Ben Gardiner and Jamie Soward appointed Toa and Fetu Samoa Rugby League Coaches

Apia, Samoa – 20 September 2023: The President of Rugby League Samoa (RSL), Fiu Ponifasio Vasa confirmed the appointments of Australia-based Ben Gardiner and Jamie Soward as coaches of Toa Samoa and Fetu Samoa in a press conference last night.

Gardiner is currently an Assistant Coach with Australia’s National Rugby League (NRL) premiers Penrith Panthers and takes over from Matt Parish who stepped down in June after leading the national rugby league team – Toa Samoa to a historic Rugby League World Cup grand final in November last year.

In making the announcement, Fiu said Gardiner has the experience being involved with international tournaments and world cups in the previous years and also spent much time with Pacific players.

“We’ve selected someone with much experience and with much involvement in the sport and he’s involved with four top teams who are heading to the finals this week,” said Fiu.

Gardiner was selected out of seven international applications submitted to the RLS Committee.

Fiu said the RLS Committee was also confident about Gardiner’s involvement and bonding with the Toa Samoa players, who currently play for the Penrith Panthers in the NRL.

He said their coaching staff have been reminded of their responsibility to reach out to the players ahead of next month’s international fixtures.

No timeframe for Gardiner’s contract
RLS President said there is no official timeframe for the new Toa Samoa head coach’s contract.

The RLS executive are looking at Pacific Championships which is an ongoing tournament yearly, an international fixture in the International Rugby League’s calendar of which two games have been confirmed for Toa Samoa.

For Pacific Championships’ next month, the Toa Samoa squad should camp seven days before the start of the matches which will be played during the White Sunday long weekend in Samoa.

Fetu Samoa Coach
Ruby League Samoa has also selected St George Illawarra Dragons legend Jamie Soward as Head Coach of Samoa’s women’s rugby league team – Fetu Samoa, for the Pacific Championships.

Soward is an Indigenous All-Stars representative five-eighth who previously played for the Sydney Roosters, Penrith Panthers and the St. George Illawarra Dragons.

Former Toa Samoa player – Keil Stanley will assist Soward.

The Fetu is scheduled to play their first Pacific Championships match on 15 October 2023. The Toa Samoa and the Fetu squads are scheduled to meet on 7 October 2023 before the Pacific Championships kicks off. Toa Samoa will play Australia and New Zealand in October.

The Pacific Championships is divided into two divisions – the Pacific Cup where New Zealand and Australia are to join Samoa, and the Pacific Bowl which groups Fiji, Papua New Guinea and the Cook Islands.

2023 Pacific Championships Schedule

Week One – October 14-15
Australia v Samoa (men) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
Australia v New Zealand (women) at Queensland Country Bank Stadium, Townsville
PNG v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
Samoa v Fiji (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Two – October 21-22
New Zealand v Samoa (men) at Eden Park, Auckland
New Zealand v Tonga (women) at Eden Park, Auckland
Fiji v Cook Islands (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby
PNG v Cook Islands (women) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Three – October 28-29
Australia v New Zealand (men) at AAMI Park, Melbourne
Australia v New Zealand (women) at AAMI Park, Melbourne
PNG v Fiji (men) at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby

Week Four – November 4-5
The Final of the men’s Pacific Cup tournament on November 4 in Hamilton, New Zealand
The Final of the men’s Pacific Bowl tournament on November 5 at Santos Stadium, Port Moresby