SamoaLive! 11 Oct)Manu Samoa Tour?
The Union, Manu Samoa Ltd and players seem to be on a collision course.After the Union announced the tour of Scotland and Wales, Manu Samoa Ltd came out with its media release casting doubts on prospects of such a tour.A well known former Manu Samoa captain and manager has also come out against the tour.He is reported to be joined by the current captain of the  Manu Samoa and other key players calling for reconsideration of the tour and the terms of allowances and insurances for players.A Samoalive poll has been set up to test the public as to whether the tour should go ahead.

Samoalive 8 Oct) Samoa has drawn with Australia in its pool at the Rugby World Cup Sevens to be held in Janury 26-29 2001 in Mar Del Plata, Argentina during Janury 26-29 2001.Manu Samoa Ltd has announced that it will focus on preparations for this tournament than sending the 15s for a tour with Scotland and Wales.

Samoalive 1 Sept) The Coach for the national 7s team has been changed from Niko Palamo to Filipo Saena as announced this week by the Samoa Rugby football union. Filipo Saena was the star of the Samoa 7s team which won the Hong Kong 7s cup in the early 1990s.

Samoalive,8 June) The under 21 team has left for NZ today to compete in the Southern Hemisphere Alliance Under 21 Rugby Tournament in Auckland during 21 June to 1 July. Click here for the details of the team.

Samoalive,26 May ) Lama Tone one of the representatives in the World cup last year, has been given a second chance to prove selectors his potential. And will be replacing  Leo Lafaialii who is not available,At the same time Tim Cowley of North Harbour has been named as replacement for prop Henry Tuilagi who is injured.At least two more replacements for the Manu’s squad for the Pacific Rim Epson Cup are expected because centre Keith Lowen and first-five Loki Crichton, both of the Waikato Chiefs, have declared themselves unavailable.Manu Samoa play their first Pacific Rim on June.  Discuss

Samoalive,25 May) Semo Sititi has been confirmed to captain the Manu Samoa for the Pacific Rim tournament.This ends weeks of speculation on the successor to Pat Lam after the 1999 World Cup campaign. Semo Sititi has been had alot of experience as captain in the teams starting from his school days.The Samoalive poll shows Tuigamala and Liima are the top contenders for the captaincy of the Manu Samoa. With the game with Fiji a few days away, Semo Sititi may still not be able to lead the Manu Samoa onto play Fiji if the Commonwealth decides to sever sporting ties with Fiji because of the political developments which could lead to Fiji setting up a government outside of its 1997 constitution.

Samoalive,11May )When the Manu Samoa squad was announced by the Union in Apia today, the biggest surprise was the  omission from the list of George Leaupepe who has been playing dynamic rugby in the Super12. The squad of 26 inlcudes two Samoan based players with the remaining 24 playing their rugby overseas. The experienced players,Trevor Leota,  Vaaiaga Tuigamala, Too Vaega, Brian Lima,Afato Sooala,Joe Filemu, Isaac Feaunati, Craig Glendining,Semo Sititi,Opeta Palepoi,Tanner Vili and Silao Leaega have been joined by Leo Lafaialii,Tanielu Fuga,Mark Luafalealo, Kas Lealamanu, Malaga Leota,Polo Asi,Tom Curtis, Iva Moega, Henry Tuilagi, Denny Tyrell, Loki Crichton, Keith Lowin, Lome Faatau and Elvis Savealii. .Click here for the full squads for the Manu Samoa and the Samoa A for 2000

Samoalive,8 May) Rugby referees from Samoa are getting international recognition. Masunu Talapusi who will again be a referee for the Pacific Rim cup this year (Japan vs Fiji, Tokyo,20 May and Japan vs USA, Osaka, 27 May) will be joined by the former Manu Samoa player turn referee, Andy Aiolupotea who will referee the USA vs Canada game in Manchester on 3 June.

Samoalive,7May)The Manu Samoa 7s team for the Air France7s in Paris (27-28 May) and the Lisbon 7s ( 2-3June) has been finalised.The team includes Faapito Matagitau, Leamy Toleafoa,Roger Warren, Sam Gibbons, Ioane Faatau, Lia Palala, Ponali Tapelu, Asalemo Malo, Gaolo Elisara, Shane Ripley, Fagamanu Sofai and Keresome Tito. After a disappointing Hong Kong and Japan 7s performance,the Manu Samoa 7s has to move on and improve its game.

Samoalive,3 May) Trials for the under21s and the Manu Samoa were held in Apia this week. For the first time a panel of  professionals have been brought together to watch and select the national teams. The selection panel  includes John Boe, Selefuti, Steve Meredith, Papalii Pita Fatialofa and Peter Schuster is reported to be impressed with the physical skills of the players, but there are some worries with the all round mental toughness of the players.The trials for the NZ based Samoans will be held next week before the final teams are selected.

Samoalive,23 Apr) France has won Pool A and Samoa has won Pool B in the under 19 World Championships in France this weekend. In Pool A France beat Australia in the Finals. NZ only managed it to 3rd place after beating Wales. In Pool B, Samoa beat Korea 56-14 in the finals after beating Germany, Portugal and Russia.

The Samoa Rugby Union has now announced its programme for the next 3 months of 2000.
The main events include the Manu Samoa games on 3 June against Fiji in Apia: on 10 June against Japan in Apia; on 24 June against Tonga in Nukualofa; on 1 July against Canada in Apia and on 15 July against USA in San Francsico.

National Under 19 Team
Support our team at the World champs in France
Phone : 03 81 60 96 76
Fax : 03 61 60 96 76

Manu Samoa Coach
T he rising star of NZ rugby coaching has been named coach for the Manu Samoa. John Boe who has had a successful coaching career for Waikato in the NPC and the NZ A team. The Samoan Union said that the assistant coach will be Fepuleai Selefuti. It is reported that Michael Jones could still feature in the new line up  of the coaching team for the Manu Samoa as an advisor/mentor role.The Union has also appointed a team of overseas based personnel to assist with the identification and training of players.These include Pat Lam,Papalii Pita Fatialofa, Steve Meredith and John Ah Kuoi.Boe is expected to be in Apia in the second week of May for a coaching seminar and the trials for the 2000 Manu Samoa team.
Rugby CEO
The SRFU has  formally announced the appointment of Philip Muller as its new CEO. Philip Muller has had extensive management experience in the Samoan Public Service and the Regional Organisations.  He was a former chairman of the PSC and also was the longest serving director of the Forum Fisheries Agency before he took up the directorship of SOPAC. Philip Muller retired in 1998 and has been doing regional consultancy work to date.Muller will officially start in April 2000.His deputy,Saipele Esera has already started preparing for their team to fully takeover the managment of the union by mid 2000.
Manu Samoa UK Connection
Our Manu Samoa boys in the UK keep a close knit group as reported by the Tulagi family in their note to the Samoalive team.
 Fereti Tuilagi, Apollo Perelini & Vila Matautia have contracts to play professional rugby league for St Helen's who won the Championship last year  in Britain.  Fereti, is  the only person who has signed a contract from Samoa as a Professional League Player after playing the World Cup in 1995 for Manu Samoa. The club website, www.saints.uk.com has  all the players profiles and in it there is a column that is answered by Apollo every week. The Tuilagis are  in close contact with John Schuster, Junior Paramore & family, Pat Lam & family, Inga & family. The Gang in the UK wanted to pass on their  best regards to all their  families and to all their friends and the Marist Boys at Lotopa. 

Secondary schools throughout Samoa have started their interschool competitions in rugby and netball. The involvement of girls in rugby has not yet filtered to the interschool competition level. Only boys  play rugby and girls play netball. This year has seen the rural district schools being more organised than last year in both rugby and netball.

Arona Palamo, a well known former Manu Samoa player who is now residing in the USA is visiting Apia this week. Palamo has shown that there is life after Manu Samoa. Palamo has established his name in the area of biotechnology having being in the cutting edge of research into improving the yield of agricultural products in the last decade .Arona Palamo comes from a well known sports family of Vaimoso. His two sons are currently playing international representative rugby for the USA.