Samoa

Nickname(s)	Manu Samoa
Emblem	Southern cross
Union	Rugby Samoa
Head coach	Seilala Mapusua
Captain	Michael Ala'alatoa
Most caps	Brian Lima (67)
Top scorer	Tusi Pisi (245)
Top try scorer	Brian Lima (29)
Home stadium	Apia Park
First colours Second colours
World Rugby ranking
Current	12 (as of 28 August 2023)
Highest	7 (2012, 2013)
Lowest	17 (2018, 2019)
First international
Western 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	9 (First in 1991)
Best result	Quarterfinals (1991, 1995)
Medal record Pacific Games 1971 Papeete 1991 Port Moresby 1983 Apia 1963 Suva
Website	manusamoa.com

The Samoa national rugby union team (also known as Manu Sāmoa) represents the Samoa Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. They are also known as Manu Samoa, which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior.^[1] 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.^[2] They are ranked 11th in the world.^[3]

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.

History

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 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 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.^[4][5]

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.^[6]

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.^[7]

Financial problems

In November 2017, Samoa's prime minister and SRU chairman Tuilaepa Lupesoliai Sailele Malielegaoi announced that the organisation was bankrupt,^[8] although those claims were denied by world governing body World Rugby.^[9]

Wins against Tier 1 nations

Samoa have recorded 15 wins against tier 1 nations. In addition, Samoa drew with Scotland 15-15 on the 18 November 1995 at Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh, Scotland.

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: Dave 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 20 as of 25 December 2023[10]
Rank	Change*	Team	Points
1		South Africa	094.54
2		Ireland	090.57
3		New Zealand	089.80
4		France	087.81
5		England	085.46
6		Scotland	083.43
7		Argentina	080.68
8		Wales	080.64
9		Australia	077.48
10		Fiji	076.38
11		Italy	075.93
12		Japan	074.27
13		Portugal	072.78
14		Georgia	072.68
15		Samoa	072.23
16		Tonga	071.57
17		United States	067.94
18		Uruguay	067.39
19		Romania	063.28
20		Spain	062.86
21		Canada	060.90
22		Namibia	060.56
23		Chile	060.49
24		Hong Kong	059.80
25		Russia	058.06
26		Switzerland	056.29
27		Netherlands	055.84
28		Brazil	055.37
29		Belgium	054.58
30		South Korea	053.46
* Change from the previous week
Samoa's historical rankings
See or edit source data.
Source: World Rugby[10] Graph updated to 25 December 2023

Below is table of the representative rugby matches played by a Samoa national XV at test level up until 10 October 2023.^[11]

Opponent	Played	Won	Lost	Drawn	Win %	For	Aga	Diff
Argentina	5	3	2	0	60%	121	101	+20
Australia	6	1	5	0	16.66%	73	238	−165
Australia A	1	1	0	0	100.00%	31	26	+5
Barbarians	1	0	1	0	0.00%	24	27	−3
Belgium	1	1	0	0	100.00%	37	8	+29
Canada	6	6	0	0	100.00%	169	103	+66
Chile	1	1	0	0	100.00%	43	10	+33
Cook Islands	3	3	0	0	100.00%	102	31	+71
England	9	0	9	0	0.00%	131	310	−179
Fiji	55	21	31	3	41.18%	963	1102	−139
Fiji XV	3	0	3	0	0.00%	20	58	−38
France	4	0	4	0	0.00%	49	156	−107
Georgia	6	2	3	1	33.33%	135	110	+25
Germany	2	2	0	0	100.00%	108	43	+65
Ireland	8	1	7	0	12.5%	121	273	−152
Italy	8	5	3	0	62.5%	192	158	+34
Japan	18	12	6	0	66.67%	547	361	+186
South Korea	1	1	0	0	100.00%	74	7	+67
Namibia	2	2	0	0	100.00%	89	25	+64
New Caledonia	1	1	0	0	100.00%	28	6	+22
New Zealand	7	0	7	0	0.00%	72	411	−339
Papua New Guinea	2	2	0	0	100.00%	188	19	+169
Romania	3	1	2	0	33.33%	59	49	+10
Russia	1	1	0	0	100.00%	34	9	+25
Scotland	12	1	10	1	8.33%	193	332	−139
South Africa	9	0	9	0	0.00%	99	431	−332
Spain	1	1	0	0	100.00%	28	10	+18
Tahiti	1	1	0	0	100.00%	33	11	+22
Tonga	69	38	27	4	55.07%	1291	1028	+263
United States	7	5	2	0	71.42%	156	128	+28
Uruguay	1	1	0	0	100.00%	60	13	+47
Wales	10	4	6	0	40.00%	180	235	−55
West Germany	1	1	0	0	100.00%	54	9	+45
Total	265	119	137	9	44.91%	5495	5838	−333

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

World Cup record									World Cup Qualification record
Year	Round	P	W	D	L	F	A		P	W	D	L	F	A
1987	Not invited								Not invited
1991	Quarter-finals	4	2	0	2	60	72		3	3	0	0	123	21
1995	Quarter-finals	4	2	0	2	110	130		Automatically qualified
1999	Play-off	4	2	0	2	117	107		3	1	0	2	59	71
2003	Pool Stage	4	2	0	2	138	117		4	3	0	1	96	58
2007	Pool Stage	4	1	0	3	69	143		4	3	0	1	133	78
2011	Pool Stage	4	2	0	2	91	49		2	2	0	0	188	19
2015	Pool stage	4	1	0	3	69	124		Automatically qualified
2019	Pool stage	4	1	0	3	58	128		6	3	0	3	196	147
2023	Pool stage	4	1	0	3	92	75		2	2	0	0	79	28
2027	to be determined								Qualification not started
2031
Total	9/10	36	14	0	22	804	935		24	17	0	7	874	422

In one of the scenes of the feature film, Invictus, Western Samoa can be seen playing South Africa in the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

Players

Current squad

Samoa announced their final squad for the 2023 Rugby World Cup on 6 August 2023.^[12]

Head coach: Seilala Mapusua

• Caps updated: 27 August 2023

Player	Position	Date of birth (age)	Caps	Club/province
Seilala Lam	Hooker	(1989-02-18) 18 February 1989	29	Perpignan
Sama Malolo	Hooker	(1998-02-19) 19 February 1998	7	San Diego Legion
Luteru Tolai	Hooker	(1998-06-01) 1 June 1998	3	Moana Pasifika
Michael Ala'alatoa (c)	Prop	(1991-08-28) 28 August 1991	18	Leinster
Paul Alo-Emile	Prop	(1991-12-22) 22 December 1991	25	Stade Français
Charlie Faumuina	Prop	(1986-12-24) 24 December 1986	4	Toulouse
James Lay	Prop	(1993-12-16) 16 December 1993	16	Blues
Jordan Lay	Prop	(1992-11-05) 5 November 1992	29	Blues
Brian Alainu'uese	Lock	(1994-03-19) 19 March 1994	9	Toulon
Theo McFarland	Lock	(1995-10-16) 16 October 1995	12	Saracens
Sam Slade	Lock	(1997-08-28) 28 August 1997	6	Moana Pasifika
Chris Vui (c)	Lock	(1993-02-11) 11 February 1993	30	Bristol Bears
So'otala Fa'aso'o	Back row	(1994-10-02) 2 October 1994	1	Perpignan
Miracle Faiʻilagi	Back row	(1999-08-31) 31 August 1999	4	Moana Pasifika
Fritz Lee	Back row	(1988-08-29) 29 August 1988	12	Clermont
Steve Luatua	Back row	(1991-04-29) 29 April 1991	7	Bristol Bears
Alamanda Motuga	Back row	(1995-09-11) 11 September 1995	7	Moana Pasifika
Taleni Seu	Back row	(1993-12-26) 26 December 1993	9	Toyota Shuttles
Jordan Taufua	Back row	(1992-01-29) 29 January 1992	9	Lyon
Ere Enari	Scrum-half	(1997-05-30) 30 May 1997	8	Moana Pasifika
Melani Matavao	Scrum-half	(1995-11-19) 19 November 1995	15	Unattached
Jonathan Taumateine	Scrum-half	(1996-09-28) 28 September 1996	15	Moana Pasifika
Christian Leali'ifano	Fly-half	(1987-09-24) 24 September 1987	7	Moana Pasifika
Lima Sopoaga	Fly-half	(1991-02-03) 3 February 1991	3	Lyon
D'Angelo Leuila	Centre	(1997-01-18) 18 January 1997	24	Moana Pasifika
Tumua Manu	Centre	(1993-04-18) 18 April 1993	11	Pau
Duncan Paia'aua	Centre	(1995-01-20) 20 January 1995	10	Toulon
UJ Seuteni	Centre	(1993-12-09) 9 December 1993	14	La Rochelle
Nigel Ah Wong	Wing	(1990-05-30) 30 May 1990	12	Unattached
Ed Fidow	Wing	(1993-09-11) 11 September 1993	21	New York
Neria Fomai	Wing	(1992-02-03) 3 February 1992	9	Moana Pasifika
Ben Lam	Wing	(1991-06-09) 9 June 1991	2	Montpellier
Danny Toala	Fullback	(1999-03-26) 26 March 1999	12	Moana Pasifika

Player 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
	Ahsee Tuala	Fullback	22	2	6	0	0	Germany	Heidelberg	14/07/2018
8	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

Last updated: England vs Samoa, 7 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.^[17]

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
	Ed Fidow	Wing	15	3	0	0	0	Germany	Apia	30/06/2018

Last updated: England vs Samoa, 7 October 2023. Statistics include officially capped matches only.^[18]

Coaches

Period	Name	Nationality
197?–19??	Keli Tuatagaloa	Samoa
198?–198?	Paul Wallwork	Samoa
198?–1988	Richard Cook	New Zealand
1989–1995	Peter Schuster	Samoa
1996–1999	Bryan Williams	New Zealand
2000–2003	John Boe	New Zealand
2004–2007	Michael Jones	New Zealand
2008–2009	Niko Palamo	Samoa
2009–2011	Titimaea Tafua	Samoa
2011	Scott Wisemantel	Australia
2012–2015	Stephen Betham	Samoa
2016–2017	Alama Ieremia	New Zealand
2017–2018	Titimaea Tafua	Samoa
2018–2020	Steve Jackson	New Zealand
2020–present	Seilala Mapusua	Samoa

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. At 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

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

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.

See also

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

Notes

External links

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

• 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