Samoa national rugby union team

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Samoa women's national rugby union team.
Samoa
Shirt badge/Association crest
Nickname(s)Manu Samoa
EmblemSouthern cross
UnionLakapi Samoa
Head coachSeilala Mapusua
CaptainMichael Ala'alatoa
Most capsBrian Lima (65)
Top scorerTusi Pisi (245)
Top try scorerBrian Lima (31)
Home stadiumApia Park
First colours
Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current15 (as of 23 November 2020)
Highest7 (2013)
Lowest17 (2018)
First international
Western Samoa 0–6 Fiji
(Apia, Samoa; 18 August 1924)
Biggest win
Samoa 115–7 Papua New Guinea
(Apia, Samoa; 11 July 2009)
Biggest defeat
New Zealand 101–14 Samoa
(New Plymouth, New Zealand; 3 September 2008)
World Cup
Appearances8 (First in 1991)
Best resultQuarter-finals, 1991 and 1995
Medal record
Websitehttps://urbantechsamoa.com/manusamoa/

The Samoa national rugby union team (also known as Manu Samoa) represents Samoa in men's international rugby union and it is governed by the Samoa Rugby Union. The name Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga.[1] They are ranked 15th in the world.[2]

Rugby was introduced to Samoa in the early 1920s and a governing body was soon formed. The first international was played as Western Samoa against Fiji in August 1924. Along with Tonga, these nations would meet regularly and eventually contest competitions such as the Pacific Tri-Nations – with Western Samoa winning the first of these. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was known as Western Samoa.

Samoa have been to every Rugby World Cup since the 1991 tournament. That tournament, along with the 1995 competition, saw them make the quarter-finals. Under their new coach, former New Zealand and Samoan international player Michael Jones, Samoa competed in the 2007 Rugby World Cup. However, Samoa had a dismal World Cup campaign, winning only one match and finishing fourth in their group. Samoa showed an improved performance at the 2011 Rugby World Cup, winning two matches by comfortable margins, and losing close matches to South Africa and Wales.

History[]

The Marist Brothers brought the game of rugby to Western Samoa in 1924 and The Western Samoa Rugby Football Union was formed in 1924. On 18 August 1924, Western Samoa played its first international against Fiji in the capital Apia, the visitors winning 6–0. The match was played at 7 am to allow the Samoans time to get to work afterwards and was played on a pitch with a large tree on the halfway line. The return match was won 9–3 by Samoa to draw the series.

In 1954 Western Samoan visited both Pacific Island neighbors Fiji and Tonga but had to wait a further 20 years before a tour of New Zealand took place. The Samoans won one of eight matches on that tour.

The traditional tri-series between Tonga, Fiji and Western Samoa was established in 1982 with Western Samoa winning the first tournament. Wales visited Western Samoa and won the test 32–16 at Apia. The tour led to a return visit to Wales which brought Western Samoa out of International limbo, although Western Samoa were not invited to the first Rugby World Cup in 1987.

The following year a 14-match tour of Europe took place before a World Cup elimination series in Tokyo, which gave Western Samoa a place in the 1991 Rugby World Cup in Britain. They made a huge impact. After sweeping aside Wales 16–13 in Cardiff and defeating Argentina 35–12, and narrowly losing 3–9 to eventual champions Australia in their pool match, Western Samoa, a country with a population of 160,000, found itself in the quarterfinals against Scotland at Murrayfield. The Scots won comfortably 28–6, but the Samoans were clearly the personality team of the tournament. One Welsh fan ruefully remarked after Wales's defeat, "It's a good job we weren't playing all of Samoa."

Over the next two years the side had a number of notable wins. The most outstanding achievement were in Sevens where it won the 1993 Hong Kong and 1992 Middlesex Sevens. The 1995 Rugby World Cup gin South Africa proved that the team belonged in top company. They again reached the quarterfinals after wins over Argentina and Italy, but were beaten 42–14 by the eventual winners South Africa. After the Cup, Manu Samoa made a 13-match tour of England and Scotland, drawing 15–15 with the Scots and going down 27–9 to England.

With the advent of professional rugby in 1995 it was vital for Manu Samoa to develop a new administrative structure. This was made possible with Fay Richwhite and the Western Samoan Rugby Union joining forces to form Manu Samoa Rugby Limited. Fay Richwhite invested $5 million from 1995 to 2004 into Samoan rugby.[3][4]

Japan vs Samoa Rugby Match at Chichibunomiya Stadium on 17 June 2012, which was won by Samoa 27–26

Samoa emerged from the 1999 World Cup with its honor intact after another shock 38–31 victory over host nation Wales in the pool stages. They again lost out to Scotland in the quarter final play-off.

Manu Samoa qualified for the 2003 World Cup with a 17–16 loss against Fiji, Earl Va'a missing an injury-time penalty. They recovered to beat Tonga both home and away and avenged that Fijian defeat with a 22–12 win in Nadi. They ultimately had to settle for second place in the round robin, behind Fiji on points difference, and a place in the tougher of the two Rugby World Cup 2003 pools alongside automatic qualifiers England and South Africa. In one of the games of the tournament, they led eventual champions England for most of the game before losing 35–22.

Samoa qualified for the 2011 World Cup after beating Papua New Guinea 73–12 in Port Moresby on 18 July 2009. They won 188–19 on aggregate over two matches against Papua New Guinea, having won 115–7 at Apia Park the previous week.[5]

Samoa began their 2011 World Cup campaign preparation with a flying start, after registering an upset against No.2 ranked Australia with a four-try-to-two win of 32–23.[6]

Financial problems[]

In November 2017, Samoa's prime minister and SRU chairman Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi announced that the organisation was bankrupt,[7] although those claims were denied by world governing body World Rugby.[8]

World Cup record[]

Samoa performing their Siva Tau before playing South Africa at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.
Main article: Samoa at the Rugby World Cup
Year Result
1987 Not invited
1991 Quarter-finals
1995 Quarter-finals
1999 Quarter-final play-offs
2003 Pool stage
2007 Pool stage
2011 Pool stage
2015 Pool stage
2019 Pool stage

In one of the scenes of the feature film, Invictus, Western Samoa can be seen playing South Africa in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Wins against Tier 1 nations[]

6 October 1991 Wales  13–16 Samoa Samoa Wales Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff  
Try: I Evans
Emyr
Con: Ring
Pen: Ring
 Report Try: Vaega
Vaifale
Con: Vaea
Pen: Vaea (2)
 Attendance: 45,000
Referee: France Patrick Robin (France)
13 October 1991 Argentina  12–35 Samoa Samoa Wales Sardis Road, Pontypridd  
Try: Teran Nougues
Con: Arbizu
Pen: Arbizu
Laborde
 Report Try: Bachop
Bunce
Lima (2)
Tagaloa (2)
Con: Vaea (4)
Pen: Vaea
 Attendance: 8,500
25 June 1994 Samoa Samoa 34–9  Wales Samoa  
Try: Lam
Lima (2)
Con: Kellett (2)
Pen: Kellett (5)
 Report Pen: N Jenkins (3)
 Referee: Australia Barry Leask (Australia)
27 May 1995 Italy  18–42 Samoa Samoa South Africa ABSA Stadium, East London  
Try: Cuttitta
Vaccari
Con: Domínguez
Pen: Domínguez
Drop: Domínguez
 Report Try: Harder (2)
Kellett
Lima (2)
Tatupu
Con: Kellett (3)
Pen: Kellett (2)
 Attendance: 12,000
Referee: France Joel Dume (France)
30 May 1995 Argentina  26–32 Samoa Samoa South Africa ABSA Stadium, East London  
Try: Crexell
Penalty Try
Con: Cilley (2)
Pen: Cilley (4)
 Report Try: Harder
Lam
Leaupepe
Con: Kellett
Pen: Kellett (5)
 Attendance: 15,000
Referee: New Zealand Dave Bishop (New Zealand)
12 November 1996 Ireland  25–40 Samoa Samoa Ireland Lansdowne Road, Dublin  
Try: Wallace
Con:
Pen: (6)
 Report Try: Leaupepe

So'oalo
Vaega (2)
Con: Va'a (3)
Pen: Va'a (3)
 Referee: Argentina Santiago Borsani (Argentina)
14 October 1999 Wales  31–38 Samoa Samoa Wales Millennium Stadium, Cardiff  
Try: Thomas
Penalty Try (2)
Con: N Jenkins (2)
Pen: N Jenkins (4)
 Report Try: Bachop (2)
Falaniko
Lam
Leaega
Con: Leaega (5)
Pen: Leaega
 Attendance: 72,500
Referee: England Ed Morrison (England)
8 July 2000 Samoa Samoa 43–24  Italy Samoa Apia Park, Apia  
Try: Lima
Samania
So'oalo
Vaega
Vili
Con: Samania (3)
Pen: Samania (4)
 Report Try: Checchinato
Moscardi
Stoica
Con: Pez (3)
Drop: Pez
 Attendance: 7,500
Referee: South Africa Tappe Henning (South Africa)
24 November 2001 Italy  9–17 Samoa Samoa Italy Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L'Aquila  
Pen: Domínguez (3)
 Report Try: Fa'atau
Pen: Leaega (2)
Vili (2)
 Attendance: 8,000
Referee: Wales Robert G. Davies (Wales)
3 December 2005 Argentina  12–28 Samoa Samoa Argentina Buenos Aires  
Try: Agulla
Fernández Lobbe
Con: Fernández Miranda
 Report Try: Johnston
Sititi
Tagicakibau
Con: (2)
Pen: (2)
Drop:
Referee: Wales Nigel Owens (Wales)
17 July 2011 Australia  23–32 Samoa Samoa Australia Stadium Australia, Sydney  
Try: Ioane 37'
Giteau 70'
Con: Giteau (38', 71')
Pen: Giteau (40', 41', 57')
 Report Try: Tuilagi 11'
Williams 28'
Thompson 45'
G Pisi 54'
Con: T Pisi (13', 29', 55')
Pen: T Pisi (3', 65')
 Attendance: 29,908
Referee: South Africa Marius Jonker (South Africa)
16 November 2012 Wales  19–26 Samoa Samoa Wales Millennium Stadium, Cardiff  
Try: Beck 32'
Con: Halfpenny (1/1) 33'
Pen: Halfpenny (4/5) 15', 28', 49', 61'
 Report Try: Autagavaia 1' c
G Pisi 46' m
Leota 77' m
Con: T Pisi (1/3) 2'
Pen: T Pisi (3/6) 40', 56', 65'
 Attendance: 44,329
Referee: France Pascal Gauzère (France)
8 June 2013 Samoa Samoa 27–17  Scotland South Africa Mr Price Kings Park, Durban  
Try: So'oialo 6' c
Tuilagi (2) 11' c, 62' c
Con: So'oialo (3/3) 8', 13', 64'
Pen: So'oialo (2/3) 53', 69'
 Try: Lamont 49' m
Pen: Laidlaw (4/5) 10', 18', 31', 41'
 Attendance: 9,753
Referee: Ireland John Lacey (Ireland)
15 June 2013 Samoa Samoa 39–10  Italy South Africa Mbombela Stadium, Nelspruit  
Try: Williams 20' c
Leiua 41' m
Leota 53' c
Tuifu'a 63' c
Va'aulu 72' c
Con: Williams (3/4) 21', 53', 64'
(1/1) 73'
Pen: Williams (2/3) 30', 51'
 Try: Penalty try 70' c
Con: di Bernardo (1/1) 70'
Pen: Orquera (1/3) 27'
 Referee: South Africa Craig Joubert (South Africa)
14 June 2014 Samoa  15–0  Italy Samoa Apia Park, Apia  
14:00 WST (UTC+13) Pen: T. Pisi (5/7) 10', 24', 30', 47', 69'
 Report
(In Italian) 		Attendance: 7,000
Referee: George Clancy (Ireland)

Overall record[]

Men's World Rugby Rankings
  • v
  • t
Top 20 as of 13 September 2021[9]
Rank Change* Team Points
1 Steady  South Africa 092.49
2 Steady  New Zealand 090.31
3 Steady  England 085.44
4 Steady  Ireland 084.85
5 Increase2  Australia 084.11
6 Decrease1  France 083.87
7 Decrease1  Argentina 082.86
8 Steady  Scotland 082.02
9 Steady  Wales 080.59
10 Steady  Japan 079.13
11 Steady  Fiji 076.87
12 Steady  Georgia 073.73
13 Steady  Samoa 073.59
14 Steady  Italy 070.65
15 Steady  Tonga 068.57
16 Increase1  United States 067.12
17 Decrease1  Uruguay 067.02
18 Steady  Romania 066.22
19 Steady  Portugal 065.67
20 Steady  Spain 064.82
21 Steady  Canada 062.08
22 Steady  Hong Kong 061.23
23 Steady  Russia 060.94
24 Steady  Netherlands 059.30
25 Steady  Namibia 059.04
26 Steady  Brazil 056.32
27 Steady  Belgium 056.16
28 Steady  Chile 055.20
29 Steady   Switzerland 054.12
30 Steady  Germany 053.13
* Change from the previous week
Samoa's historical rankings

See or edit raw graph data.

Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 13 September 2021[9]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Samoa national XV at test level up until 18 July 2021.[10]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Argentina 4 3 1 0 75% 111 82 +29
 Australia 1 5 0 16.66% 73 238 −165
 Belgium 1 1 0 0 100.00% 37 8 +29
 Canada 6 6 0 0 100.00% 169 103 +66
 Cook Islands 3 3 0 0 100.00% 102 31 +71
 England 0 8 0 0.00% 114 292 −178
 Fiji 53 20 30 3 37.74% 921 1049 −128
 Fiji XV 3 0 3 0 0.00% 20 58 −38
 France 4 0 4 0 0.00% 49 156 −107
 Georgia 1 3 1 20.00% 115 91 +24
 Germany 2 2 0 0 100.00% 108 43 +65
 Ireland 1 6 0 14.29% 108 256 −148
 Italy 7 5 2 0 71.42% 175 109 +66
 Japan 16 11 5 0 68.75% 311 501 +190
 South Korea 1 1 0 0 100.00% 74 7 +67
 Namibia 2 2 0 0 100.00% 89 25 +64
 New Caledonia 1 1 0 0 100.00% 28 6 +22
 New Zealand 7 0 7 0 0.00% 72 411 −339
 Papua New Guinea 2 2 0 0 100.00% 188 19 +169
 Romania 2 0 2 0 0.00% 37 49 −12
 Scotland 1 10 1 8.33% 193 332 −139
 South Africa 0 9 0 0.00% 99 431 −332
 Russia 1 1 0 0 100.00% 34 9 +25
 Spain 1 1 0 0 100.00% 28 10 +18
 Tahiti 1 1 0 0 100.00% 33 11 +22
 Tonga 67 36 27 4 53.73% 1223 1001 +222
 United States 7 5 2 0 71.42% 156 128 +28
 Uruguay 1 1 0 0 100.00% 60 13 +47
 Wales 4 6 0 40.00% 180 235 −55
 West Germany 1 1 0 0 100.00% 54 9 +45
Total 248 106 133 9 42.74% 5008 5533 −525

Current squad[]

On 28 May, Samoa named a 31-man squad ahead of their matches against the Māori All Blacks and their 2023 Rugby World Cup qualifier with Tonga.[11]

  • Head Coach: Samoa Seilala Mapusua

Note: Caps correct as of 30 May 2021

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Seilala Lam Hooker (1989-02-18) 18 February 1989 (age 32) 16 France Perpignan
Ray Niuia Hooker (1991-06-19) 19 June 1991 (age 30) 8 New Zealand Blues
JP Sauni Hooker (1997-07-07) 7 July 1997 (age 24) 0 Australia Associates RUFC
Michael Ala'alatoa (c) Prop (1991-08-28) 28 August 1991 (age 30) 5 New Zealand Crusaders
Albert Anae Prop (1989-06-21) 21 June 1989 (age 32) 0 Australia Rebels
Aki Seiuli Prop (1992-12-22) 22 December 1992 (age 28) 0 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Kalolo Tuiloma Prop (1990-06-24) 24 June 1990 (age 31) 0 New Zealand Northland
Prop (1993-08-05) 5 August 1993 (age 28) 0 New Zealand Manawatu
Lock (1995-10-16) 16 October 1995 (age 25) 0 Samoa Moamoa Roosters
Ben Nee-Nee Lock (1993-05-12) 12 May 1993 (age 28) 1 Japan Kamaishi Seawaves
Filo Paulo Lock (1987-11-06) 6 November 1987 (age 33) 37 New Zealand Manawatu
TJ Ioane Loose forward (1989-05-09) 9 May 1989 (age 32) 25 Scotland Glasgow Warriors
Jack Lam Loose forward (1987-11-18) 18 November 1987 (age 33) 38 Japan NEC Green Rockets
Alamanda Motuga Loose forward (1994-09-11) 11 September 1994 (age 27) 1 New Zealand Counties Manukau
Loose forward (1989-12-28) 28 December 1989 (age 31) 0 Australia Hunter Wildfires
Samuel Slade Loose forward (1997-08-28) 28 August 1997 (age 24) 0 New Zealand Counties Manukau
Henry Stowers Loose forward (1995-03-03) 3 March 1995 (age 26) 2 Australia Brumbies
Scrum-half (1990-02-09) 9 February 1990 (age 31) 4 New Zealand Papatoetoe RFC
Dwayne Polataivao Scrum-half (1990-07-30) 30 July 1990 (age 31) 16 New Zealand Tasman
AJ Alatimu Fly-half (1993-03-25) 25 March 1993 (age 28) 6 United States Seattle Seawolves
Rodney Iona Fly-half (1991-08-17) 17 August 1991 (age 30) 3 Australia Gordon
Fly-half (1997-01-18) 18 January 1997 (age 24) 12 New Zealand Fraser Tech RFC
Centre (1992-01-29) 29 January 1992 (age 29) 0 New Zealand Hutt Old Boys Marist RFC
Neria Fomai Centre (1992-02-03) 3 February 1992 (age 29) 0 New Zealand Hawke's Bay
Stacey Ili Centre (1991-05-11) 11 May 1991 (age 30) 1 Australia Rebels
Henry Taefu Centre (1993-04-02) 2 April 1993 (age 28) 7 Australia Force
Wing (1997-12-11) 11 December 1997 (age 23) 0 Samoa Tama Uli Salelologa RC
Wing (1997-12-29) 29 December 1997 (age 23) 0 New Zealand Bay of Plenty
Wing (1993-03-10) 10 March 1993 (age 28) 0 Samoa Lauli'i Lions
Wing (1995-06-07) 7 June 1995 (age 26) 2 Samoa A'ana Chiefs
Ahsee Tuala Fullback (1989-08-23) 23 August 1989 (age 32) 22 England Northampton Saints

Player records[]

Most caps[]

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Won Lost Draw %
1 Brian Lima Wing 1991–2007 65 62 3 32 31 2 50.76
2 To'o Vaega Centre 1986–2001 61 56 5 35 25 1 58.19
3 Semo Sititi Flanker 1999–2009 59 50 9 33 26 0 55.93
4 Census Johnston Prop 2005–2017 57 43 14 25 31 1 44.73
5 David Lemi Wing 2004–2017 54 46 8 21 31 2 40.74
6 Zak Taulafo Prop 2009–2016 44 39 5 20 22 2 47.72
7 Opeta Palepoi Lock 1998–2005 43 30 13 24 19 0 55.81
8 Tusi Pisi Fly-half 2011–2019 42 38 4 15 26 1 36.90
Ofisa Treviranus Flanker 2009–2018 42 32 15 17 24 1 41.66
10 Jack Lam Flanker 2013- 41 36 5 12 27 2 41.66

Last updated: Tonga vs Samoa, 17 July 2021. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[12]

Most tries[]

# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries
1 Brian Lima Wing 1991–2007 65 62 3 140 29
2 Alesana Tuilagi Wing 2002–2015 37 35 2 90 18
3 Semo Sititi Flanker 1999–2009 59 50 9 85 17
4 Afato So'oalo Wing 1996–2001 20 18 2 80 16
5 Lome Fa'atau Wing 2000–2007 35 31 4 70 14
To'o Vaega Centre 1986–2001 61 56 5 79 14
7 David Lemi Wing 2004–2017 54 46 8 65 13
8 Ed Fidow Wing 2018–present 14 12 2 60 12
9 George Leaupepe Centre 1995–2005 26 23 3 50 10
10 Tupo Fa'amasino Centre 1988–1996 20 20 0 52 9
Alapati Leiua Centre 2013–present 31 29 2 45 9
Elvis Seveali'i Centre 2000–2007 20 16 4 45 9

Last updated: Tonga vs Samoa, 17 July 2021. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[13]

Most points[]

# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1 Tusi Pisi Fly-half 2011–2019 42 245 2 29 57 2
2 Earl Va'a Fly-half 1996–2003 28 174 3 33 31 0
3 Silao Leaega Fullback 1997–2002 19 145 2 21 31 0
4 Brian Lima Wing 1991–2007 65 140 29 0 0 0
5 Darren Kellett Fly-half 1993–1995 13 137 2 14 31 2
6 Fly-half 2004–2008 12 119 0 13 29 2
7 Gavin Williams Centre 2007–2010 16 106 5 18 15 0
8 Tanner Vili Fly-half 1999–2006 31 99 4 20 13 0
9 Alesana Tuilagi Wing 2002–2015 37 90 18 0 0 0
10 Andrew Aiolupo Fullback 1983–1994 37 89 3 21 11 0

Last updated: Tonga vs Samoa, 17 July 2021. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[14]

Most matches as captain[]

# Player Pos Span Mat Won Lost Draw % Pts Tries
1 Semo Sititi Flanker 2000–2007 39 19 20 0 48.71 45 9
2 Pat Lam Number 8 1995–1999 23 8 13 2 39.13 10 2
3 David Lemi Wing 2012–2017 21 9 10 2 47.61 35 7
4 Peter Fatialofa Prop 1990–1995 16 11 5 0 68.75 9 2
5 Mahonri Schwalger Hooker 2009–2011 13 5 8 0 38.46 0 0
6 Jack Lam Flanker 2018–present 9 1 8 0 12.50 15 3
7 Chris Vui Lock 2017–present 8 3 5 0 37.50 5 1
8 George Stowers Number 8 2008–2009 7 4 3 0 57.14 10 2
9 Kahn Fotuali'i Scrum-half 2013–2017 4 0 4 0 0.00 3 0
Ofisa Treviranus Number 8 2015 4 1 3 0 25.00 5 1
Alesana Tuilagi Wing 2015 4 2 1 1 62.50 5 1

Last updated: Tonga vs Samoa, 17 July 2021. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[15]

Most points in a match[]

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1 Gavin Williams Centre 30 2 10 0 0  Papua New Guinea Samoa Apia 11/07/2009
2 Fly-half 24 0 0 8 0  Tonga Samoa Apia 29/05/2004
3 Andrew Aiolupo Fullback 23 1 8 1 0  South Korea Japan Tokyo 08/04/1990
Silao Leaega Fullback 23 1 3 4 0  Japan Wales Wrexham 03/10/1999
Toa Samania Fullback 23 1 3 4 0  Italy Samoa Apia 08/07/2000
6 Darren Kellett Fly-half 22 0 2 5 1  Tonga Samoa Moamoa 04/06/1994
Ahsee Tuala Fullback 22 2 6 0 0  Germany Germany 14/07/2018
8 To'o Vaega Centre 21 1 4 3 0  Fiji Samoa Apia 01/06/1991
Earl Va'a Fly-half 21 1 5 2 0  Georgia Australia Perth 19/10/2003
Fly-half 21 0 3 4 1  Fiji Samoa Apia 09/07/2005

Last updated: Tonga vs Samoa, 17 July 2021. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[16]

Most tries in a match[]

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1 Elvis Seveali'i Wing 20 4 0 0 0  Japan Samoa Apia 10/06/2000
Alesana Tuilagi Wing 20 4 0 0 0  Tonga Samoa Apia 02/07/2005
Wing 20 4 0 0 0  Papua New Guinea Samoa Apia 11/07/2009
Wing 20 4 0 0 0  Canada Wales Colwyn Bay 09/11/2012
5 Tupo Fa'amasino Wing 12 3 0 0 0  South Korea Japan Tokyo 08/04/1990
Brian Lima Centre 12 3 0 0 0  Fiji Samoa Apia 01/06/1991
Afato So'oalo Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Tonga Samoa Apia 28/06/1997
Dominic Feau'nati Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Namibia Namibia Windhoek 12/07/2003
Mikaele Pesamino Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Papua New Guinea Papua New Guinea Port Moresby 18/07/2009
Alesana Tuilagi Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Namibia New Zealand Rotorua 14/09/2011
Ed Fidow Wing 15 3 0 0 0  Germany Samoa Apia 30/06/2018

Last updated: Tonga vs Samoa, 17 July 2021. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[17]

Coaches[]

Period Name Nationality
1988–1995 Peter Schuster  Samoa
1996–1999 Bryan Williams  New Zealand
2000–2003 John Boe  New Zealand
2004–2007 Michael Jones  New Zealand
2008–2009 Niko Palamo  Samoa
2009–2011 Titimaea Tafua  Samoa
2011 Scott Wisemantel  Australia
2012–2015 Stephen Betham  Samoa
2016–2017 Alama Ieremia  New Zealand
2017–2018 Titimaea Tafua  Samoa
2018–2020 Steve Jackson  New Zealand
2020–present Seilala Mapusua  Samoa

The New Zealand connection[]

Western Samoa's triumph in the 1991 Rugby World Cup was inspired by their assistant coach Bryan Williams,[citation needed] who was a New Zealand-born (of Samoan descent) All Black great of the 1970s. The 1991 Samoan World Cup team included many New Zealand born or raised players; the catalyst was Auckland prop Peter Fatialofa, who in 1989, became the first major New Zealand-based player to play for Samoa. By the time of the 1991 World Cup several other New Zealand-born Samoans like Pat Lam, Stephen Bachop, Frank Bunce and Apollo Perelini had joined him. New Zealand born players with Samoan parentage have played for Samoa, such as Earl Va'a, Pat Lam and Lome Fa'atau.

The rugby relationship that exists between New Zealand and Samoa is a complex one. Close ties exist between the two countries, these bonds first being formed with the start of mass Polynesian migration to New Zealand in the latter half of the twentieth century. In the 2007 World Cup there were 14 New Zealand-born players in the Samoan squad.[18] The only team with more foreign born players in their squad was Italy who had 15.[18]

Strips[]

Manu Samoa play in blue and white uniforms, with the home strip consisting of blue jerseys, white shorts and blue socks and the away kit being with the colours reversed. Since 2007, the flag of Samoa has been featured on the left sleeve and pe'a-like patterns were incorpored into the jerseys. Sponsored logos appear on jerseys for matches other than the Rugby World Cup, where branding, except for equipment manufacturers, is not allowed.

  • Period Kit manufacturer Shirt sponsor
    1986–1988 Umbro No shirt sponsor
    1988–1992 Canterbury
    1992–1994 Telecom New Zealand
    1994–1996 Vailima
    1996–1998 Reebok
    1998
    1999 Adidas
    1999–2003 No shirt sponsor
    2004–2005 Puma
    2005–2009 Samoa International Finance Authority
    2010–2011 KooGa
    2012–2013 BLK Digicel
    2014–2015 Canterbury^b Cromwell Property Group (front),
    (back)
    2015 BLK
    2016
    2016–2017 LE Sportswear
    2017 (front),^c
    Henderson Cars (back) ^c
    Invest Samoa ^d
    2018–2021 BLK Grey Investment Group
    2021-present Dynasty Sport^e
    ^b Canterbury brand apparel was supplied for the 2014 end-of-year tour.
    ^c Sponsors worn during the Pasifika Challenge double-header.
    ^d Invest Samoa sponsored Samoa during the 2017 end-of-year rugby union tests.
    ^e Lakapi Samoa partners with Dynasty Sport and reveals Jersey for the June-July 2021 Test Series.
  • 1989–1998 Home
    1998–2001 Home
    1999 RWC Home
    2001–2003 Home
    2003–2004 Home
    2005–2006 Home
    2003 RWC Home
    2007–2010 Home
    2010–2012 Home
    2010–2012 Away
    2012–2013 Home
    2014 Home
    2015 Rugby World Cup Home
    2015 Rugby World Cup Away
    2015–2016 Home
    2016 Home
    2016 Away
    2018 Home
    2019 Home
    2019 Away

See also[]

  • Rugby World Cup
  • Pacific Tri-Nations
  • Pacific Islanders rugby union team
  • Samoa national rugby sevens team
  • Samoa Rugby Football Union
  • Samoa national rugby league team

Notes[]

  1. ^ We quit: SRU Samoa Observer
  2. ^ "World Rugby Rankings". World Rugby.
  3. ^ "Samoa's Prime Minister praises banker, Sir Michael Fay, for supporting Manu Samoa". Radio New Zealand International. 18 April 2004. Retrieved 7 November 2011.
  4. ^ "Fay: Samoans need change". The New Zealand Herald. Retrieved 8 July 2015.
  5. ^ "Samoa qualify for 2011 World Cup". BBC Sport. 18 July 2009. Retrieved 4 August 2009.
  6. ^ Samoa shock Australia with 32–23 win in Sydney BBC Sport, 17 July 2011
  7. ^ "Union broke, P.M. admits". Samoa Observer. 7 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  8. ^ "Autumn Tests: Samoa rugby not bankrupt, says World Rugby". BBC Sport. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  9. ^ Jump up to: a b "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 13 September 2021.
  10. ^ Samoa rugby statistics
  11. ^ "Manu Samoa names 13 new caps to face Māori All Blacks, Tonga". Radio New Zealand. 28 May 2021. Retrieved 30 May 2021.
  12. ^ http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_matches.html?id=15;type=team
  13. ^ http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_tries.html?id=15;type=team
  14. ^ http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_points.html?id=15;type=team
  15. ^ http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_matches_captain.html?id=15;type=team
  16. ^ http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_points_match.html?id=15;type=team
  17. ^ http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_tries_match.html?id=15;type=team
  18. ^ Jump up to: a b "All those born abroad". Planet Rugby. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.

External links[]

Retrieved from ""