Samoa national rugby union team

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]

This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Samoa women's national rugby union team.
Samoa
Nickname(s)Manu Samoa
EmblemSouthern cross
UnionSamoa Rugby Union
Head coachSeilala Mapusua
CaptainJack Lam
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 13 Oct 2019)
Highest7 (2013)
Lowest17 (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
Appearances8 (First in 1991)
Best resultQuarter-finals, 1991 and 1995
Websitewww.manusamoa.com

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 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]

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
YearResult
1987Not invited
1991Quarterfinals
1995Quarterfinals
1999Quarterfinal play-offs
2003Pool stage
2007Pool stage
2011Pool stage
2015Pool stage
2019Pool 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

Overall record
Top 30 rankings as of 9 March 2020[9]
RankChange*TeamPoints
1  South Africa094.19
2  New Zealand092.11
3  England088.41
4  Ireland084.91
5  France082.73
6  Wales082.64
7  Australia081.90
8  Scotland080.68
9  Japan079.28
10  Argentina078.31
11  Fiji076.21
12  Georgia072.88
13  Tonga071.44
14  Italy071.07
15  Samoa070.72
16  United States068.10
17  Uruguay067.41
18  Spain067.14
19  Romania065.36
20 4 Russia062.13
21 1 Portugal061.27
22 1 Hong Kong061.23
23 1 Canada061.12
24 1 Namibia061.01
25  Netherlands060.08
26  Brazil058.89
27  Belgium057.19
28   Switzerland054.11
29  Chile053.83
30  Germany053.13
*Change from the previous week
Samoa's historical rankings
Source: World Rugby - Graph updated to 27 January 2020[9]

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Samoa national XV at test level up until 23 April 2020.[10]

Opponent Played Won Lost Drawn Win % For Aga Diff
 Argentina431075%11182+29
 Australia615016.66%73238–165
 Belgium1100100.00%378+29
 Canada6600100.00%169103+66
 Cook Islands3300100.00%10231+71
 England80800.00%114292–178
 Fiji532030337.74%9211049–128
 Fiji XV30300.00%2058–38
 France40400.00%49156-107
 Georgia513120.00%11591+24
 Germany2200100.00%10843+65
 Ireland716014.29%108256-148
 Italy752071.42%175109+66
 Japan16115068.75%311501+190
 South Korea1100100.00%747+67
 Namibia2200100.00%8925+64
 New Caledonia1100100.00%286+22
 New Zealand70700.00%72411–339
 Papua New Guinea2200100.00%18819+169
 Romania20200.00%3749–12
 Scotland1211018.33%193332–139
 South Africa90900.00%99431–332
 Russia1100100.00%349+25
 Spain1100100.00%2810+18
 Tahiti1100100.00%3311+22
 Tonga653427451.56%1144973+171
 United States752071.42%156128+28
 Uruguay1100100.00%6013+47
 Wales1046040.00%180235–55
 West Germany1100100.00%549+45
Total246104133942.28%49295505–576

Current squad

On 31 August, Samoa named a 31-man squad ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

On 10 September, Pele Cowley was called up as a replacement for Scott Malolua following a dislocated shoulder.[11]

On September 26, Alamanda Motuga joined the squad in Japan after Afa Amosa sustained an injury in Samoa's opening match.[12]

Note: Caps correct as of 12 October 2019

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Seilala Lam Hooker (1989-02-18)18 February 1989 (aged 30) 15 Perpignan
Motu Matu'u Hooker (1987-04-30)30 April 1987 (aged 32) 22 London Irish
Ray Niuia Hooker (1991-10-14)14 October 1991 (aged 27) 7 Highlanders
Michael Alaalatoa Prop (1991-08-28)28 August 1991 (aged 28) 4 Crusaders
Paul Alo-Emile Prop (1991-12-22)22 December 1991 (aged 27) 16 Stade Français
James Lay Prop (1993-12-16)16 December 1993 (aged 25) 11 Bristol
Jordan Lay Prop (1992-11-05)5 November 1992 (aged 26) 19 Bristol
Logovi'i Mulipola Prop (1987-03-11)11 March 1987 (aged 32) 32 Newcastle Falcons
Kane Le'aupepe Lock (1992-12-03)3 December 1992 (aged 26) 9 Hurricanes
Filo Paulo Lock (1987-11-06)6 November 1987 (aged 31) 36 Unattached
Senio Toleafoa Lock (1993-08-26)26 August 1993 (aged 26) 4 Nevers
Josh Tyrell Lock (1990-10-16)16 October 1990 (aged 28) 10 Oyonnax
Piula Fa'asalele Loose forward (1988-01-22)22 January 1988 (aged 31) 20 Perpignan
TJ Ioane Loose forward (1989-05-09)9 May 1989 (aged 30) 24 London Irish
Jack Lam (c) Loose forward (1987-11-18)18 November 1987 (aged 31) 37 Unattached
Alamanda Motuga Loose forward (1994-09-11) 11 September 1994 1 Manurewa RFC
Chris Vui Loose forward (1993-02-11)11 February 1993 (aged 26) 17 Bristol
Pele Cowley Scrum-half (1993-04-16)16 April 1993 (aged 26) 14 Ponsonby
Melani Matavao Scrum-half (1995-11-19)19 November 1995 (aged 23) 10 Aana Chiefs
Dwayne Polataivao Scrum-half (1990-07-30)30 July 1990 (aged 29) 16 Unattached
AJ Alatimu Fly-half (1993-03-25)25 March 1993 (aged 26) 6 Western Force
Tusi Pisi Fly-half (1982-06-18)18 June 1982 (aged 37) 41 Toyota Industries Shuttles
UJ Seuteni Fly-half (1993-12-09)9 December 1993 (aged 25) 5 Bordeaux-Bègles
Kieron Fonotia Centre (1988-02-02)2 February 1988 (aged 31) 11 Scarlets
Rey Lee-Lo Centre (1986-02-28)28 February 1986 (aged 33) 26 Cardiff Blues
Henry Taefu Centre (1993-04-02)2 April 1993 (aged 26) 6 Western Force
Ed Fidow Wing (1993-09-11)11 September 1993 (aged 26) 11 Worcester Warriors
Alapati Leiua Wing (1988-09-21)21 September 1988 (aged 30) 30 Bristol
Belgium Tuatagaloa Wing (1989-09-19)19 September 1989 (aged 30) 3 Unattached
Tim Nanai-Williams Fullback (1989-06-12)12 June 1989 (aged 30) 15 Clermont Auvergne
Ahsee Tuala Fullback (1989-08-23)23 August 1989 (aged 30) 22 Northampton Saints

Player records

Most caps
# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Won Lost Draw %
1Brian LimaWing1991–2007656233231250.76
2To'o VaegaCentre1986–2001615653525158.19
3Semo SititiFlanker1999–2009595093326055.93
4Census JohnstonProp2005–20175743142531144.73
5David LemiWing2004–2017544682131240.74
6Zak TaulafoProp2009–2016443952022247.72
7Opeta PalepoiLock1998–20054330132419055.81
8Tusi PisiFly-half2011–2019423841526136.90
Ofisa TreviranusFlanker2009-20184232151724141.66
10Mahonri SchwalgerHooker2000–2011403371822045.00

Last updated: Ireland vs Samoa, 12 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[13]

Most tries
# Player Pos Span Mat Start Sub Pts Tries
1Brian LimaWing1991–20076562314029
2Alesana TuilagiWing2002–2015373529018
3Semo SititiFlanker1999–2009595098517
4Afato So'oaloWing1996–2001201828016
5Lome Fa'atauWing2000–2007353147014
To'o VaegaCentre1986–2001615657914
7David LemiWing2004–2017544686513
8Ed FidowWing2018-121115010
George LeaupepeCentre1995–2005262335010
10Tupo Fa'amasinoCentre1988-199620200529
Alapati LeiuaCentre2013-31292459
Elvis Seveali'iCentre2000–200720164459

Last updated: Ireland vs Samoa, 12 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[14]

Most points
# Player Pos Span Mat Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop
1Tusi PisiFly-half2011–201942245229572
2Earl Va'aFly-half1996–200328174333310
3Silao LeaegaFullback1997–200219145221310
4Brian LimaWing1991–20076514029000
5Darren KellettFly-half1993–199513137214312
6Roger WarrenFly-half2004–200812119013292
7Gavin WilliamsCentre2007–201016106518150
8Tanner ViliFly-half1999–20063199420130
9Alesana TuilagiWing2002–2015379018000
10Andrew AiolupoFullback1983–19943789321110

Last updated: Ireland vs Samoa, 12 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[15]

Most matches as captain
# Player Pos Span Mat Won Lost Draw % Pts Tries
1Semo SititiFlanker2000–2007391920048.71459
2Pat LamNumber 81995–199923813239.13102
3David LemiWing2012–201721910247.61357
4Peter FatialofaProp1990–199516115068.7592
5Mahonri SchwalgerHooker2009–20111358038.4600
6Jack LamFlanker2018-817012.50153
Chris VuiLock2017-835037.5051
8George StowersNumber 82008–2009743057.14102
9Kahn Fotuali'iScrum-half2013–201740400.0030
Ofisa TreviranusNumber 82015413025.0051
Alesana TuilagiWing2015421162.5051

Last updated: Ireland vs Samoa, 12 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[16]

Most points in a match
# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1Gavin WilliamsCentre3021000 Papua New Guinea Apia11/07/2009
2Roger WarrenFly-half240080 Tonga Apia29/05/2004
3Andrew AiolupoFullback231810 South Korea Tokyo08/04/1990
Silao LeaegaFullback231340 Japan Wrexham03/10/1999
Toa SamaniaFullback231340 Italy Apia08/07/2000
6Darren KellettFly-half220251 Tonga Moamoa04/06/1994
Ahsee TualaFullback222600 Germany Heidelberg14/07/2018
8To'o VaegaCentre211430 Fiji Apia01/06/1991
Earl Va'aFly-half211520 Georgia Perth19/10/2003
Roger WarrenFly-half210341 Fiji Apia09/07/2005

Last updated: Ireland vs Samoa, 12 October 2019. Statistics include officially capped matches only.[17]

Most tries in a match
# Player Pos Pts Tries Conv Pens Drop Opposition Venue Date
1Elvis Seveali'iWing204000 Japan Apia10/06/2000
Alesana TuilagiWing204000 Tonga Apia02/07/2005
Esera LauinaWing204000 Papua New Guinea Apia11/07/2009
Robert LilomaiavaWing204000 Canada Colwyn Bay09/11/2012
5Tupo Fa'amasinoWing123000 South Korea Tokyo08/04/1990
Brian LimaCentre123000 Fiji Apia01/06/1991
Afato So'oaloWing153000 Tonga Apia28/06/1997
Dominic Feau'natiWing153000 Namibia Windhoek12/07/2003
Mikaele PesaminoWing153000 Papua New Guinea Port Moresby18/07/2009
Alesana TuilagiWing153000 Namibia Rotorua14/09/2011
Ed FidowWing153000 Germany Apia30/06/2018

Last updated: Ireland vs Samoa, 12 October 2019. 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
2003–2004 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

Kit Manufacturers

Sponsors

Sponsored logos appear on jerseys for matches other than the Rugby World Cup, where branding, except for equipment manufacturers, is not allowed.

  • 1992–1994 Telecom New Zealand
  • 1994–1998 Vailima
  • 1998–1999 Newcall
  • 1999–2003 None
  • 2005–2011 SIFA. WS
  • 2012–2013 Digicel
  • 2014–2016 Cromwell Property Group (front), Redefine Properties (back)
  • 2016–2017 Bluesky Communications
  • 2017– Magnum Hire (front), Henderson Cars (back) ^c
  • 2017 – Invest Samoa ^d
  • 2018 – Grey Investment Group

^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.

Coaches
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See also

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. 20 November 2017. Retrieved 22 November 2017.
  9. "Men's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 9 March 2020.
  10. Samoa rugby statistics
  11. https://www.stuff.co.nz/sport/rugby/rugby-world-cup/115696029/manu-samoa-forced-into-last-minute-rugby-world-cup-lineup-change
  12. "SAMOA DRAFT REPLACEMENT FOR INJURED BACK-ROW AMOSA". Rugby World Cup. Rugby World Cup. 26 September 2019. Retrieved 27 September 2019.
  13. http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_matches.html?id=15;type=team
  14. http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_tries.html?id=15;type=team
  15. http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_points.html?id=15;type=team
  16. http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_matches_captain.html?id=15;type=team
  17. http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_points_match.html?id=15;type=team
  18. http://stats.espnscrum.com/scrum/rugby/records/player/most_tries_match.html?id=15;type=team
  19. "All those born abroad". Planet Rugby. Archived from the original on 11 October 2007. Retrieved 2 October 2007.
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