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Samoa national rugby union team

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Template:Short description Template:About Template:Infobox national rugby team

The Samoa national rugby union team represents Samoa in men's international rugby union competitions. They are governed by Samoa Rugby Union and also known as "Manu Samoa", which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> 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.<ref>We quit: SRU Samoa Observer</ref> They are ranked 13th in the world.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

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 quarterfinals. 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.

HistoryEdit

The Marist Brothers brought 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 7Template:Nbspam 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 Samoa 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 achievements were in Sevens where it won the 1993 Hong Kong and 1992 Middlesex Sevens. The 1995 Rugby World Cup in 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.<ref name="RNZI_9519">Template:Cite news</ref><ref name=2011_FaySamoaNeedsChange>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

File:Japan vs Samoa Rugby Matc 17 June 2012.jpg
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 quarterfinal 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.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

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.<ref>Samoa shock Australia with 32–23 win in Sydney BBC Sport, 17 July 2011</ref>

In November 2017, Samoa's prime minister and SRU chairman Tuila'epa Sa'ilele Malielegaoi announced that the organisation was bankrupt,<ref name="Union broke, P.M. admits">Template:Cite news</ref> although those claims were denied by world governing body World Rugby.<ref name="Autumn Tests: Samoa rugby not bankrupt, says World Rugby">Template:Cite news</ref>

Overall recordEdit

Template:World Rugby Rankings Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Samoa national XV at test level up until 21 September 2024.<ref>Samoa rugby statistics</ref>

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
Template:Ru 5 3 2 0 {{#expr:3/5*100 round 2}}% 121 101 +20
Template:Ru 6 1 5 0 16.66% 73 238 −165
Template:RuA 1 1 0 0 100.00% 31 26 +5
Template:Noflag 1 0 1 0 0.00% 24 27 −3
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 37 8 +29
Template:Ru 6 6 0 0 100.00% 169 103 +66
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 43 10 +33
Template:Ru 3 3 0 0 100.00% 102 31 +71
Template:Ru 9 0 9 0 0.00% 131 310 −179
Template:Ru 56 21 32 3 {{#expr:21/56*100 round 2}}% 979 1,144 −165
Template:Ru 3 0 3 0 0.00% 20 58 −38
Template:Ru 4 0 4 0 0.00% 49 156 −107
Template:Ru 6 2 3 1 {{#expr:2/6*100 round 2}}% 135 110 +25
Template:Ru 2 2 0 0 100.00% 108 43 +65
Template:Ru 8 1 7 0 {{#expr:1/8*100 round 2}}% 121 273 −152
Template:Ru 9 6 3 0 {{#expr:6/9*100 round 2}}% 225 183 +42
Template:Ru 19 12 7 0 {{#expr:12/19*100 round 2}}% 574 410 +164
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 74 7 +67
Template:Ru 2 2 0 0 100.00% 89 25 +64
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 28 6 +22
Template:Ru 7 0 7 0 0.00% 72 411 −339
Template:Ru 2 2 0 0 100.00% 188 19 +169
Template:Ru 3 1 2 0 {{#expr:1/3*100 round 2}}% 59 49 +10
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 34 9 +25
Template:Ru 12 1 10 1 {{#expr:1/12*100 round 2}}% 193 332 −139
Template:Ru 9 0 9 0 0.00% 99 431 −332
Template:Ru 2 2 0 0 100.00% 62 40 +22
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 33 11 +22
Template:Ru 70 39 27 4 {{#expr:39/70*100 round 2}}% 1,334 1,045 +289
Template:Ru 8 6 2 0 {{#expr:6/8*100 round 2}}% 174 141 +33
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 60 13 +47
Template:Ru 10 4 6 0 40.00% 180 235 −55
Template:Ru 1 1 0 0 100.00% 54 9 +45
Total 271 123 139 9 {{#expr:123/271*100 round 2}}% 5,675 6,014 −339

World Cup recordEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}} Template:Samoa Rugby World Cup record In one of the scenes of the feature film, Invictus, Western Samoa can be seen playing South Africa in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Pacific Nations CupEdit

{{#invoke:Labelled list hatnote|labelledList|Main article|Main articles|Main page|Main pages}}

Samoa previously competed in the Pacific Tri-Nations winning 11 tournaments. The Pacific Nations Cup replaced the Tri-Nations tournament in 2006. Samoa have won four tournaments.

Tournament Won Drawn Lost Samoa finish
2006 2 0 2 2nd / 5
2007 3 0 2 3rd / 6
2008 2 0 3 3rd / 6
2009 2 0 2 3rd / 5
2010 2 0 1 1st / 4
2011 1 0 2 3rd / 4
2012 3 0 0 1st / 4
2013 Template:N/a Template:N/a Template:N/a DNP
2014 1 1 0 1st / 3
2015 2 1 1 2nd / 6
2016 1 0 1 2nd / 3
2017 0 0 2 3rd / 3
2018 0 0 2 4th / 4
2019 1 0 2 4th / 6
2022 3 0 0 1st / 4
2024 2 0 2 3rd / 6
Total 25 2 21 4 titles

Wins against Tier 1 nationsEdit

Samoa have recorded 17 wins against tier 1 nations. In addition, Samoa drew with Scotland 15–15 on the 18 November 1995 at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland. Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2 Template:Rugbybox collapsible2

PlayersEdit

Current squadEdit

On 14 August, Samoa named a 31-player squad for the opening test of the 2024 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup against Fiji.<ref>Template:Cite news</ref>

After initially not being named in the squad, players Lalomilo Lalomilo (centre), Brook Toomalatai (prop), Jonah Mau'u (flanker) and Danny Tusitala (scrum-half) were all named in the opening round of the tournament.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Head coach: Template:Flagdeco Mahonri Schwalger

  • Caps updated: 14 August 2024 (pre-game vs. Fiji)

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Player recordsEdit

Most capsEdit

# 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 Jack Lam Flanker 2013-2022 44 39 5 14 28 2 41.66
Zak Taulafo Prop 2009–2016 44 39 5 20 22 2 47.72
8 Opeta Palepoi Lock 1998–2005 43 30 13 24 19 0 55.81
9 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

Last updated: United States vs Samoa, 21 September 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Most triesEdit

# 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 2018–2023 21 16 5 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– 36 33 3 45 9
Elvis Seveali'i Centre 2000–2007 20 16 4 45 9

Last updated: United States vs Samoa, 21 September 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.<ref name="stats.espnscrum.com">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Most pointsEdit

# 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 Roger Warren Fly-half 2004–2008 12 119 0 13 29 2
7 D'Angelo Leuila Fly-half 2016- 29 106 2 21 16 2
Gavin Williams Centre 2007–2010 16 106 5 18 15 0
9 Tanner Vili Fly-half 1999–2006 31 99 4 20 13 0
10 Alesana Tuilagi Wing 2002–2015 37 90 18 0 0 0

Last updated: United States vs Samoa, 21 September 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Most matches as captainEdit

# 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 Chris Vui Lock 2017–2023 11 4 7 0 37.50 5 1
7 Michael Alaalatoa Prop 2019-2023 10 8 2 0 77.00 0 0
8 Jack Lam Flanker 2018–2019 9 1 8 0 12.50 15 3
9 George Stowers Number 8 2008–2009 7 4 3 0 57.14 10 2
10 Theo McFarland Lock 2024- 6 4 2 0 66.00 0 0

Last updated: United States vs Samoa, 21 September 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Most points in a matchEdit

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1 Gavin Williams Centre 30 2 10 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 11/07/2009
2 Roger Warren Fly-half 24 0 0 8 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 29/05/2004
3 Andrew Aiolupo Fullback 23 1 8 1 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Tokyo 08/04/1990
Silao Leaega Fullback 23 1 3 4 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Wrexham 03/10/1999
Toa Samania Fullback 23 1 3 4 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 08/07/2000
6 Darren Kellett Fly-half 22 0 2 5 1 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Moamoa 04/06/1994
Ahsee Tuala Fullback 22 2 6 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Heidelberg 14/07/2018
8 To'o Vaega Centre 21 1 4 3 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 01/06/1991
Earl Va'a Fly-half 21 1 5 2 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Perth 19/10/2003
Roger Warren Fly-half 21 0 3 4 1 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 09/07/2005

Last updated: United States vs Samoa, 21 September 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

Most tries in a matchEdit

# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1 Elvis Seveali'i Wing 20 4 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 10/06/2000
Alesana Tuilagi Wing 20 4 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 02/07/2005
Esera Lauina Wing 20 4 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 11/07/2009
Robert Lilomaiava Wing 20 4 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Colwyn Bay 09/11/2012
5 Tupo Fa'amasino Wing 12 3 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Tokyo 08/04/1990
Brian Lima Centre 12 3 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 01/06/1991
Afato So'oalo Wing 15 3 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 28/06/1997
Dominic Feau'nati Wing 15 3 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Windhoek 12/07/2003
Mikaele Pesamino Wing 15 3 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Port Moresby 18/07/2009
Alesana Tuilagi Wing 15 3 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Rotorua 14/09/2011
Ed Fidow Wing 15 3 0 0 0 Template:Ru Template:Flagicon Apia 30/06/2018

Last updated: United States vs Samoa, 21 September 2024. Statistics include officially capped matches only.<ref>{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref>

CoachesEdit

Current CoachesEdit

Coaching HistoryEdit

Period Name Nationality
197?–19?? Keli Tuatagaloa Template:SAM
198?–198? Paul Wallwork Template:SAM
198?–1988 Richard Cook Template:NZL
1989–1995 Peter Schuster Template:SAM
1996–1999 Bryan Williams Template:NZL
2000–2003 John Boe Template:NZL
2004–2007 Michael Jones Template:NZL
2008–2009 Niko Palamo Template:SAM
2009–2011 Titimaea Tafua Template:SAM
2011 Scott Wisemantel Template:AUS
2012–2015 Stephen Betham Template:SAM
2016–2017 Alama Ieremia Template:NZL
2017–2018 Titimaea Tafua Template:SAM
2018–2020 Steve Jackson Template:NZL
2020–2023 Seilala Mapusua Template:SAM
2024–2025 Mahonri Schwalger Template:SAM
2025–present Tusi Pisi Template:SAM

New Zealand connectionEdit

Template:More citations needed section Western Samoa's triumph in the 1991 Rugby World Cup was inspired by their assistant coach Bryan Williams,Template: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. At the 2007 World Cup, there were 14 New Zealand-born players in the Samoan squad.<ref name="BornAbroad">{{#invoke:citation/CS1|citation |CitationClass=web }}</ref> The only team with more foreign born players in their squad was Italy who had 15.<ref name="BornAbroad"/>

StripsEdit

Template:Sister project 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 incorporated 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 Newcall
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<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^b{{#if:| }} Cromwell Property Group (front),
Redefine Properties (back)
2015 BLK
2016 Bluesky Communications
2016–2017 LE Sportswear
2017 Magnum Hire (front),<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^c{{#if:| }}
Henderson Cars (back) <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^c{{#if:| }}
Invest Samoa <templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^d{{#if:| }}
2018–2021 BLK Grey Investment Group
2021 Dynasty Sport<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^e{{#if:| }}
2021-2022 Castore Grey Investment Group
2022 Aramis Rugby (front)

Samoa IBFC (back)

2023-2024 Macron
2024- Samurai Sportswear
<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^b{{#if:| }} Canterbury brand apparel was supplied for the 2014 end-of-year tour.
<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^c{{#if:| }} Sponsors worn during the Pasifika Challenge double-header.
<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^d{{#if:| }} Invest Samoa sponsored Samoa during the 2017 end-of-year rugby union tests.
<templatestyles src="Citation/styles.css"/>^e{{#if:| }} Lakapi Samoa partners with Dynasty Sport and reveals Jersey for the June-July 2021 Test Series.

See alsoEdit

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NotesEdit

Template:Reflist

External linksEdit

Template:Commons cat

Template:Samoa national rugby union team Template:Navboxes

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