's try for a one-point lead, before the home team upped its level again to score two more tries and clinch victory.

Samoa finished seventh in this year's IRB TOSHIBA Junior World Championship in Japan - compared with Fiji in 12th place and Tonga's 10th place finish - but much is expected of Fijian captain Naikataci, who is one of the few players still young enough to turn out for the side.

"It was disappointing to lose like this, especially when we had anticipated a good start to this tournament," said Fiji team manager Viliame Kana-tabua.

"I believe the boys will need a good rest before we regroup for our next outing.

"We had about two weeks in camp and I believe this is very short time for our coaching staff to do a lot of work," he added.

"I'm not saying this as an excuse for our losing this match, but better preparations from the Samoans, who were in camp for about one month, was evident in their performance.

"We are happy with what they've achieved today but we're going to have to lift our performance if we want to win our next match."

The Fijians next line up against Tonga on 28 August, while Samoa take on Papua New Guinea.

Fiji, Samoa and Tonga will most likely contest the main trophy in the tournament, while PNG and Vanuatu will be vying to clinch the region's one representative berth at next year's IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy.

Earlier this month, Zimbabwe won Africa's Under 19 event to secure a first appearance in the IRB Junior World Rugby Trophy, for which the Host Union and dates will be confirmed in due course.

Full match schedule

24 Aug 2009
3:00pm - Fiji 22-34 Samoa

28 Aug 2009
2:00pm - Samoa v Papua New Guinea
4:00pm - Tonga v Fiji

31 Aug 2009
2:00pm - Fiji v Vanuatu
4:00pm - Tonga v Samoa

4 Sep 2009
2:00pm - Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu
4:00pm - Cup Final

* All matches to be played at Apia Park, Samoa
** All match times Samoa local time (BST -12 hrs)

For more details go to Oceaniarugby.com

Mapusua, Hewat and Rautenbach back for London Irish

2009-08-27T08:25:00.001+10:00

Seilala Mapusua, Peter Hewat and Faan Rautenbach are all set to return to action in c final pre-season match at European champions Leinster on Friday (7pm kick-off).

The trio were not involved in the Exiles' previous warm-up games against London Welsh and Munster and will be desperate to prove their match fitness ahead of the club's Guinness Premiership opener against Saracens in the London Double Header at Twickenham on September 5.

Source

David Lemi: Why I joined Wasps

2009-08-27T08:20:00.001+10:00

DAVID Lemi was a wanted man during the summer.

When Bristol were relegated at the end of last season the flush clubs in Europe came calling waving handfuls of cash.

But the Samoan star turned his back on them – it was life balance rather than bank balance that swayed him.

He said: “It was quite a difficult decision for myself and my wife-to-be. We had our second baby while we were making this decision and I had a chat with her and also my son about what was best for us.

“We didn’t make the decision about money. We made the decision to go to the club where we thought we would be happy, like we had done with Bristol.

“With a new baby we thought it would be hard for us to go overseas. We wanted to stay in the UK and at Wasps it’s like a big family.

“They helped with my wife and children as well so that was also a main reason to come here.”

Don’t be fooled into thinking he lacks ambition though. As much as a settled family life, the challenge of making his mark at one of Europe’s most successful clubs and improving under the likes of Tony Hanks and Shaun Edwards was a huge draw.

He said: “Wasps is a big club and I’ve been lucky enough to get the chance to work with some of the best coaches and best players in the world here.

“It’s different to Bristol, a different culture, and I know there is going to be competition for places.

“But this is a challenge I want. If there is no challenge you can’t produce your best every week. I know there is no way you can perform at 70 per cent. You have to be at 100 per cent every single game here.

“The club has some very good England wingers but I look forward to competing with them. It will be good for me.”

Lemi is slightly behind his team-mates having just returned from Samoa where he spent the summer playing for his local team – “I’m not a big star back home”– but he arrives in Wycombe after averaging a try every two games at struggling Bristol.

He said: “There is a lot of talking around, but this game of rugby is not a one-man game. It’s a 15-man game. The only reason I scored tries at Bristol is because all the team were giving good performances. For me as the winger I just finished it.”

Source

Filipo Levi sets sights on Heineken Cup bid

2009-08-12T11:43:00.000+10:00

AMBITIOUS Filipo Levi is determined to help take Newcastle Falcons back to the Heineken Cup big time.

The towering back-rower loved his last-eight Heineken Cup appearance with the Ospreys, but is loving his Falcons move even more – and is keen to enjoy top-tier European action at Kingston Park.

Impressed with the quality within Steve Bates’ squad, Levi laid down the first objective as improving on last season’s finishes in all competitions.

But expecting that to be a benchmark, he believes the Falcons have the capability to rise to the upper Premiership echelons – admitting he would not have signed had he thought otherwise.

Levi said: “There’s been a lot of talk about this being a new era because of the player turnover, and it’s a great chance for us to mould the squad and the team into what we want it to be.

“People won’t know how we are going to play, and there’s a lot of uncertainty around us outside the club, and that’s fine by us.

“We know exactly where we are going and what we are doing, and we’re very happy with our plans.

“I didn’t come here, or to Europe in the first place, to make up the numbers and to coast along losing more matches than I win.

“I didn’t join the Falcons to play in a team that just eases through, I’m here to play in the top competitions and to win matches.

“I’m here to do everything I can to get the club into the Heineken Cup, and then be in that competition consistently.”

After two years in Japan and a short stint at the Ospreys, the former Otago Highlander has linked back up with old team-mate and new captain Carl Hayman.

Choosing to represent Samoa curtailed his impressive Super 14 career which in turn led to the Japan move.

But it was a move Levi sought out, and now he is excited by the prospect of challenging himself in a new team environment and in another league.

Relishing the physical environment of Premiership rugby, Levi said he is ready to put his body on the line week-in, week-out for his side.

He said: “Once you make yourself eligible to play for Samoa you are cut from the All Blacks, and that means the end of Super 14 contracts.

“So when that happened I had to go to Japan, there were a few offers from Europe at the time, but Japan seemed like the best move for me then.

“But when the Ospreys came in I was very happy to move to Europe because I was craving some harder, more physical rugby again.

“I’ve spoken to Dan Leo at Wasps and Seilala Mapusua at London Irish about what to expect from the Premiership, and they just said it’s one of those competitions where you’ve just got to grind it out every week.”

Source

Complete Rugby World Cup 2011 Match Schedule

2009-08-06T11:53:00.002+10:00

Courtesy of : www.rugbyworldcup.com

Download

Samoa to add Pacific flavour for RWC 2011

2009-08-06T11:48:00.000+10:00

Samoa convincingly claimed the Oceania 1 qualification spot for Rugby World Cup (RWC) 2011 after defeating Oceania Cup winners Papua New Guinea in a two-match series 115-7 and 73-12.

Samoa will compete at RWC 2011 in Pool D against 2007 Champions South Africa, Fiji, Wales and the Africa 1 qualifier.

Their qualification also means that all teams are now confirmed for the five pool matches at Auckland's Eden Park, including the Pool D show-down between Samoa and Fiji on Sunday, September 25.

"Samoa's qualification means that Eden Park's full complement of teams is now complete. The pool matches to be contested in Auckland will be of the highest calibre and are guaranteed to produce exciting rugby," said Rugby New Zealand 2011 Ltd (RNZ 2011) CEO Martin Snedden.

"Congratulations to Samoa on their qualification. I am sure that they can expect a warm welcome in 2011 as New Zealanders turn out in force to support their Pacific neighbours," added Snedden.

Samoa will play their first RWC 2011 match on September 14 against Africa 1 at Rotorua International Stadium.

Rotorua Mayor Kevin Winters offered his welcome to the team: "I'm delighted to hear that Samoa has qualified for the Oceania 1 spot as this means they'll be playing a match against the top African qualifying team in Rotorua at our International Stadium. Both teams can look forward to a warm Rotorua welcome and will experience genuine 'manaakitanga' - the traditional spirit of hospitality that Rotorua is so well known for".

Samoa then travel to Hamilton's Waikato Stadium to take on Wales on September 18.

Hamilton Mayor Bob Simcock also welcomed the news: "On behalf of Hamilton, I congratulate Samoa for securing their spot at RWC 2011. With a strong rugby culture in Hamilton, we are looking forward to being part of this world event and hosting the Samoan team at Waikato Stadium when they compete against Wales."
The next stop is Auckland on September 25, where they take on fellow Pacific Islanders Fiji in what promises to be a dramatic encounter.

Auckland spokesperson Michael Barnett says confirmation that Samoa will play in the Tournament is great news for the region and in particular its Samoan community. "The prospect of Auckland, as the world's largest Polynesian city, hosting the Samoa versus Fiji match at Eden Park in front of 60,000 passionate fans is absolutely mouth-watering,"

"It will be a unique occasion and promises to be one of the highlights of the Tournament," he added.

In their final pool match on September 30, the Samoans will face RWC 2007 Champions South Africa at North Harbour Stadium.

"These RWC matches in both Auckland and North Shore will provide a great platform for engaging the region's diverse communities and I am confident the Samoan community will lead the way," commented Mr. Barnett.

Samoa have competed in every Rugby World Cup since 1991 and made it through to the quarter-final round in 1991 and 1995.

They are currently ranked 11th in the International Rugby Board (IRB) World Rankings.

Source

Samoa set out on road to 2011 World Cup

2009-08-06T11:46:00.002+10:00

It may be less than a week since Samoa confirmed their place at Rugby World Cup 2011 with a 188-19 aggregate victory over Papua New Guinea, but thoughts have already turned to their end of year tour.

Samoa triumphed 115-7 at home in Apia and then 73-12 in Port Moresby to book their place at the tournament in New Zealand, where they will be bidding to right the wrongs of 2007. In France they failed to attain the high standards they set themselves and lost against rivals Tonga, leaving them with a fourth place finish in their pool and needing to qualify for the 2011 event.

Having booked their place in New Zealand, they will now want to build momentum towards the showpiece event and that process starts this autumn against Wales, a side they will meet in Pool D at RWC 2011 and against whom they hold a proud record in World Cups.

In 1991, playing as Western Samoa, they stunned the Welsh in Cardiff with a 16-13 win en route to the quarter finals and eight years later defeated the tournament hosts 38-31 at the Millennium Stadium.

Matthew Vaea was part of that victorious side at Rugby World Cup 1991 and the former scrum half is now Samoa’s team manager. He is hoping that history can repeat itself in 2011, when the islanders will also face defending champions South Africa, Fiji and the Africa 1 qualifier.

“Our next appointment is the northern hemisphere tour, which involves Wales, France and Italy in November,” explained Vaea. “In between we have obviously got a lot of work to do in terms of preparation for 2011.

“There is a lot of preparation in Samoa and also trying to get our squad, our wider squad who are all over the globe in Europe and Japan, New Zealand and Australia, so there is a lot of admin work to be done before that tour.

Million dollar question

Vaea played eight tests between 1991 and 1995, so knows the importance of Samoa’s end of season tour, when they will also face France and Italy in their steady build-up to World Cup.

“The tour is going to be important for us in terms of blooding in our squad for 2011, so we are looking forward to that. The boys will deserve a break now [after qualifying], but we have got a lot of background work to do.”

Bringing together their players from around the world, and getting preparation time as a whole squad, remains 'a challenge' but one that Vaea and Samoa have been working hard to resolve in order to give themselves the best possible chance of creating another upset or two in 2011.

“It is the million dollar question [how difficult it is to get players together],” added Vaea. “It is hard in a sense that we get them from different playing styles, we get them from different atmospheres.

“It is also difficult when you have them for a short amount of time in terms of preparation before Test matches when you compare it to the Tier 1 nations New Zealand, Australia and the rest where you normally have those players in your domestic competition, whereas we don’t have that luxury.

“Preparation time for us has always been a challenge but we manage – it is nothing new for us. We just try and negotiate and work with the overseas clubs so we can get a little bit more buy in in terms of time.”

Source

Tryscoring Samoan wing latest Taranaki signing

2009-07-30T11:14:00.000+10:00

Manu Samoa wing Esera Lauina is the latest signing for Taranaki rugby.

With Taranaki's leading tryscorer, Paul Perez, sidelined after snapping his ankle earlier this month, coach Adrian Kennedy has been on the hunt for a replacement. Lauina, who has played 12 tests for Manu Samoa and holds his country's record number of tries in a test, four, arrived in New Plymouth on Saturday and trained with the Tenderlink Taranaki team yesterday. Lauina's four-try haul came in Manu Samoa's final World Cup qualifying match against Papua New Guinea, with the Samoans winning 115-7 in Apia two weeks ago. "He played in the Pacific Nations Cup and is very quick. He's only 23 and looks a good finisher."

At 93kg, Lauina could be an outside chance of gaining selection for Taranaki's opening Air New Zealand Cup match against Tasman in Blenheim on Thursday night.

Australian sevens player Ed Jenkins looks a better bet to start against Tasman, with Shayne Austin hurting his ankle in last Friday's 28-24 loss to Waikato in Hamilton.

Jenkins returned to rugby after an injury break with half a game for Tukapa B and on Saturday played a whole game for Tukapa A, helping the side to an upset 29-18 win over Coastal at Rahotu.

"Ra [assistant coach Ra Mako] and I went down and watched him [Ed] play. Ed had a good allround game and is definitely in contention for Tasman," Kennedy said.

Kennedy said the Taranaki players would have a day off today, with their final training run before the Tasman game tomorrow.

The team would be named after tomorrow's training, with the players heading to Blenheim on Wednesday for the Thursday match kicking off at 7.35pm. The match is the first in this year's Air New Zealand Cup competition.

Source

Tuilagi blow for Tigers

2009-07-30T11:08:00.001+10:00

Guinness Premiership champions Leicester have been hit by the news that Alesana Tuilagi will miss the start of the season due to a broken foot.

The powerful winger, who sustained the injury while playing for Samoa in World Cup qualifying, had surgery in New Zealand and is expected to be out of action until the end of September.

Leicester begin their title defence against Sale, Harlequins, Newcastle and then Bath.

"He broke his foot playing for Samoa and he's back today. He should be fit by the end of September," Tigers head coach Richard Cockerill told the Leicester Mercury.

"He had surgery in New Zealand, but he will be okay. It's one of those things."

There was good news for Leicester, however, with experienced centre Aaron Mauger expected to start the new season injury-free.

The New Zealand international missed a large chunk of last term due to groin and back problems, but Cockerill is confident about the Kiwi's progress.

"All the indications are that he will be ready for the start of the season," he added.

Source

World cup ticket prices will be "a shock"

2009-07-25T18:25:00.001+10:00

7/24/2009 11:27 AM

Rugby fans are being advised to start saving now if they want to buy tickets to the major matches at the Rugby World Cup

New Zealanders are being told to start saving now if they want to be able to afford tickets to the big matches at the 2011 Rugby World Cup.

Rugby World Cup 2011 CEO Martin Snedden says ticket prices to the knock out matches are going to come as a shock.

He says it is also going to be a challenge to sell enough tickets.

Snedden says there will be long term payment plans for people who want to attend the quarter-finals.

"Equally against that we know we're going to have to balance out the prices for the rest of the matches. So you're probably going to end up with about 12 of the 48 matches that are in the really high price bracket."

Snedden says they are not releasing ticket prices publicly yet.

Source

Samoa qualify for Rugby World Cup 2011

2009-07-25T18:19:00.000+10:00

* Samoa beat Papua New Guinea 73-12 in Port Moresby on Saturday to complete a comprehensive 188-19 aggregate win and book their place at the 2011 Rugby World Cup in New Zealand.

Samoa becomes the second nation to progress through the global qualifying process, following Canada's qualification last weekend, and the 14th to secure its place in the tournament.

The Samoans join defending World Champions South Africa in Pool D along with Wales and Fiji. The pool line-up will be completed by the winner of Africa's qualifying final, between Tunisia and Namibia in November.

Samoa started at the Lloyd Robson stadium at a ferocious pace and wing Mikaele Pesamino crossed for the first of his three tries after just four minutes. Five more unanswered first half tries by Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu, Andrew Williams (2), Semo Sititi and a second for Pesamino put the result beyond doubt, and Titi Esau landed four of the conversions to make the score 38-0 at the break.

Rugby: Samoa quits Pacific alliance

2009-07-18T06:34:00.000+10:00

12:00PM Friday Jul 17, 2009
Manu Samoan stars Earl Va'a and Brian Lima in this file picture. Photo / Kenny Rodger
Manu Samoan stars Earl Va'a and Brian Lima in this file picture. Photo / Kenny Rodger

Samoa has split from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, likely spelling an end to the Pacific Islanders team which plays tests against top rugby nations.

The Samoan Rugby Union this week informed fellow Alliance members Fiji and Tonga of its intention to withdraw, saying the merged Pacific Island team had failed to produce financial benefits sought by member unions.

"We've already advised (PIRA) of that decision by Samoa," Samoa Rugby Union chief executive Peter Schuster told the Samoa Observer newspaper. "The original concept was basically to provide an opportunity (to play) every two years.

"There were two aims, to get revenue to help in the running of the activities of the unions (and) to provide players with the opportunity to play against tier one sides.

"But the International Rugby Board (IRB) changed the schedule for the Pacific Islands team to play every four years. Every four years won't generate the revenue needed to run our rugby."

Samoa said the Pacific Islanders concept was designed to increase the profile of Pacific rugby and attract sponsorship but that would be better achieved by teams played tests individually.

Click Here!

The Samoan Rugby Union also this week withdrew its expression of interest in fielding a team in an expanded Super 14 tournament.

Samoa was the only Pacific nation invited by Super 14 bosses SANZAR to bid for a place in the enlarged 15-team competition but Schuster said the island nation did not have the financial resources or facilities to support a team at this stage.

"Unfortunately our stadium at Apia Park is not a full (international) rugby ground," Schuster told the Observer.

"It doesn't meet the width and length of a full international field."

Schuster said a Super competition might eventually expand to 18 or 20 teams and Samoa would re-examine participation at that time. It was also eager to discuss with Australia whether Samoan players might join a new franchise based there.

"From what I can gather it's a choice between Melbourne, Gold Coast and western Sydney," he said.

"They're not sure yet whether it will be in Melbourne but we've already indicated ... that we'd like to have a relationship with the new team."

- AP

Source

Samoa to pull out of Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance

2009-07-18T06:28:00.000+10:00

Samoa has split from the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, likely spelling an end to the Pacific Islanders team which plays tests against top rugby nations.

Samoa Rugby Union chief executive Peter Schuster told the Samoa Observer newspaper it intended withdrawing as the merged Pacific Island team had failed to produce financial benefits sought by member unions

Source

Inga Tuigamala Article: McCaw - Smith battle the key to Bledisloe

2009-07-17T11:07:00.000+10:00

Tomorrow's test match will probably come down to who wins the individual battle between Richie McCaw and George Smith.

The All Blacks are a different team with McCaw back and they'll be banking on their captain producing another massive effort.

But Smith is also a class act and he will be out to celebrate his 100th game with a win against the All Blacks.

It says quite a bit about the current All Black team that they depend so heavily on McCaw.

In my time, we were fortunate that we had so many players of that calibre, legends in their own right.

Sean Fitzpatrick was a guy who stood out but he was just one of a group of players of the same iconic calibre.

I'm talking about guys like Michael Jones, Zinzan Brooke, Buck Shelford and John Kirwan.

We had so many players who could change a game. Today's team just doesn't have many players of that calibre. Dan Carter and McCaw really stand out, and maybe one or two others.

The All Blacks have made a slow start this year with three pretty ugly performances against France and Italy but there were plenty of players in key positions missing for those games.

Click Here!

The atrocious weather was also a factor in performances that certainly weren't much of a spectacle. In comparison with the Lions' tour of South Africa, it was pretty ugly stuff, but it would be a mistake to read too much into that.

Those matches might have been better spectacles but they were played in perfect conditions. I don't think the All Blacks are that far off the pace.

That said, Graham Henry and his coaching team will be concerned their side is not really where they'd want it to be. On current form you'd have to say we are underdogs for tomorrow's match. History shows that we don't lose very often to Australia at Eden Park, but history counts for nothing.

The Wallabies seem to have plenty of good young players coming through, which is a tribute to Robbie Deans' ability to develop and nurture young talent. The All Blacks don't appear to have that same balance about them. It is going to be a real test of character.

But this is the All Blacks and it is our oldest rivals from across the creek, so I don't expect any All Black to take a backward step.

Many of the All Blacks have plenty to prove. Stephen Donald had a fantastic Super 14 but this is test rugby. It is a whole new level. Against France there were areas of his game that weren't quite up to test standard, but he is still young and I am optimistic he will step up to the mark.

The reality is that he has to. With Carter out we are very fragile in that area. Luke McAlister is not a specialist, which is what is needed at test level. Without a well-settled, specialist first five-eighths, no team will go far.

At the moment, it appears to be a case of wait and see. It will be interesting to see how that particular chapter unfolds tomorrow.

If we can conjure a bit of mongrel in our pack, be really physical on defence and precise and accurate in our backs then players like Mils Muliaina should flourish.

Personally, I would love to have seen a bit more firepower out wide. I think the selectors should have stuck with Lelia Masaga. He did nothing wrong against Italy and he has the ability to keep a defence guessing.

Sanzar's half-hearted inquiry whether Samoa wanted to bid to host the 15th Super Rugby team was an insult to Pacific Islands rugby.

Basing a team in Samoa is not commercially or economically viable and Sanzar knows that.

It was like dangling a carrot in front of a donkey.

If Sanzar was really serious about supporting rugby in the Islands it would introduce a combined Pacific team and support it financially.

The Islands contribute hugely to rugby in New Zealand and Australia. What do they get in return? A slap in the face.

Source

Samoa put 100 points on PNG

2009-07-14T05:06:00.001+10:00

Samoa took a giant step towards securing Oceania's qualifying spot at Rugby World Cup 2011 with an impressive 115-7 victory over Papua New Guinea at Apia Park on Saturday.

The overwhelming favourites to secure the Oceania 1 berth and a place in Pool D with defending champions South Africa, Wales, Fiji and the Africa 1 qualifier scored a remarkable seventeen tries in the first leg.

Papua New Guinea were only too well aware of the huge task facing them after beating Cook Islands in the Oceania Cup final last weekend, but kept battling bravely against their more experienced opponents.

The visitors to the Samoa capital enjoyed a start they could only have dreamed of when wing Roland Namo touched down in the first minute with Jack Maraha's conversion giving Papua New Guinea a 7-0 advantage.

Within minutes, though, Samoa were level through flanker Semo Sititi's try and by the time the half hour mark had arrived the hosts were leading 56-0 with wing Esera Lauina (2), Gavin Williams (2), full-back Titi Esau, captain George Stowers and flanker Ofisa Treviranus all crossing the whitewash.

Sevens star Uale Mai scored his side's ninth try to make it 63-7 at the interval, but despite ringing the changes there was no let up from Samoa in the second half with a further eight tries put on the board.

Replacement hooker Andrew Williams crossed first within minutes of the restart with Lauina next to complete his hat-trick, Williams kicking the conversion for the latter to take his personal tally to 30 points in the match.

Three other replacements got their names on the scoreboard in Mikaele Pesamino, Reupena Levasa and Ernest Skelton with Andrew Williams claiming his second and Fosi Palaamo touching down before Lauina crossed for his fourth try of the day.

The two sides will come together for the second leg in Port Moresby next Saturday in what will be an historic occasion with a fully-fledged Samoan national side playing in Papua New Guinea for the first time.

Source