Samoa

The Samoa Rugby Sevens coach Damian McGrath says he knows all too well the pressure to succeed in rebuilding the national programme.

The Englishman has been in the job two months now after working with the English and Welsh sevens programmes.

McGrath has been preparing his first 12 man squad for the upcoming Oceania tournament in Auckland later this month.

He says since being in Samoa he has experienced the passion the nation has for rugby.

 Three United Nations agencies - UNWomen, the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) – donated a total of US$3,000 to the Girls Leading Our World (GLOW) for its upcoming conference in Samoa this month.

From November 10-14, 32 girls and 16 women community leaders from 16 villages from across the country will be participating in the three-day programme that will be held at Papauta All Girls School. 

The expedition of the 4 amazing women rowing across the Pacific Ocean from Hawaii to Samoa for 97 days did not go unnoticed with Digicel Samoa Management and staff.

Police in Samoa have received more than 20 guns in three days as part of a gun amnesty that runs until the end of the year.

With clearance from the government, the police have announced that no one will be investigated or charged if they hand in illegal weapons, or guns of any kind.

Yesterday police destroyed around 80 guns that had been earlier confiscated through crime investigations, as a demonstration.

The police commissioner, Egon Keil, says the purpose is to save lives and he hopes many more will come forward.

Captain Greig Laidlaw scored the decisive try in the final seven minutes, though the Scots had to cling on following Motu Matu'u's late score.

Samoa scored through Tusi Pisi, Ma'atulimanu Leiataua and Rey Lee-Lo in a thrilling first half.

Tommy Seymour and John Hardie crossed for the Scots before the break.

Scotland also had Ryan Wilson sin-binned in the first half for stamping.

The Wallabies beat the Welsh 15-6 at Twickenham and will now face Vern Cotter's Pool B runners-up, with South Africa having already won the section.

Same old Scotland

Hooker Ford had been a major doubt with a head knock picked up during the Rugby World Cup defeat by South Africa.

Centre Mark Bennett also returns to a side showing seven changes after missing out against the Springboks.

Police spokesman Su'a Muliaga Tiumala says the vessel was reported to have ran aground on Wednesday but very few details are so far available such as the boat's name and country of registration.

Su'a confirmed however that there are 12 people onboard and of different nationalities including Filipinos and Koreans.

Local media is reporting the ship could have been fishing illegally off Samoa waters.

The President of Samoa's South Pacific Professional Boxing Federation, Ale Vena Ale, says Farani will be rated fifth in the world if he wins.

"Under the contract if he wins we will make a call and his first defence will also be in Beijing in China. His opponent is a guy called Max Singh. He's got four fights [and] four wins - he's a newly upcoming Chinese boxer".

Tavu'i competed in the main Super 8 competition in Christchurch earlier this year.

Tuilagi struck Japan's Harumichi Tatekawa with his knee in the second minute of the Pool B match on Sunday.

He denied the act of foul play but was found guilty by the citing commissioner and will miss Samoa's last match against Scotland at St James' Park on Sunday.

Samoa cannot reach the quarter-finals after losses to Japan and South Africa in Pool B.

The jersey was presented to the Police Commissioner Egon Keil by New Zealand police superintendent Don Allan.

The All Blacks played Samoa in Apia for the first time two months ago.

Mr Allan says the All Blacks were impressed with the security provided by the police.

"The All Black management was satisfied working with the Samoa police and ticked that box, hence that was a critical factor in the All Blacks coming here. For me there was a personal pride in being involved in this and to work again with my colleagues from Samoa police."