Manu Samoa Sevens Christmas Gift from Capetown

Staff Reporters

APIA, SAMOA – 12 DECEMBER 2022: Manu Samoa Sevens Coach, Muliagatele Brian Lima has capped off a difficult 2022 with a Christmas gift for the Samoan people around the world  with his first Cup Championship victory of the HSBC’s Sevens in Capetown, South Africa this morning.

“I’d like to thank the Head of State, Prime Minister, the church ministers  and our people back home and Samoans around the world for your tapuaiga, support and prayers that we have come out with this victory,” he said after the victory over rivals, the All Blacks in the finals.

Lima’s men had dispatched the hosts, the Blitzboks in the semis when an error from the first extra-time kick-off led to the Blitzboks conceding a penalty. Samoa played their cards wisely and opted to take the drop-goal from around 30m out, bringing the Springbok Sevens’ dream run to an end.

Samoa’s men put in a brilliant performance to defeat New Zealand 12-7 in a closely fought Cup final to claim their first Series title since Paris in 2016.

HSBC Player of the Final, Vaa Apelu Maliko said:  “We’d like to thank our family, friends and all the supporters back home for helping us get through this event, this win is for them.”

HSBC Player of the Final, Vaa Apelu Maliko giving his Coach an ice bath after the victory.

The Lima coached side are predominantly drawn from local talent who had been blooded in to the level of international competition through the HSBC Sevens circuit.

The well respected and iconic rugby player who first represented his country as a 19 year old in Samoa’s first ever World Cup in 1991, and then played in four more World Cups and inducted the Rugby Hall of Fame, has brought back the teams winning ways since it last won an HSBC tournament leg in 2016.

Meanwhile, back home, the Manu Samoa Sevens victory could be a Christmas double celebration with the much anticipated homecoming welcome for the Toa Samoa that made the World Rugby League finals last month when they land on 27 December.

Lima said his team’s home coming could be timed together with the Toa Samoa’s arrival.

Samoa and South Africa now tie on 47 points leading the standings after three events heading into 2023, with USA and New Zealand next on 44 points.