Samoa National Rugby Sevens Team
Vorlage:Use dmy dates Vorlage:Infobox rugby team
The Samoa national rugby union team represent Samoa internationally in rugby sevens, a competitive sports tournament titled the IRB Sevens World Series which takes place annually in seven countries; United Arab Emirates, South Africa, New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong, Australia, England and Scotland.
Referred to as the Samoa Sevens or Manu Samoa 7s, they are the champions of the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series following a 15-12 victory against England in the semi-finals at the 2010 Edinburgh Sevens on 30 May. The semi-finals win at Murrayfield Stadium gave the team enough points to win the sevens world series for the first time in history.[1] Samoa Sevens went on to the finals to beat Australia and crowned winners of the 2010 Edinburgh Sevens.
The historic victory follows three consecutive tournament wins in the world series, the Hong Kong Sevens,[2] the USA Sevens and the Adelaide Sevens.[3]
Representing the tiny Polynesian country of Samoa with a population of about 180,000 the Samoa Sevens is one of the smallest nations in the international series, competing against some of the wealthiest and high tech countries in the world.[4]
The team includes several of the highest points and try scorers in series history, Uale Mai and Mikaele Pesamino. Pesamino was also named the 2010 IRB International Sevens Player of the Year, an honour which Uale Mai, a former team captain and one of the most capped players in the sport, had won in 2006. Captain Lolo Lui and teammate Alafoti Fa'osiliva had also been nominated.[5]
Rugby union in Samoa is governed by the Samoa Rugby Football Union which oversees the Samoa Sevens team and the 15-player Manu Samoa national team.
History
First Samoa Rugby Union Ltd by Invitation Hong Kong Seven's selection Team was in November 1978, under the Leadership of former SRU Representative former Captain, Tuatagaloa Keli Tuatagaloa, former/late Rev-Dr Faitala Talapusi as Capt, Lemalu Roy Slade V/C (Brisbane), Rev Paul Gray (Melbourne), Peter Schmidt, Feausiga Sililoto, Andy Leavasa (USA), Salafuti Patu and others.
In 2007, the team won both the Wellington Sevens and Hong Kong Sevens. Another past victory was the Hong Kong Sevens in 1993. In 2009, the team made the finals in the Dubai Sevens but lost to the New Zealand team.
While long a solidly competitive side, the Samoa Sevens emerged as true world contenders in the 2006-07 Sevens World Series, finishing third overall while winning two events. This new team has reached the final four times in a row, playing against series favourite Fiji.
Coaches
The current coach is Stephen Betham. Past coaches have included Lilomaiava Taufusi Salesa who trained the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens winning team. Other notable coaches who have led Samoa to sevens prominence were head coach Fuimaono Titimaea "Dicky" Tafua and his assistant Galumalemana Rudolph Moors. In the 2005 - 2006 IRB Sevens Circuit they managed to qualify to two finals (London and Paris) but failed to win any. The Samoa Sevens lost to South Africa in London and island rivals Fiji at Paris.
Fuimaono resigned from coaching in 2007 to his new post as Secretary to Samoa's Head of State, Tupua Tamasese Tufuga Efi. He would later return to coaching in 2009 as head coach of the 15s national team. Galumalemana took over as coach and after a disappointing team performance in the 2008–09 series was temporarily replaced by Lilomaiava Taufusi Salesa for the final two legs of the series. Stephen Betham was named as Galumalemana successor in 2009.
Current squad
Squad to 2014 Commonwealth Games:[6]
- Afa Aiono
- Levi Asifaamatala
- Faalemiga Selesele
- Lio Lolo
- Saena Vili
- Alatasi Tupou
- Lolo Lui
- Reupena Levasa
- Tulolo Tulolo
- Etiuefa Fiavaai
- Samoa Toloa
- Sonny Fereti
Win summaries
In July 1997, the Government of Samoa amended its constitution to change the country's name from Western Samoa to Samoa.[7]
2009-10 IRB Sevens World Series
Itinerary
The series' tournaments are identical to those in 2008–09 and span the globe, visiting five of the six populated continents.
The itinerary for the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series;
| 2009–10 Itinerary[8] | |||
|---|---|---|---|
| Leg | Venue | Date | Winner |
| Dubai | The Sevens | 4–5 December 2009 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
| South Africa | Outeniqua Park, George | 11–12 December 2009 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
| New Zealand | Westpac Stadium, Wellington | 5–6 February 2010 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
| United States | Sam Boyd Stadium, Las Vegas | 13–14 February 2010 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
| Australia | Adelaide Oval, Adelaide | 19–21 March 2010 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
| Hong Kong | Hong Kong Stadium | 26–28 March 2010 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
| London | Twickenham | 22–23 May 2010 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
| Edinburgh | Murrayfield, Edinburgh | 29–30 May 2010 | Vorlage:Ru7 |
Overall Standings
| 2009–10 Standings[9] | |||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Pos. | Country | Dubai | South Africa (George) |
New Zealand (Wellington) |
USA (Las Vegas) |
Australia (Adelaide) |
Hong Kong | England (London) |
Scotland (Edinburgh) |
Overall | |
| 1 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 20 | 6 | 20 | 24 | 24 | 30 | 16 | 24 | 164 | |
| 2 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 24 | 24 | 16 | 20 | 12 | 25 | 12 | 16 | 149 | |
| 3 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 12 | 6 | 12 | 16 | 16 | 16 | 24 | 20 | 122 | |
| 4 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 16 | 20 | 24 | 8 | 6 | 20 | 8 | 6 | 108 | |
| 5 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 16 | 12 | 16 | 6 | 4 | 20 | 6 | 16 | 96 | |
| 6 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 8 | 8 | 8 | 12 | 8 | 10 | 20 | 6 | 80 | |
| 7 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 0 | 16 | 0 | 16 | 8 | 62 | |
| 8 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 6 | 16 | 6 | 16 | 0 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 52 | |
| 9 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 6 | 6 | 0 | 6 | 4 | 34 | |
| 10 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 4 | 20 | 8 | 0 | 0 | 32 | |
| 11 | Vorlage:Ru7 | DNP | DNP | 6 | 0 | DNP | 5 | 4 | 0 | 15 | |
| 12 | Vorlage:Ru7 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 0 | 12 | 12 | |
Former players
Other statistics
| Year | Host | Cup Final | Plate Final | ||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Score | Runner-up | Winner | Score | Runner-up | ||||
| 2009 Details |
Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 24-12 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 7-0 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | ||
| 2008 Details |
Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 19-12 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 12-7 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | ||
| 2007 Details |
Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 31-21 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 15-14 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | ||
| 2004 Details |
Dubai Exiles Rugby Ground | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 26 - 21 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 21 - 19 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | ||
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2010 Details |
Westpac Stadium | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 19-14 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 26-22 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| 2008 Details |
Westpac Stadium | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 22-7 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 19-12 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2007[10] Details |
San Diego, California | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 38 - 24 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 28 - 19 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| 2005[11] Details |
Carson, California | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 34 - 5 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 24 - 21 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2007 Details |
Outeniqua Park | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 33-9 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 12-7 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| 2005 Details |
Outeniqua Park | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 21 - 19 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 17 - 5 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2007 Details |
Adelaide Oval | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 21-7 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 31-0 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2007 Details |
Murrayfield | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 34-5 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 31-7 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2006 Details |
Stade Jean-Bouin | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 33-12 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 31-12 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2006 Details |
National Stadium, Singapore | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 40-21 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 26-5 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 2006 Details |
Twickenham | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 54-14 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 42-7 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | Bowl | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Winner | ||
| 1998 Details |
Hong Kong Stadium | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 28-19 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
| Year | Venue | Cup | Plate | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | Winner | Final Score | Runner-up | ||
| 1979 Details |
HK Football Club Stadium | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 39-3 | Vorlage:Ru7-big | Vorlage:Ru7-big | 13-10 | Vorlage:Ru7-big |
See also
References
- ↑ International Rugby Board, Retrieved 31 May 2010
- ↑ Samoa win Hong Kong Sevens. In: Times LIVE. 28. März 2010, abgerufen am 29. März 2010.
- ↑ Superb Samoa wins Adelaide Sevens. In: International Rugby Board. 21. März 2010, abgerufen am 29. März 2010.
- ↑ Russell Hunter: A breathtaking achievement In: Samoa Observer, 22 March 2010. Abgerufen im 24 May 2010
- ↑ NZ sevens players miss awards list. In: Television NZ. 26. Mai 2010, abgerufen am 26. Mai 2010.
- ↑ IRB: Commonwealth Games Sevens squads: Latest. 16. Juli 2014, abgerufen am 24. Juli 2014.
- ↑ Constitution Amendment Act (No 2) 1997. Abgerufen im 27 November 2007
- ↑ Vorlage:Cite press release
- ↑ Overall Standings. International Rugby Board, abgerufen am 28. März 2010.
- ↑ Official 2007 Results
- ↑ Official 2005 Results
External links
Vorlage:National rugby union teams (sevens) Vorlage:World sevens series Vorlage:Rugby union in Samoa