Samoa national rugby sevens team

Samoa national rugby sevens team
The Samoa national rugby sevens team, referred to as Samoa Sevens or Manu Samoa 7s, competes in the annual World Rugby Sevens Series. Representing the polynesian country of Samoa, with a population of about 202,000, the team competes against some of the wealthiest countries in the world. The Samoa sevens team is overseen by the Samoa Rugby Football Union, which oversees all of rugby union in Samoa.
Samoa won the 2009–10 World Series by winning four tournaments – the Hong Kong Sevens, the USA Sevens, the Adelaide Sevens, and the Edinburgh Sevens. Samoa has played at all Rugby World Cup Sevens finals tournaments since the championship began in 1993; its best finish was third place in 1997 and again in 2007.
Samoa has won four Oceania Sevens titles since the first competition in 2008. They have also won all four gold medals at the Pacific Games Sevens and Pacific Mini Games Sevens between 2007 and 2013, defeating in the final on each occasion.
History
The first Samoan sevens team was selected in November 1978 to play at the invitation Hong Kong Sevens under the leadership of former SRU representative captain, Tuatagaloa Keli Tuatagaloa. The team included Rev-Dr Faitala Talapusi as captain, Lemalu Roy Slade (Brisbane) as vice-captain, Rev. Paul Gray (Melbourne), Peter Schmidt, Feausiga Sililoto, Rev - Tamā Toeina Andy Leavasa (USA), Salafuti Patu and others. Samoa won the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens.
Tournament history
Summer Olympics
In qualifying rounds for the 2016 Olympics, Samoa finished in third place at the 2015 Oceania Sevens Championship, meaning they didn't qualify directly for the Olympics as Oceania's representative. They instead went to the 2016 inter-continental final qualifying tournament, where they lost to Spain 12–19 in the final and failed to qualify for the 2016 Olympics.
Rugby World Cup Sevens
1993 Rugby World Cup Sevens - Murrayfield, Scotland
Western Samoa was in Pool D with England, Canada, Spain, Namibia and Hong Kong. After the first of Pool games Western Samoa remained undefeated along with South Africa and New Zealand.
In the quarterfinals Western Samoa was in Pool E alongside Tonga Fiji and Ireland. Western Samoa only win was against Tonga 42-7.
Team List
Coach: Taufusi Salesa
Manager: Marina Schaffhausen
Andrew Aiolupo (Moata'a)
Alama Ieremia (Wellington)
Danny Kaleopa (Moata'a)
Lolani Koko (Moata'a)
Brian Lima (Marist St Joseph)
Veli Patu (Vaiala)
Ofisa Tonu'u (Wellington)
To'o Vaega (Vaiala)
Sila Vaifale (Marist St Joseph)
Alefaio Vaisuai (Moata'a)
1997 Rugby World Cup Sevens - British Hong Kong
Western Samoa was in Pool C with Argentina and Morocco won both of its games. Western Samoa advanced to the Cup Quarter - finals to play England, winning 21 - 5. In the Cup Semi – Finals lost to eventual winners Fiji 38-14.
Team List
Kalolo Toleafoa
Isaac Fe'aunati
Rudolf Moors
Brian Lima
Tainafi Patu
Afato So'oalo
Terry Fanolua
Sila Vaifale
Laiafi Papali'i
Semo Sititi
2001 Rugby World Cup Sevens - Argentina
Western Samoa was in Pool D alongside Australia, Wales, United States, Portugal and Hong Kong. Western Samoa advanced to the Cup Quarterfinal, where they would meet New Zealand and eventually exit the tournament with a loss 45 -7.
Team List
Coach: Filipo Saena
Tim Cowley
Gaolo Elisara
Ron Fanuatanu
Daniel Farani
Ailaoa Samania
Toa Samania
Semo Sititi
Steven So'oialo
Luke Mealamu
Tanner Vili
2005 Rugby World Cup Sevens - Hong Kong
Samoa was in Pool B alongside England, France, Georgia, Chinese Taipei and Italy. Three teams Samoa, England and France won four of its five pool games but Samoa did not advance to the Cup Quarterfinals because the Points For and Points Against difference was lower of the second placed France. England (+123), France (+82) and Samoa (+79).
Samoa move on the Plate competition and win against Ireland Quarter-finals (19-14), then beat Russia in Semi-finals (19-12) and eventually defeating Portugal to secure the World Cup Plate Final for 2005
Team List
Coach: John Schuster
Lome Fa'atau
Sailosi Tagicakibau
Paul Perez
Junior Leota
Kiri Mariner
Gaolo Elisara
Apoua Stewart
Brian Lima
Uale Mai
Samu Eteuati
Mark Tanuvasa
David Lemi
Commonwealth Games
World Rugby Sevens Series
While long a solidly competitive side, Samoa emerged as contenders in the 2006-07 Sevens World Series, finishing third overall while winning two events – the Wellington Sevens and Hong Kong Sevens. The team reached the final four times in a row, playing against series favourite Fiji.
2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series
Samoa won the 2009–10 Series in large part due to 2010 World Rugby Sevens Player of the Year Mikaele Pesamino who led all players with 56 tries scored. Samoa were also helped by the efforts of half-back Lolo Lui, another nominee for 2010 Sevens Player of the Year, who scored 264 points. Samoa's third star that season was forward Alafoti Faosiliva, who scored 29 tries and was also a Sevens Player of the Year nominee.
The itinerary for the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series:
Overall Standings
Sevens Series tournament Cup wins
In July 1997, the Government of Samoa changed the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa.
Team
Current squad
Squad Named for the Hong Kong round of the 2022/2023 HSBC World 7s Series.
Former squads
Squad to 2015 Pacific Games:
Fa’alemiga Selesele
Tila Mealoi
Tunufai Tunufai
Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa
Alefosio Tapili
Alex Samoa
Tomasi Alosio
Belgium Tuatagaloa
Alamanda Motuga
Ed Fidow
Savelio Ropati
Samoa Toloa
Notable former players
Two of the highest points and try scorers in series history, Uale Mai and Mikaele Pesamino, played for Samoa. Pesamino was also named the 2010 IRB International Sevens Player of the Year, an honour which Uale Mai, a former team captain and one of the most capped players in the sport, had won in 2006. Captain Lolo Lui and teammate Alafoti Fa'osiliva had also been nominated.
Player records
The following table shows Samoa's statistical career leaders in the World Rugby Sevens Series. Players in bold are still active. Mikaele Pesamino is Samoa's top try scorer in the World Rugby Sevens Series. He was the overall top try score in both the 2006–07 (43 tries) and the 2009–10 (56 tries) seasons.
Coaches
The current coach is Brian Lima, former player of the Samoa national rugby sevens team.
Past coaches include:
Lilomaiava Taufusi Salesa coached the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens winning team.
Fuimaono Titimaea "Dicky" Tafua coached the team on the 2005-2006 IRB Sevens Circuit where they qualified to two finals (the London Sevens, where they lost to South Africa, and the Paris Sevens where they lost to Fiji). Fuimaono resigned from coaching in 2007 to his new post as Secretary to Samoa's Head of State, Tupua Tamasese Tufuga Efi.
Damian McGrath won a Cup in Paris was sacked by the SRU controversially.
Galumalemana Rudolph Moors took over as coach, but after a disappointing team performance in the 2008–09 Series he was temporarily replaced by Lilomaiava Taufusi Salesa for the final two legs of the series.
Stephen Betham was named as Moors' successor in 2009.
Other statistics
See also
Samoa national rugby union team
Rugby union in Samoa
References
External links
Official Samoa Rugby Union website
Samoa Sevens on facebook
Manu Samoa Supporters Website