Samoa national rugby sevens team

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This article is about the men's team. For the women's team, see Samoa women's national rugby sevens team.

Samoa
UnionSamoa Rugby Football Union
Nickname(s)Manu Samoa
Coach(es)Brian Lima
Captain(s)Alatasi Tupou
Most capsUale Mai (359 matches)
Top scorerUale Mai (1,320)
Most triesMikaele Pesamino (161)
Team kit
World Cup Sevens
Appearances8 (First in 1993)
Best resultThird place (1997, 2009)

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.[1] 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[2] by winning four tournaments – the Hong Kong Sevens,[3] the USA Sevens, the Adelaide Sevens, and the Edinburgh Sevens.[4] 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 Fiji in the final on each occasion.

History[edit]

Uganda v Samoa (20 March 2006)

The first Samoan sevens team was selected in November 1978 to play at the invitation Hong Kong Sevens[5] under the leadership of former SRU representative captain, Tuatagaloa Keli Tuatagaloa.[citation needed] 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.[6]

Tournament history[edit]

Summer Olympics[edit]

Olympic Games record
Year Round Position Pld W L D Qualifying
Brazil 2016 Did not qualify Lost 12–19 to Spain in the final of the final qualifying tournament.
Japan 2020 Lost 31–0 to France in the semifinal of the final qualifying tournament.
France 2024 Qualified Won Oceania Olympic Qualifying
Total 0 Titles 1/3 0 0 0 0 -

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[edit]

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

  1. Andrew Aiolupo (Moata'a)
  2. Alama Ieremia (Wellington)
  3. Danny Kaleopa (Moata'a)
  4. Lolani Koko (Moata'a)
  5. Brian Lima (Marist St Joseph)
  6. Veli Patu (Vaiala)
  7. Ofisa Tonu'u (Wellington)
  8. To'o Vaega (Vaiala)
  9. Sila Vaifale (Marist St Joseph)
  10. 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

  1. Kalolo Toleafoa
  2. Isaac Fe'aunati
  3. Rudolf Moors
  4. Brian Lima
  5. Tainafi Patu
  6. Afato So'oalo
  7. Terry Fanolua
  8. Sila Vaifale
  9. Laiafi Papali'i
  10. 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

  1. Tim Cowley
  2. Gaolo Elisara
  3. Ron Fanuatanu
  4. Daniel Farani
  5. Ailaoa Samania
  6. Toa Samania
  7. Semo Sititi
  8. Steven So'oialo
  9. Luke Mealamu
  10. 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

  1. Lome Fa'atau
  2. Sailosi Tagicakibau
  3. Paul Perez
  4. Junior Leota
  5. Kiri Mariner
  6. Gaolo Elisara
  7. Apoua Stewart
  8. Brian Lima
  9. Uale Mai
  10. Samu Eteuati
  11. Mark Tanuvasa
  12. David Lemi
Rugby World Cup Sevens Record
Year Round Position Games Won Lost Drew Most tries Most points
Scotland 1993 Quarterfinals 5th 8 6 2 0
Hong Kong 1997 Semifinals 3rd 6 5 1 0
Argentina 2001 Quarterfinals 5th 6 4 2 0
Hong Kong 2005 Plate finals 9th 8 7 1 0
United Arab Emirates 2009 Semifinals 3rd 5 4 1 0
Russia 2013 Plate finals 10th 6 4 2 0
United States 2018 Challenge quarterfinals 13th 5 3 2 0 Joe Perez (4) Alatasi Tupou (24)
South Africa 2022 7th Place Final 8th 4 1 3 0
Total 2 Bronze medals 8/8 48 34 14 0 Brian Lima (17) Brian Lima (101)

Commonwealth Games[edit]

Commonwealth record
Year Round Position Pld W L D
Malaysia 1998 Semifinalists 4th 7 4 2 1
England 2002 Semifinalists 4th 6 2 4 0
Australia 2006 Plate Semifinalists 7th 5 2 3 0
India 2010 Plate Winners 5th 6 4 2 0
Scotland 2014 Semifinalists 4th 6 4 2 0
Australia 2018 Group stage 9th-T 3 1 2 0
England 2022 Fifth Place Playoff 5th 6 4 2 0
Total Three fourth-place finishes 36 20 15 1

World Rugby Sevens Series[edit]

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[edit]

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.[7] 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:

2009–10 Itinerary[8]
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[9]
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

Sevens Series tournament Cup wins[edit]

Event Venue Winner Score Runner-up
2022 South Africa Sevens Cape Town Stadium Samoa 12–7 New Zealand
2016 Paris Sevens Stade Jean Bouin Samoa 29–26 Fiji
2012 Dubai Sevens The Sevens Stadium Samoa 26–15 New Zealand
2012 USA Sevens Sam Boyd Stadium Samoa 26–19 New Zealand
2011 Safari Sevens Nyayo National Stadium Samoa 31–12 Samurai Sevens
2010 Edinburgh Sevens Murrayfield Stadium Samoa 41–14 Australia
2010 Hong Kong Sevens Hong Kong Stadium Samoa 24–21 New Zealand
2010 Adelaide Sevens Adelaide Oval Samoa 38–10 United States
2010 USA Sevens Sam Boyd Stadium Samoa 33–12 New Zealand
2008 London Sevens Westpac Stadium Samoa 19–14 Fiji
2007 Hong Kong Sevens Hong Kong Stadium Samoa 27–22 Fiji
2007 Wellington Sevens Westpac Stadium Samoa 14–7 Fiji
2005 Safari Sevens RFUEA Ground Samoa 50-5 Western Province
1993 Hong Kong Sevens Hong Kong Stadium Western Samoa 14–12 Fiji
1992 Middlesex Sevens Twickenham Stadium Western Samoa 30–6 London Scottish

In July 1997, the Government of Samoa changed the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa.[10]

Players[edit]

Current squad[edit]

The following players have been selected to represent Samoa during the 2023–24 SVNS tournament beginning in December 2023.

Note: Caps reflect the total number of SVNS events competed in as of the 2023 South Africa Sevens.

Player Position Date of birth (age) Caps Club/province
Vaovasa Afa Su'a (c) Forward (1991-10-11) 11 October 1991 (age 32) 18 Tama Uli
BJ Telefoni Lima Forward 1999 (age 24–25) 6 Marist St. Joseph
Taunuu Niulevaea Forward (2000-01-21) 21 January 2000 (age 24) 14 Safotu
Motu Opetai Forward (2001-06-20) 20 June 2001 (age 22) 18 Matāfala
Paulo Scanlan Forward (1996-08-09) 9 August 1996 (age 27) 25 Moata'a
Elisapeta Alofipo Back (1997-12-11) 11 December 1997 (age 26) 28 Tama Uli
Faafoi Falaniko Back (2002-03-14) 14 March 2002 (age 22) 17 Tepatasi
Faamaoni Junior Lalomilo Back (2000-07-10) 10 July 2000 (age 23) 3 Marist St. Joseph
Malakesi Masefau Back (2005-01-09) 9 January 2005 (age 19) 4 Tepatasi
Levi Milford Back (2001-09-18) 18 September 2001 (age 22) 10 Marist St. Joseph
Pelasio Samuelu Niuula Back 2001 (age 22–23) 2 Tepatasi
Taitaifono Senio Tavita Back 2004 (age 19–20) 2 Apia Maroons
Paul Eti Slater Back (1993-09-12) 12 September 1993 (age 30) 14 Laulii Lions

Records and statistics[edit]

Former squads[edit]

Samoa team to the 2015 Pacific Games

Squad to 2015 Pacific Games:[11]

Samoa team to the 2014 Commonwealth Games

Notable former players[edit]

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.[13]

Crowd at the 2009 Hong Kong Sevens.

Player records[edit]

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.

Most tries[14]
Rank Player Tries
1 Mikaele Pesamino 161
2 Uale Mai 142
3 Alafoti Faosiliva 127
4 Alatasi Tupou 96
5 Samoa Toloa 93

Award winners[edit]

The following Samoa Sevens players have been recognised at the World Rugby Awards since 2004:[15]

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