The Head Coach of Toa Samoa Residents team Ponifasio Vasa and the President of Rugby League Samoa, Tagaloa Faafouina Su’a have put together a training squad for the Toa Residents matchup against Tonga Residents in Hawaii later this month.
President for RLS, Tagaloa Faafouina Sua has confirmed that the training squad.
Tagaloa and his management did not just handpick an athlete from any team.
They hosted an official all star game between Savai’i and Safata/Lefaga to select those who would fit into the squad.
Savai’i in that game last week Saturday, put away the Lefaga/Safata district all stars 26 to 14.
“The game was basically to select the few who would make the training squad from these districts and the island of Savai’i, this week, the Matson Toa Gas tournament has been completed in Savai’i and Lefaga/Safata, and now it’s in the urban area,” said Faafouina.
“So from that selection, we have brought those players in to the training squad, along with those to be selected from the Urban Area tournament, and a few travelling from overseas. Then the final team selection will be made by the head coach himself,” said Faafouina.
For Savai’i, this is the first time they have had an all star team put together and it’s an achievement Faafouina says that will go a long way.
“They have played Queensland Samoa, however the last Saturday’s game is the first between locally named teams, and Savai’i won against the Upolu side,” he added.
The final team will travel to Hawaii on 14 August for their face off against Tonga Residents in Honolulu, at Aloha Stadium on 20 August.