Manu Samoa

The Manu play two tests each against the Māori All Blacks and Tonga over the next month, starting in Wellington on Saturday night.

26 players took part in a training session on Monday, with Northampton fullback Ah See Tuala and Perpignan hooker Seilala Lam still completing their two weeks in hotel quarantine.

Glasgow duo TJ Ioane and Aki Seiuli and Seattle Seawolves first five AJ Alatimu have yet to secure MIQ spots and face the prospect of missing all four upcoming tests.

Veteran lock Teofilo Paulo returned to New Zealand last year after eight seasons abroad, including stints playing in Ireland, Wales, Italy and England.

He played the last of his 37 tests for Samoa against Ireland at the 2019 Rugby World Cup and, closing in on his 34th birthday, figured his time in the international arena was probably up.

"I'm probably lucky with Covid and stuff that a few of the boys from overseas can't make it back but I'll take it and just ready to put one last shift in for the country," he said.

The team was defeated 21-7 by Ireland in the final group match of the Final Olympic Sevens Qualifying Tournament in Monaco.

Samoa had a strong start in the men's competition, thrashing Mexico 69-5, Tonga 47-5 and Zimbabwe 33-7.

Samoa were no match for France in the semifinals, with the Pool B winners running out comfortable 33-0 winners but it was the Irish who prevailed 28-19 in the final to claim the final Olympic qualifying berth in the men's draw.

Head coach Muliagatele Brian Lima had selected 12 local players to contest this weekend's repechage, but Tipa Sapeti failed to recover from an injury sustained in a practice match during the week.

Tuatagaloa is the only survivor from the Samoan team that was beaten by Spain in the Olympic repechage final five years ago, when Lima was the assistant coach.

"He knows exactly what happened and also he motivates some of these (other) players and we don't want it to happen again this year."

Crusaders prop Michael Alaalatoa will captain the 31-man squad and is one of 11 players who featured at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.

Head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua has selected four locally based players, 20 from New Zealand and Australia, with the remaining seven players plying their trade across England, Scotland, France, the USA and Japan.

"This is a very important initial campaign for us playing the qualifier against Tonga and also privileged to play the Māori All Blacks as lead up to the qualifier," he said.

Both the Manusina and their male counterparts remain in contention for a place at Tokyo 2020, and are scheduled to compete in the Olympic repechage tournament in Monaco next month.

The two teams came close to qualifying for Rio 2016, as Manu Samoa lost the repechage final to Spain on the last play of the match, while the country’s women were beaten by Kazakhstan in their quarter-final.

Should either team be able to secure their place at a first Games, then Sapani hopes it can provide some cheer for a country currently in political deadlock.

New Zealand Rugby confirmed last month that two Pacific Island franchises have been awarded a conditional licence to join an expanded competition from next year.

Moana Pasifika general manager Kevin Senio told Sky Sport recently that 80% of their playing roster would be already capped by Samoa or Tonga or on that pathway.

Manu Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua said he shared the concerns of some in the region that players with dual eligibility could still end up playing for the All Blacks or Australia.

Samoa head coach Seilala Mapusua played twice for the Barbarians and said it was one of the highlights of his career.

"Their style of rugby gives you the freedom to simply go out and express yourself on the field alongside numerous international superstars of the game so, it is not only a great honour to play for the Barbarians, but a great privilege for the Manu Samoa to play against them too," he said.

He was appointed by Samoa Rugby Union.

Su’a is currently the Media and Communications Officer for Samoa Tourism Authority.

He is well known in the rugby fraternity, as he is also the Team Manager from the Big Island of Savaii – affiliated to the successful Ott Constructors Tamauli Rugby Club.

Su’a brings to the role a passion for rugby, complemented by extensive administrative experience in organising events at the national and regional level.

Head Coach Brian Lima has done this for the teams to play against each other twice in the first round this week.

The national trial is expected to run for two weeks.

The four teams consists of Savaii, Apolima, Manono and Upolu.

The women’s category is fielding three teams and they are Taema, Nafanua and Tilafaiga.

The final day of the first round of the trials is today before the second round that will be held on Thursday and Friday next week.