Apia Maroons Rugby Club Celebrate 100 Years Milestone

By Lagi Keresoma/

Apia, Samoa – 23 January 2024: The Apia Maroons Rugby Club has come a long way since 1924 when a sailor on board the steam boat Tofua kicked a rugby ball that landed short of the Missionary John Williams Memorial opposite the EFKS Taimane o le  Vasalaolao Church in Apia.

The village tuua Le Mamea Tuiletufuga Ropati Mualia said whether the kick was aimed at the Memorial is not known, but what is certain was that several Apia village boys who were on the beach that day, took the ball and started kicking it around establishing rugby as a pastime for the Apia boys.

The black sand beach became a landmark for rugby matches for the Apia aumaga and today, the younger generations of the village continue to uphold the legacy of the beach as the first rugby field for the Apia village boys.

100 years later, the village comes together to celebrate the anniversary of the sport that has elevated some of the village’s sons and daughters to international platforms.

Church ministers from various denominations in Apia who took part in the village’s Lotu Faafetai 2024 and the launch of the new Apia Maroons Rugby Club logo.

The name Apia Maroons was adopted years later and became the identity of Apia village rugby that has made its mark and significant contribution to the development and history of Samoan rugby.

The 100th year campaign started last Sunday, 21 January 2024 with the launch of the Apia Maroons Rugby Club Logo during the village’s annual thanksgiving Lotu Fa’afetai Service.

The campaign will also see the revival of the King of Rugby Tournament in August hosted by Apia Maroons Club that is drawing interest from rugby teams from Australia, New Zealand and American Samoa.

There will be more activities and events scheduled to mark this prestigious milestone that is dedicated to the village elders who took the ball kicked from a steam boat that led to the birth of the Apia Maroons Rugby Club.

Children playing at the Apia black sand beach where it all started 100 years ago.