Rugby union in Samoa

Rugby union is very popular in Samoa and the national team is consistently competitive against teams from vastly more populous nations.

History

The Marist Brothers brought the game to Samoa in 1920 and The Western Samoa Rugby Football Union was formed in 1924.

On August 18, 1924 Western Samoa played its first international against Fiji in the capital Apia, the visitors winning 6-0.

The Pacific Tri-Nations series between Tonga, Fiji and Western Samoa was established in 1982.

The Samoa Rugby Football Union joined the International Rugby Board in 1988. Western Samoa played in the World Cup for the first time in 1991.

The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji Rugby Union, Samoa Rugby Football Union and Tonga Rugby Football Union.

In 2006, the Pacific Tri-Nations was replaced by the IRB Pacific 5 Nations which was then renamed the Pacific Nations Cup. The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup started in 2006 with Upolu Samoa and Savaii Samoa representing Samoa.

Governing body

Rugby union is governed by the Samoa Rugby Football Union who are also members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance.

Samoa were awarded 'second tier' status by the International Rugby Board which entitles them to funding from the IRB.

Popularity

Rugby union, as in the other Pacific Islands, is a way of life for Samoans with 12 provincial unions made up of around 120 clubs and nearly 5,000 senior and twice as many junior players in a country with a population of just under 175,000 people.

Prominent Samoan players include Freddie Tuilagi, Apollo Perelini, Lome Fa'atau, Lolani Koko, Pat Lam and Brian Lima.

The huge numbers of players playing professionally abroad can work to Samoa's disadvantage when it comes to team training as it is difficult to get them all together as a squad. But Samoa still manage to remain competitive on the world-stage and are regarded as tough opponents.

Competitions

National Provincial Championship

The is the second highest level of competition within Samoan rugby union and is a stepping stone for local players into international rugby. Teams play within their respective unions, and then the top teams from each union then contest the finals series held at Apia Park. The Apia West and Apia union teams usually dominate.

Pacific Rugby Cup

The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup started in 2006 and involves representative teams from the three Pacific rugby unions, Fiji, Tonga, & Samoa. Samoa ,along with Tonga and Fiji, have two sides in the tournament, Savaii Samoa and Upolu Samoa. The aim of the tournament is to improve the quality of rugby in the Pacific Islands.

Representative teams

National

The national team known as Manu Samoa have competed at every Rugby World Cup since 1991, and have made the quarter finals in 1991, 1995 and 1999.

Samoa also play in the Pacific Nations Cup and the Pacific Tri-Nations The sport is governed by the Samoa Rugby Football Union, who are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and thus, also contribute to the international Pacific Islanders rugby union team.

Pacific Tri-Nations

The Pacific Tri-Nations is the series between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. It has been played since 1982. It was replaced by the Pacific Nations Cup.

IRB Pacific 5 Nations

The IRB Pacific 5 Nations is a competition held between five Pacific rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All BlacksNow Junior all blacks will be replaced by new zealand maori(New Zealand's second XV). In 2007, Australia 'A' will be joining the current IRB Pacific 5 Nations teams in the New "IRB Pacific Nations Cup"

National (sevens)

ee also

* Culture of Samoa
* American Samoa national rugby union team
* Rugby union in American Samoa

External links

* [http://www.manusamoa.com.ws/ Official website of Manu Samoa]
* [http://www.planet-rugby.com/Teams/Samoa/index.shtml Samoan rugby union news from Planet Rugby]
* [http://www.manusamoa.net The information website for supporters of the Manu Samoa Rugby Team]