Samoa national rugby sevens team
Union | Samoa Rugby Football Union | |
---|---|---|
Nickname(s) | Manu | |
Coach(es) | Gordon Tietjens | |
Captain(s) | Alatasi Tupou | |
Most caps | Uale Mai (359 matches) | |
Top scorer | Uale Mai (1,320) | |
Most tries | Mikaele Pesamino (161) | |
| ||
World Cup Sevens | ||
Appearances | 6 (First in 1993) | |
Best result | 3rd place, 1997, 2009 champions 2010 |
The Samoa national rugby sevens team, referred to as the Samoa Sevens or Manu Samoa 7s, competes in the annual World Rugby Sevens Series, and won the 2009–10 World Series.[1] Samoa were crowned winners of the 2010 Edinburgh Sevens. The historic victory followed three consecutive tournament wins in the world series, the Hong Kong Sevens,[2] the USA Sevens and the Adelaide Sevens.[3]
Representing the tiny Polynesian country of Samoa with a population of about 180,000 the Samoa competes against some of the wealthiest countries in the world.[4]
Samoa has played at all Rugby World Cup Sevens finals tournaments since the championship began in 1993, and won the third-place final in 1997 and 2007. The team has won four Oceania Sevens titles since the first competition in 2008. Samoa also won all four gold medals at the Pacific Games Sevens and Pacific Mini Games Sevens between 2007 and 2013, defeating Fiji in the final on each occasion.
Rugby union in Samoa is governed by the Samoa Rugby Football Union (SRU) which oversees the Samoa Sevens team and the 15-player Manu Samoa national team.
Contents
1 History
2 Coaches
3 Tournament history
3.1 Summer Olympics
3.2 Rugby World Cup Sevens
3.3 Commonwealth Games
3.4 2009-10 IRB Sevens World Series
3.5 Win summaries
4 Current squad
4.1 Previous squads
5 Former players
6 Other statistics
7 See also
8 References
9 External links
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, Andy Leavasa (USA), Salafuti Patu and others.
In 2007, the team won both the Wellington Sevens and Hong Kong Sevens. Another past victory was the Hong Kong Sevens in 1993. In 2009, the team made the finals in the Dubai Sevens but lost to the New Zealand team.
While long a solidly competitive side, the Samoa Sevens emerged as true world contenders in the 2006-07 Sevens World Series, finishing third overall while winning two events. This new team has reached the final four times in a row, playing against series favourite Fiji.
Coaches
The current coach is Gordon Tietjens. Past coaches have included Lilomaiava Taufusi Salesa who coached the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens winning team. Other notable coaches who have led Samoa to sevens prominence were head coach Fuimaono Titimaea "Dicky" Tafua and his assistant Galumalemana Rudolph Moors. In the 2005 - 2006 IRB Sevens Circuit they managed to qualify to two finals (London and Paris) but failed to win any. The Samoa Sevens lost to South Africa in London and island rivals Fiji at Paris. Damian McGrath who won a Cup in Paris was sacked by the SRU controversially,
Fuimaono resigned from coaching in 2007 to his new post as Secretary to Samoa's Head of State, Tupua Tamasese Tufuga Efi. He would later return to coaching in 2009 as head coach of the 15s national team. Galumalemana took over as coach and after a disappointing team performance in the 2008–09 series was temporarily replaced by Lilomaiava Taufusi Salesa for the final two legs of the series. Stephen Betham was named as Moors' successor in 2009.
Tournament history
Summer Olympics
Olympic Games record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | L | D | |||
2016 | Did Not Qualify | ||||||||
Total | 0 Titles | 0/1 | - | - | - | - |
Rugby World Cup Sevens
Rugby World Cup Sevens Record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | L | D | |||
1993 | Quarterfinalists | 5th | 8 | 6 | 2 | 0 | |||
1997 | Semifinalists | 3rd | 6 | 5 | 1 | 0 | |||
2001 | Quarterfinalists | 5th | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |||
2005 | Plate Winners | 9th | 8 | 7 | 1 | 0 | |||
2009 | Semifinalists | 3rd | 5 | 4 | 1 | 0 | |||
2013 | Plate Finalists | 10th | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |||
2018 | Qualified | ||||||||
Total | 0 Titles | 6/6 | 39 | 30 | 9 | 0 |
Commonwealth Games
Commonwealth record | |||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Year | Round | Position | Pld | W | L | D | |||
1998 | Semifinalists | 4th | 7 | 4 | 2 | 1 | |||
2002 | Semifinalists | 4th | 6 | 2 | 4 | 0 | |||
2006 | Plate Semifinalists | 7th | 5 | 2 | 3 | 0 | |||
2010 | Plate Winners | 5th | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |||
2014 | Semifinalists | 4th | 6 | 4 | 2 | 0 | |||
2018 | Qualified | ||||||||
Total | 0 Titles | 5/5 | 30 | 16 | 13 | 1 |
2009-10 IRB Sevens World Series
The itinerary for the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series;
2009–10 Itinerary[5] | |||
---|---|---|---|
Leg | Venue | Date | Winner |
Dubai | The Sevens | 4–5 December 2009 | New Zealand |
South Africa | Outeniqua Park, George | 11–12 December 2009 | New Zealand |
New Zealand | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | 5–6 February 2010 | Fiji |
United States | Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas | 13–14 February 2010 | Samoa |
Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 19–21 March 2010 | Samoa |
Hong Kong | Hong Kong Stadium | 26–28 March 2010 | Samoa |
London | Twickenham | 22–23 May 2010 | Australia |
Edinburgh | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | 29–30 May 2010 | Samoa |
Overall Standings
2009–10 Standings[6] | |||||||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Pos. | Country | Dubai | South Africa (George) | New Zealand (Wellington) | USA (Las Vegas) | Australia (Adelaide) | Hong Kong | England (London) | Scotland (Edinburgh) | Overall | |
1 | Samoa | 20 | 6 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 30 | 16 | 24 | 164 | |
2 | New Zealand | 24 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 12 | 25 | 12 | 16 | 149 | |
3 | Australia | 12 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 24 | 20 | 122 | |
4 | Fiji | 16 | 20 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 108 | |
5 | England | 16 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 96 | |
6 | South Africa | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 6 | 80 | |
7 | Argentina | 6 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 62 | |
8 | Kenya | 6 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 52 | |
9 | Wales | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 34 | |
10 | United States | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
11 | Canada | DNP | DNP | 6 | 0 | DNP | 5 | 4 | 0 | 15 | |
12 | Scotland | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 |
Win summaries
Event | Venue | Cup | Plate | Bowl | Shield | ||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Winner | Winner | ||
2016 Paris Sevens | Stade Jean Bouin | Samoa | 29 - 26 | Fiji | South Africa | Scotland | Portugal |
2012 Dubai Sevens | The Sevens Stadium | Samoa | 26 - 15 | New Zealand | Wales | Argentina | England |
2012 USA Sevens | Sam Boyd Stadium | Samoa | 26 - 19 | New Zealand | Kenya | Canada | France |
2010 Edinburgh Sevens | Murrayfield Stadium | Samoa | 41 - 14 | Australia | Scotland | Wales | Russia |
2010 Hong Kong Sevens | Hong Kong Stadium | Samoa | 24 - 21 | New Zealand | Australia | Canada | Hong Kong |
2010 Adelaide Sevens | Adelaide Oval | Samoa | 38 - 10 | United States | New Zealand | England | Japan |
2010 USA Sevens | Sam Boyd Stadium | Samoa | 33 - 12 | New Zealand | South Africa | United States | Scotland |
2008 London Sevens | Westpac Stadium | Samoa | 19 - 14 | Fiji | New Zealand | Australia | Spain |
2007 Hong Kong Sevens | Hong Kong Stadium | Samoa | 27 - 22 | Fiji | Wales | Russia | |
2007 Wellington Sevens | Westpac Stadium | Samoa | 14 - 7 | Fiji | England | Tonga | Portugal |
1993 Hong Kong Sevens | Hong Kong Stadium | Western Samoa | 14 - 12 | Fiji | Tonga | Romania |
In July 1997, the Government of Samoa amended its constitution to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa.[7]
Current squad
Squad to 2015 Pacific Games:[8]
- Fa’alemiga Selesele
- Tila Mealoi
- Telea Seumanutafa
- Phoenix Hunapo-Nofoa
- Alefosio Tapili
- Alex Samoa
- Tomasi Alosio
- Belgium Tuatagaloa
- Alamanda Motuga
- Ed Fidow
- Savelio Ropati
- Samoa Toloa
Previous squads
2014 Commonwealth Games Squad[9] |
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|
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.[10]
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|
Other statistics
Year | Host | Cup Final | Plate Final | ||||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Score | Runner-up | Winner | Score | Runner-up | ||||
2009 Details | Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | New Zealand | 24-12 | Samoa | Australia | 7-0 | South Africa | ||
2008 Details | Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | South Africa | 19-12 | England | Samoa | 12-7 | Kenya | ||
2007 Details | Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | New Zealand | 31-21 | Fiji | Argentina | 15-14 | Samoa | ||
2004 Details | Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | England | 26 - 21 | Fiji | Samoa | 21 - 19 | Argentina |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2010 Details | Westpac Stadium | Fiji | 19-14 | Samoa | Australia | 26-22 | South Africa |
2008 Details | Westpac Stadium | New Zealand | 22-7 | Samoa | South Africa | 19-12 | Wales |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2007[11] Details | San Diego, California | Fiji | 38 - 24 | Samoa | South Africa | 28 - 19 | Scotland |
2005[12] Details | Carson, California | New Zealand | 34 - 5 | Argentina | Fiji | 24 - 21 | Samoa |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2007 Details | Outeniqua Park | New Zealand | 33-9 | Fiji | South Africa | 12-7 | Samoa |
2005 Details | Outeniqua Park | Fiji | 21 - 19 | Argentina | Samoa | 17 - 5 | New Zealand |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2007 Details | Adelaide Oval | Fiji | 21-7 | Samoa | Australia | 31-0 | South Africa |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2007 Details | Murrayfield | New Zealand | 34-5 | Samoa | Fiji | 31-7 | Kenya |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2006 Details | Stade Jean-Bouin | South Africa | 33-12 | Samoa | Fiji | 31-12 | Argentina |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2006 Details | National Stadium, Singapore | Fiji | 40-21 | England | Samoa | 26-5 | France |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
2006 Details | Twickenham | Fiji | 54-14 | Samoa | South Africa | 42-7 | Kenya |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
1998 Details | Hong Kong Stadium | Fiji | 28-19 | Samoa | South Korea | 40–14 | Papua New Guinea |
Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
1979 Details | HK Football Club Stadium | Australia | 39-3 | Samoa | Papua New Guinea | 13-10 | Hawaii |
See also
- Samoa national rugby union team
- Rugby union in Samoa
References
^ "International Rugby Board, Retrieved 31 May 2010". Archived from the original on 31 March 2010. Retrieved 30 May 2010..mw-parser-output cite.citation{font-style:inherit}.mw-parser-output q{quotes:"""""""'""'"}.mw-parser-output code.cs1-code{color:inherit;background:inherit;border:inherit;padding:inherit}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-free a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/6/65/Lock-green.svg/9px-Lock-green.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-limited a,.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-registration a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/d/d6/Lock-gray-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-gray-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-lock-subscription a{background:url("//upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/a/aa/Lock-red-alt-2.svg/9px-Lock-red-alt-2.svg.png")no-repeat;background-position:right .1em center}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration{color:#555}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription span,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration span{border-bottom:1px dotted;cursor:help}.mw-parser-output .cs1-hidden-error{display:none;font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-visible-error{font-size:100%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-subscription,.mw-parser-output .cs1-registration,.mw-parser-output .cs1-format{font-size:95%}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-left,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-left{padding-left:0.2em}.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-right,.mw-parser-output .cs1-kern-wl-right{padding-right:0.2em}
^ "Samoa win Hong Kong Sevens". Times LIVE. 28 March 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
^ "Superb Samoa wins Adelaide Sevens". International Rugby Board. 21 March 2010. Retrieved 29 March 2010.
^ Hunter, Russell (22 March 2010). "A breathtaking achievement". Samoa Observer. Retrieved 24 May 2010.
^ "2009/10 IRB Sevens World Series schedule set" (Press release). International Rugby Board. 8 July 2009. Archived from the original on 11 July 2009. Retrieved 14 July 2009.
^ "Overall Standings". International Rugby Board. Archived from the original on 20 February 2009. Retrieved 28 March 2010.
^ "Constitution Amendment Act (No 2) 1997". Retrieved 27 November 2007.
^ pg2015.gems.pro (9 July 2015). "2015 Pacific Games Men's 7s" (PDF). Retrieved 11 July 2015.
^ IRB (16 July 2014). "Commonwealth Games Sevens squads: Latest". Archived from the original on 28 July 2014. Retrieved 24 July 2014.
^ "NZ sevens players miss awards list". Television NZ. 26 May 2010. Retrieved 26 May 2010.
^ Official 2007 Results[permanent dead link]
^ Official 2005 Results
External links
- Official Samoa Rugby Union website
- Samoa Sevens on facebook
- Manu Samoa Supporters Website