Junior Manu Samoa (Under 20)

Samoa’s Under 20 rugby representatives, the Junior Manu Samoa have their sights on the World Rugby Trophy 2023 in Kenya which kick off this month from 15-30 July. They qualified for Kenya after dispatching Tonga U20 in their Oceania qualifying series in 2022.

The goal for our young rugby stars is to win the second tier competition and qualify for the top tier World Rugby U20 Championship for 2024.

Head Coach, Galumalemana Rudolph Moors says that getting there will not be easy and believes the World Rugby Trophy 2023 will be very competitive, but the team will do their best for Samoa.

According to Galuemalemana, they are working on their goals and tactics to qualify for World Rugby U20 Championship 2024. Most of the 28 players selected are locally based, apart from a few players from overseas. Two of the players Aleipata College student, Malakesi Masefau, 18, and Paul Stanley played for the Manu Samoa Sevens in the World Rugby Sevens Series this year. Masefau scored two tries in Samoa’s bronze medal victory over the All Blacks Sevens team in the London Sevens tournament. Stanley debuted for Samoa 7s in 2022 and carried his village team Vaimoso at the Marist Pago Sevens. William Hunt was also in the extended Manu Samoa Sevens squad. Two players come from the Moana Pasifika U20s team based in New Zealand, Bitner Tafili and Wally Tau.

All the best to our Junior Manu Samoa team and to the coach and management in Kenya.