Samoa Rugby

Fijian Latui coach Senirusi Seruvakula said the team had spent the last three weeks in camp focused on fitness, defence and mastering the competition's modified rules, which included 35 minutes halves, no gain in ground when kicking directly to touch and nine point "power tries" for attacks launched from within a team's own 22.

"Last week we were working on the rules for the GRR and everyone's understanding, to understand the rules very well and now we are excited for our first game against China [Lions] on Saturday."

Tuimaba arrived home yesterday morning to join his family who are mourning the loss of his grandfather, who the Yasawa speedster attributes much of his rugby and professional success to.

Ikanikoda sustained a high grade ankle injury in the Monday's Cup final defeat by South Africa in Los Angeles.

Fiji coach Gareth Baber said the squad was fortunate to have enough depth that he could call upon replacements without disruption to their preparation for Canada.

The Manu 7s finished fourth in the opening round in Dubai but have since slumped to 13th on the World Series standings, after losing all nine pool matches over the last three tournaments.

Tietjens said a difficult draw and rising injury toll have not helped their cause but he accepts they have been well below their best.

The appointment was confirmed in a press release issued by the Club.

The second-tier Top Challenge League side finished bottom of the table in the 2019-20 season, which concluded in January.

The SRU had initiated a review of the Manu Samoa's World Cup performance last year and the results have yet to be officially announced.

A total of nine players from the Australian franchise club, Eels have been selected  in the squad that was named today (Thursday).

The team is likely to bank on experience with most of the overseas-based players in the line-up.

The U20s is seen as a pathway to the Rugby World Cup stage, which World Rugby Chairman Sir Bill Beaumont said always displayed top-class talent.

Tuatagoloa, 30, has played provincial rugby in New Zealand for Wellington and Canterbury and has represented Samoa at international level.

A promising boxer during his Teens, Tuatagoloa had to give up the sport as a result of persistent migraines. During the summer he revealed that he turned down a contract offer in France in order to represent Samoa at the 2019 Rugby World Cup.

He has also played sevens rugby for both Samoa and New Zealand.

The Manu 7s wore a black armband in their opening match against Canada to honour the victims of the measles epidemic which has taken more than 60 lives back in Samoa.

Sir Gordon Tietjens' side conceded two first half tries but responded in kind through Paul Scanlan and Tofatu Solia to go into the half-time break all square at 12-all.

Samoa Global News reports that Leilua was informed his daughter, born on 3 November, had been admitted to Isolation 2 at Motootua National Hospital shortly after arriving in Dubai last week.

The 23-year-old, who has scored 20 tries in 69 appearances on the World Sevens Series, told the website that there has since been "improvement" and that he is praying "for all the families affected by the measles".

Paulo Fanuasa and Kelvin Masoe have been called into the Samoan squad in Dubai and head coach Sir Gordon Tietjens said the whole team was thinking of Leilua and his family.

The current Mid Canterbury looseman says he is grateful to be selected again in this season’s line-up.

“I feel honoured and thankful for the opportunity.”

Koroitamana adds the upcoming game against Samoa will a chance to better his performance.

“First, I am so privileged to be playing against my Samoa brothers and for what I hope to achieve is that it’s a good platform for me to springboard my future in for more opportunities in my rugby career,” he said.

Koroitamana will play among four other Fijian players for the team.

The global governing body has come under fire from some quarters after Samoa’s win over Tonga was played in dire weather conditions, with water pooling in some sections of t

Tonga centre Cooper Vuna and second row Sam Lousi have both taken to social media since the game to express their frustrations at what became something of a mudbath.

“Shoutout to World Rugby for signing off the field for us to play on today,” wrote Lousi, who has signed for Pro14 side Scarlets ahead of the new season, on Twitter.