Samoa Rugby

Samoa's Andrew Goodman backs Ireland to 'go really deep' in World Cup

New Zealander Goodman watched from the sidelines on Saturday evening in Bayonne as Ireland stretched their winning run to 13 matches with a narrow 17-13 success over Samoa.

The 40-year-old former Leinster player, who has been working with the Pacific island nation since 2021, has connections with many of Ireland's squad having returned to the Dublin-based province last year to assist Leo Cullen.

SRU announces Pacific Nations Cup team

Union Chairman, Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi said the two players selected from overseas under the newly established World Rugby regulation eight rule are Fritz Lee and Lolagi Visinia from the All Blacks.

The PNC tournament will commence on 2 July 2022.

The Union is confident of the selection and the players are ready for the PNC as well as the World Cup next year.

With the recruitment of overseas players, the Union is worried for the financial instability faced by the Union as there is not enough financial support.

Samoa finishes fourth place at the London 7s

The team had a strong start after Paul Scanlan scored a try straight after the kick-off.

Fiji replied moments later with a try from Elia Canakaivata and Napolioni Bolaca battling the defence line from the men in blue with a strong run that led to a try between the sticks.

Fiji led at halftime 24-7.

Fiji started to become lax and Samoa took advantage of this.

It didn’t take long for Maliko and Uaina Sione to cross the Fijian tryline and put Samoa back in the game.

Fiji’s Josua Vakurubuli scored the winning try after fending off the Samoan defenders.

Excitement builds for Samoa rugby line-up

New eligibility rules mean former Samoan Wallaby and All Black players can now play for Samoa.

Taefu, who has represented Samoa since 2017, said there were a number of players at Moana Pasifika he would like to see in the team, including former Wallaby star Christian Lealiifano.

"I don't know who's in the team but I would like to see guys like Ere Enari included.

Burglar picks wrong home after entering former Samoan heavyweight boxing, rugby star's property

Former Samoan international rugby and boxing star Lio Falaniko was sitting at his Perth home in his underwear on December 28 when the bizarre incident unfolded.

Falaniko was pondering what Netflix movie to watch when the burglar brazenly walked through his front door and into the hallway towards the kitchen in the middle of the afternoon.

The 51-year-old, who has 10 professional heavyweight boxing wins to his name, told Perth Now how the incident unfolded.

"I'd just got home from the shops and the dude just walked straight into my house.

Samoa coach Seilala Mapusua eyes All Black Josh Ioane for 2023 Rugby World Cup

Players such Steven Luatua, Ben Lam, Lolagi Visinia, George Moala, Jeff Toomaga-Allen and Lima Sopoaga are now eligible for Manu Samoa, effective immediately, after World Rugby voted to allow players to switch nations after observing a three-year stand-down from test rugby.

 

And, should Ioane not be selected by the All Blacks next year, Mapusua will swoop for the new No Chiefs 10.

 

“You’ve got guys like Josh Ioane, who have played one test for the All Blacks, Josh has been playing some awesome footy at the moment,” Mapusua told Stuff on Thursday.

 

'We were the poor cousins': Samoa's 1991 World Cup upset 30 years on

The venerated Aucklander enjoyed a swashbuckling time playing in New Zealand and England before going on to forge the coaching adventure that now has him at the helm of ambitious Bristol. However, nothing has yet to eclipse the magical moment from 1991 when Western Samoa shocked the world with their World Cup win over Wales in Cardiff. 

Fiji, Samoa 7s to miss start of the World Series

The new season kicks off in Vancouver on September 18, with another tournament in Edmonton the following weekend.

But Fiji's Olympic gold medal winning team and Pacific neighbours Samoa have joined New Zealand, Australia and Argentina in opting to skip the Canadian wing because of the ongoing effects of Covid-19.

Fiji's players went more than four months without seeing their friends and families in order to achieve their Olympic dream in Japan.

Saracens sign Samoan second-row

The 25-year-old second-row arrives in Barnet following a spell in the United States with the Dallas Jackals.

Mcfarland, who is 6ft 6 tall and weighs 115kg, won both of his caps as a replacement against Tonga.

Prior to playing in Major League Rugby, McFarland played for the Savai’i Vikings in the Super Nine Rugby competition in 2018 and 2019.

During that time he also represented Samoa at basketball in multiple international competitions.

Lima Sopoaga hopeful for future switch to Samoa

Players can switch allegiances by playing in an Olympic qualifying event, provided they have a passport for the second country and have completed a stand down period of three years.

UK-based Sopoaga hoped to play in Samoa's Olympic Sevens qualifiers held in Monaco last month, but had already made plans to visit family in New Zealand.