Samoa Rugby

Steve Jackson was appointed on Friday to replace Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua.

The former Blues assistant coach has spent the past few days reaching out to players, pouring over game footage and finalising his coaching team.

He has to submit a squad to World Rugby by Friday and said while they want to win games now the bigger focus is on being successful at the World Cup in a year's time.

Samoa will face Germany or Portugal for a place at next year's tournament in Japan after World Rugby announced the new dates for their home and away playoff series.

Subject to any appeal, the first leg will be in Apia on June 30, with the return match in Europe on July 14.

Confirmation comes after an independent judicial and disputes committee found Belgium, Spain and Romania fielded ineligible players in the Rugby Europe Championship and docked them competition points.

The agreement was inked by Samoa's Ambassador to Japan, Her Excellency Faalavaau Perina Jacqueline Sila-Tualaulelei and the Mayor of Yamagata Takahiro Sato.

Yamagata City will be the 'Host Town' for Samoa and the Samoa Olympic delegations during their pre-camp training period before the Tokyo Games.

The MOU also marks the formal commencement of cultural and sports exchanges between Samoa and Yamagata.

22 players have been contracted by the Samoa Rugby Union for the new season, which kicks off in Dubai on Friday.

The Manu finished a lowly 13th on the World Series last season, and only managed to make the Cup quarter finals once in ten tournaments.

Sir Gordon Tietjens said he has the ability to contract up to 24 players and still has some spots available.

Last week the Samoa's Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi declared the Samoa Rugby Union was bankrupt and unable to pay players' wages or pay off their debts.

The SRU subsequently raised almost $US140,000 from a fundraising appeal but Tuilaepa said their financial problems remained an ongoing concern.

Tonga's Rugby Union have their own administration issues, with the board declared null in void last month.

Toutai Kefu said resources were a constant struggle in the Pacific and it tended to be the players who suffered the most.

Fa'amanu Brown will partner Jarome Luai in the halves in Cairns, while Matthew Wright replaces Ken Maumalo on the wing and Frank Winterstein and Bunty Afoa will start up front in place of Leeson Ah Mau and Frank Pritchard.

Sam Tagataese has been named captain in Pritchard's absence, although the veteran backrower will start from the interchange bench.

After opening defeats against New Zealand and Tonga, the Toa must win their final group match to advance to the quarter finals.

Among the 17 set to take the field for Samoa in Auckland are 10 players who were born in New Zealand, while there are another three who were born in other countries but have represented New Zealand at junior or senior level in the past. 

It leaves Young Tonumaipea, Peter Mata'utia, Tim Lafai and Joseph Leilua as the only Samoa players who wouldn't be eligible to represent the Kiwis, while there are also duel Samoa-New Zealand internationals Ben Roberts, Frank Pritchard and Suaia Matagi in coach Matt Parish's team for week one.

This outing was a chance for fans to get up close and personal with both teams ahead of the tournament which starts later this week.

The Kiwis and Samoa were welcomed with a haka and Siva Tau by local school children.

Fans were then treated to a skills session with both teams as well as photo opportunities and signatures.

Kiwis star playmaker Shaun Johnson proved he's a hit both on and off the pitch, the 27-year-old was the star attraction at today's session with most of the fans lining up to get his signature as well as a photo.

The Eels outclassed the Chiefs 38-17 in the final at Apia Park on Saturday following 11 weeks on competition.

The nine franchise teams replaced the 18 sub-unions in the old National Provincial Championship, which was found to lack quality, depth and resources, following a review by the Samoa Rugby Union.

Eels team manager Laifa Petersen said they found the new competition to be of a very high standard.

"It's a big step up and a big difference from the old tournament - the mindset of players and their mentalities is higher," he said.

The veteran coach has been appointed to a second stint in charge, replacing Namulauulu Alama Ieremia, who resigned last month after the team suffered four straight defeats and missed automatic Rugby World Cup qualification.

Fuimaono's first tenure ended in controversy after Samoa failed to qualify for the knockout rounds of the 2011 World Cup.

His captain Mahonri Schwalger was never selected again after criticising the Samoa Rugby Union and team management for their conduct during the tournament.