Samoa Rugby

Fanueli died on Saturday after he collapsed a rugby tournament at Marist St. Joseph’s Club.

He was the Head Coach of Falelauniu Rugby Club at the time of his passing.

He was involved in the early development of the A’ana Chiefs rugby franchise as their first Super 9 Head Coach from 2017 until 2019. 

Fanueli played as a forward in the Apia Rugby Union, and was selected to play for the Manu Samoa As 15 squad during his playing days. 

Photo: The late Faasuaga Fanueli.  Source:  A’ana CHIEFS Rugby/Facebook

Highlanders lock Josh Dickson and Tasman loose forward Jacob Norris – a late addition to the squad and older brother of teammate Ollie Norris – will both make their debuts off the bench for the New Zealand representative side.

The starting pack features an experienced front row of Hurricanes loosehead prop Pouri Rakete-Stones, Highlanders tighthead Josh Hohneck and Kapene (captain) Ash Dixon at hooker. Blues rate Kurt Eklund, Super Rugby teammate Marcel Renata and Crusaders Rookie of the Year Tamaiti Williams will provide impact off the bench.

Players with eligibility for more than one country can switch their allegiance by participating in Olympic qualifying events provided they have a passport for the second country and have completed a stand down period of three years.

World Rugby's rules otherwise prevent players from representing more than one country at senior level.

Lakapi Samoa's General Manager of High Performance, Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun, said they've had discussions with some high-profile players who are keen to pull on the blue jersey.

Chairman and Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi launched the new name and logo at Lakapi Samoa Headquarters in

Tuanaimoto Friday.

According to Tuilaepa, Lakapi Samoa has transitioned through a reform process which started in 2015 in the reform and restructure of the Administration and Union.

This was followed by a  reform of the Union’s constitution.

Newcastle’s Mulipola has played in two World Cups and missed the 2015 tournament due to injury but remains a significant front row force, as he showed for the Falcons in their European Challenge Cup quarter-final loss to former club Leicester on Saturday, starting as tighthead and then switching to loosehead as the match unfolded.

Despite the continuing uncertainty over travel caused by the COVID-19 pandemic, the 34-year-old, who has won 33 caps for Samoa, has informed former teammate Mapusua he is committed to supporting the bid to qualify for France in 2023.

Born and raised in Sydney, Alaalatoa has been capped five times for Samoa, with his last game for the country coming in their 2019 Rugby World Cup pool stage defeat to Ireland.

He made his Super Rugby debut for the Waratahs in 2014 and moved to the Crusaders in 2016. He has since played 89 times for the club and won three Super Rugby titles as well as last year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa championship.

“It is a huge honour to be given the opportunity to join Leinster Rugby,” Alaalatoa said.

Takiwhitu Tūturu will feature eight men's and women's teams playing across two days at Hataitai Park.

The Tonga and Samoa Invitational sides will take part in the men's tournament alongside two All Blacks Sevens teams, while a Moana Pasifika squad will feature in the women's competition with two Black Ferns Sevens teams and a Black Ferns 15-a-side selection.

The Tongan squad was based in Auckland and would travel down to Wellington with head coach Tevita Tu'ifua on Tuesday.

Born and raised in Dunedin, the 24-year-old is eligible to represent the Pacific Island nation through his mother, who he said would be “proud” if he opted to play for Manu Samoa.

“That’s in the back of my mind at the moment, to play for Samoa,” Tomkinson told media on Wednesday. “It’d probably be good for my mum. She’s Samoan, [she’d] probably be proud for me to play for Samoa.”

That doesn’t mean the hard-hitting second-five has strayed away from his childhood dream of playing for the All Blacks, though.

Dan Leo- who is the founder of the Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, traveled to the UK to interview Pacific islands rugby players and the former greats in Samoa, Fiji and Tonga.

The film was released on Monday, titled ‘Oceans Apart: Greed, Betrayal and Pacific Island Rugby’.

The film highlights the struggles Pacific islands teams face together with the players.

Celebrity chef, Phil Vickery also reacted to the film and shared the preview on his Twitter account saying “For everyone who loves our game this is truly emotional please watch and share.”

Nine teams have already qualified for next year's World Cup in New Zealand, including the world champion Black Ferns, Australia and Fiji from Oceania, and the Manusina are one step closer after overwhelming Tonga 40-0 in Auckland on the weekend.

Although a date for the tournament is still undecided, coach Ramsey Tomokino said they're charging ahead for a spot in the 2021 Rugby World Cup.