Samoa national rugby union team

Samoa

Nickname(s)	Manu Samoa
Emblem	Southern cross
Union	Samoa Rugby Union
Head coach	Steve Jackson
Captain	Chris Vui
Most caps	Brian Lima (64)
Top scorer	Tusi Pisi (219)
Top try scorer	Brian Lima (29)
Home stadium	Apia Park
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	16 (as of 21 May 2018)
Highest	7 (2013)
Lowest	17 (2018)
First international
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
Appearances	7 (First in 1991)
Best result	Quarter-finals, 1991 and 1995
Medal record International medals Pacific Games 1971 Papeete 1991 Port Moresby 1983 Apia 1963 Suva
Website	www.manusamoa.com

The Samoa national rugby union team (also known as Manu Samoa) is governed by the Samoa Rugby Union, which is owned by the affiliated 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 16th 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.

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 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.^[3][4]

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.

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	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: Patrick Robin (France)

13 October 1991	Argentina	12–35	Samoa	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	34–9	Wales	Moamoa
	Try: Lam Lima (2) Con: Kellett (2) Pen: Kellett (5)	Report	Pen: N Jenkins (3)	Referee: Barry Leask (Australia)

27 May 1995	Italy	18–42	Samoa	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: Joel Dume (France)

30 May 1995	Argentina	26–32	Samoa	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: David Bishop (New Zealand)

12 November 1996	Ireland	25–40	Samoa	Lansdowne Road, Dublin
	Try: Wallace Con: Mason Pen: Mason (6)	Report	Try: Leaupepe Patu So'oalo Vaega (2) Con: Va'a (3) Pen: Va'a (3)	Referee: Santiago Borsani (Argentina)

14 October 1999	Wales	31–38	Samoa	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: Ed Morrison (England)

8 July 2000	Samoa	43–24	Italy	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: Tappe Henning (South Africa)

24 November 2001	Italy	9–17	Samoa	Stadio Tommaso Fattori, L'Aquila
	Pen: Domínguez (3)	Report	Try: Fa'atau Pen: Leaega (2) Vili (2)	Attendance: 8,000 Referee: Robert G. Davies (Wales)

3 December 2005	Argentina	12–28	Samoa	Buenos Aires
	Try: Agulla Fernández Lobbe Con: Fernández Miranda	Report	Try: Johnston Sititi Tagicakibau Con: Warren (2) Pen: Warren (2) Drop: Warren	Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

17 July 2011	Australia	23–32	Samoa	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: Marius Jonker (South Africa)

16 November 2012	Wales	19–26	Samoa	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: Pascal Gauzère (France)

8 June 2013	Samoa	27–17	Scotland	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: John Lacey (Ireland)

15 June 2013	Samoa	39–10	Italy	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' Anufe (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: Craig Joubert (South Africa)

14 June 2014	Samoa	15–0	Italy	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
Top 30 rankings as of 8 October 2018[9]
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		New Zealand	092.96
2		Ireland	090.12
3		Wales	085.94
4		England	085.68
5		South Africa	083.52
6		Scotland	083.02
7		Australia	082.86
8		France	079.10
9		Argentina	078.01
10		Fiji	076.54
11		Japan	075.24
12		Tonga	073.84
13		Georgia	073.13
14		Italy	072.56
15		United States	071.66
16		Samoa	068.28
17		Romania	068.25
18		Uruguay	065.37
19		Russia	064.89
20		Spain	063.09
21		Hong Kong	060.46
22		Namibia	059.97
23		Canada	059.93
24		Portugal	058.30
25		Belgium	058.09
26		Brazil	056.81
27		Netherlands	056.52
28		Kenya	055.71
29		Germany	055.59
30		Chile	054.36
*Change from the previous week
Samoa's historical rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 2 July 2018[9]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Samoa national XV at test level up until 14 July 2018.^[10]

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Argentina	4	3	1	0	75%	111	82	+29
Australia	5	1	4	0	20.00%	58	204	−146
Belgium	1	1	0	0	100.00%	37	8	+29
Canada	6	6	0	0	100.00%	169	103	+66
England	8	0	8	0	0.00%	114	292	-178
Fiji	52	20	29	3	38.46%	918	1039	-121
Fiji XV	3	0	3	0	0.00%	20	58	-38
France	4	0	4	0	0.00%	49	156	-107
Georgia	4	1	2	1	25.00%	96	64	+32
Germany	3	3	0	0	100.00%	148	38	+110
Ireland	6	1	5	0	16.67%	103	209	-106
Italy	7	5	2	0	71.42%	175	109	+66
Japan	15	11	4	0	73.33%	482	273	+209
South Korea	1	1	0	0	100.00%	74	7	+67
Namibia	2	2	0	0	100.00%	89	25	+64
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	11	1	9	1	9.09%	193	298	-105
South Africa	9	0	9	0	0.00%	99	431	-332
Tonga	64	33	27	4	51.56%	1119	956	+163
United States	5	5	0	0	100.00%	117	85	+32
Uruguay	1	1	0	0	100.00%	60	13	+47
Wales	10	4	6	0	40.00%	180	235	-55
Total	232	101	122	9	43.53%	4722	5178	-456

Current squad

On 7th October, Steve Jackson named a 31-man squad for their 2018 Northern Hemisphere Tour where they will meet USA, Georgia and Spain

• Head Coach: Steve Jackson
• Caps Updated: 14 October 2018

Note: Flags indicate national union for the club/province as defined by World Rugby.

Player Position Date of Birth (Age) Caps Club/province Motu Matu'u Hooker (1987-04-30) 30 April 1987 13 London Irish Raymond Niuia Hooker (1991-10-14) 14 October 1991 0 Hawke's Bay Manu Leiataua Hooker (1986-12-26) 26 December 1986 19 Bayonne Logovi'i Mulipola Prop (1987-03-11) 11 March 1987 22 Newcastle Jordon Lay Prop (1992-11-05) 5 November 1992 9 Bristol James Lay Prop (1993-12-16) 16 December 1993 4 Bristol Donald Brighouse Prop (1993-03-29) 29 March 1993 3 Crusaders Hisa Sasagi Prop (1987-07-29) 29 July 1987 4 Otago Paul Alo-Emile Prop (1991-12-22) 22 December 1991 6 Stade Français Ben Nee-Nee Lock (1993-05-12) 12 May 1993 0 Blues Josh Tyrell Lock (1990-10-16) 16 October 1990 3 Doncaster Knights Brandon Nansen Lock (1993-11-03) 3 November 1993 2 Stade Français Filo Paulo Lock (1987-11-06) 6 November 1987 27 London Irish Ofisa Treviranus Flanker (1984-03-31) 31 March 1984 39 London Irish Faifili Levave Flanker (1986-01-15) 15 January 1986 16 DynaBoars Piula Fa'asalele Flanker (1988-01-22) 22 January 1988 14 Toulouse Jack Lam Flanker (1987-11-18) 18 November 1987 27 Bristol TJ Ioane Flanker (1989-05-09) 9 May 1989 15 Sale Sharks Melani Matavao Half-back (1995-11-19) 19 November 1995 7 Otago Dwayne Polotaivao Half-back (1990-07-30) 30 July 1990 2 Northcote RFC Pele Cowley Half-back (1993-04-16) 16 April 1993 9 Suburbs RFC Tusi Pisi First five-eighth (1982-06-18) 18 June 1982 32 Bristol D'angelo Leuila First five-eighth (1997-01-18) 18 January 1997 8 Papatoetoe RFC Stacey Ili Centre (1991-05-11) 11 May 1991 0 Hawke's Bay Rey Lee-Lo Centre (1986-02-28) 28 February 1986 18 Cardiff Blues Henry Taefu Centre (1993-04-02) 2 April 1993 1 Western Force Alapati Leiua Wing (1988-09-21) 21 September 1988 20 Bristol Ed Fidow Wing (1993-09-11) 11 September 1993 4 Bordeaux Tim Nanai-Williams Wing (1989-07-12) 12 July 1989 11 Clermont Jamie-Jerry Taulagi Fullback {{{age}}} 1 {{{club}}} Ahsee Tuala Fullback {{{age}}} 12 {{{club}}}

Individual all-time records

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	Apia	11/07/2009
2	Roger Warren	Fly-half	24	0	0	8	0	Tonga	Apia	29/05/2004
3	Andrew Aiolupo	Fullback	23	1	8	1	0	South Korea	Tokyo	08/04/1990
	Silao Leaega	Fullback	23	1	3	4	0	Japan	Wrexham	03/10/1999
	Toa Samania	Fullback	23	1	3	4	0	Italy	Apia	08/07/2000
6	Darren Kellett	Fly-half	22	0	2	5	1	Tonga	Moamoa	04/06/1994
7	To'o Vaega	Centre	21	1	4	3	0	Fiji	Apia	01/06/1991
	Earl Va'a	Fly-half	21	1	5	2	0	Georgia	Perth	19/10/2003
	Roger Warren	Fly-half	21	0	3	4	1	Fiji	Apia	09/07/2005
10	6 players on 20 points

Last updated: Samoa vs Canada, 25 November 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.^[15]

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	Apia	10/06/2000
	Alesana Tuilagi	Wing	20	4	0	0	0	Tonga	Apia	02/07/2005
	Esera Lauina	Wing	20	4	0	0	0	Papua New Guinea	Apia	11/07/2009
	Robert Lilomaiava	Wing	20	4	0	0	0	Canada	Colwyn Bay	09/11/2012
5	Tupo Fa'amasino	Wing	12	3	0	0	0	South Korea	Tokyo	08/04/1990
	Brian Lima	Centre	12	3	0	0	0	Fiji	Apia	01/06/1991
	Afato So'oalo	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Tonga	Apia	28/06/1997
	Dominic Feau'nati	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Namibia	Windhoek	12/07/2003
	Mikaele Pesamino	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Papua New Guinea	Port Moresby	18/07/2009
	Alesana Tuilagi	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Namibia	Rotorua	14/09/2011

Last updated: Samoa vs Canada, 9 November 2012. Statistics include officially capped matches only.^[16]

Youngest players

#	Player	Pos	Age	Opposition	Venue	Date
1	Anitele'a Tuilagi	Centre	19 years and 27 days	Tonga	Apia	02/07/2005
2	Carl Manu	(Centre)	19 years and 59 days	Fiji	Apia	01/06/2002
3	Toa Samania	Wing	19 years and 97 days	Wales	Moamoa	28/05/1991
4	Siro Fuatai		19 years and 114 days	Tonga	Apia	27/05/1972
5	Brian Lima	Centre	19 years and 123 days	Tonga	Nuku'alofa	28/05/1991
6	Va'a Tasi	Wing	19 years and 136 days	Fiji	Suva	04/07/1981
7	D'Angelo Leuila	(Fly-half)	19 years and 145 days	Georgia	Apia	11/06/2016
8	Esera Puleitu	Fly-half	19 years and 149 days	South Africa	Johannesburg	13/04/1995
9	Na'ama Leleimalefaga	(Prop)	19 years and 180 days	Fiji	Apia	19/05/2007
10	Lolani Koko	Centre	19 years and 263 days	Tonga	Suva	22/06/1983

Last updated: Samoa vs Georgia, 11 June 2016. Statistics include officially capped matches only.^[17]

Oldest players

#	Player	Pos	Age	Opposition	Venue	Date
1	Maurie Fa'asavalu	Flanker	37 years and 310 days	Romania	Bucharest	18/11/2017
2	Peter Fatialofa	Prop	37 years and 85 days	Fiji	Suva	20/07/1996
3	Nu'uuli Lene	(Prop)	36 years and 128 days	Georgia	Apia	11/06/2016
4	To'o Vaega	(Centre)	36 years and 86 days	Ireland	Dublin	11/11/2001
5	Cencus Johnston	Prop	36 years and 41 days	New Zealand	Auckland	16/06/2017
6	David Lemi	Wing	35 years and 288 days	England	Twickenham	25/11/2017
7	Brian Lima	Centre	35 years and 240 days	England	Nantes	22/09/2007
8	John Schuster	Centre	35 years and 160 days	United States	Apia	26/06/1999
9	Semo Sititi	Number 8	35 years and 134 days	Papua New Guinea	Port Moresby	18/07/2009
10	Kahn Fotuali'i	Scrum-half	35 years and 54 days	Fiji	Apia	15/07/2017

Last updated: England vs Samoa, 25 November 2017. Statistics include officially capped matches only.^[18]

The New Zealand connection

Western Samoa's triumph in the 1991 Rugby World Cup was inspired by their assistant coach Bryan Williams, 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.^[19] The only team with more foreign born players in their squad was Italy who had 15.^[19]

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.

1989-1998 Home

1998-2001 Home

1999 RWC Home

2001-2003 Home

2003-2005 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

See also

Wikimedia Commons has media related to Samoa national rugby union team.

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

Notes

External links

• Official website of Manu Samoa
• Samoa Rugby Union
• Manu Samoa Looking Forward For RWC2011 Manu Samoa Rugby blog
• Samoan rugby union news Planet Rugby
• The information website for supporters of the Manu Samoa Rugby Team
• Rankings International Rugby Board
• Pacific Islanders Rugby Team Supporters Site