Samoa Rugby tops 100 years celebrations with 43-17 win over Tonga

Apia, Samoa – 30 August 2024 – Manu Samoa got the 100 years celebrations of rugby in the country to a positive ending by getting their Pacific Nations Cup campaign back on track defeating Tonga 43-17 at Apia Park.

The victory extended Samoa’s unbeaten home record against Tonga in Apia with a bonus-point win moving to top Pool A, and levels with Fiji on five points but having played a game more.

Samoa led 17-0 at halftime and raked in another 26 points to end up scoring six tries, against Tonga’s two.

It was a positive ending to the 100th year celebrations of Test rugby in the country, with the program hosted by Lakapi Samoa on-going throughout the week.

Some of the former players now making up the Manu Samoa Old Boys Association who were at the stands for the game against Tonga.

Watching from the stands were former Manu Samoa players both local and several overseas who travelled over for the celebrations. The players have formed themselves into the Manu Samoa Old Boys Association and notably were the 1991 World Cup Team players that got the rugby world on notice when they defeated Wales and Argentina in their inaugural effort.

As part of the 100 years celebrations, Lakapi Samoa capped 680 people who have contributed to the development of rugby through various ways since rugby’s start in 1924.

The capping started with a few names read out from the original clubs of 1924 to the current Manu Samoa players.

Former Manu Samoa players congratulating the team after the victory over Tonga at Apia Park.

There were also special awards for all the managing teams, administrative teams, medical teams, physio-therapist team and development teams of different years.

Delivering the keynote address was rugby legend Tuifa’asisina Sir Bryan Williams who touched briefly on Samoa’s rugby history and the struggle and achievements of Manu Samoa when he came onboard as coach.

“And who can forget the World Cup of 1991 where thousands of Samoans watched the game from Apia Park,” he said

He also touched on their frustration against World Rugby Union (WRU) as it was known then, when the Pacific Island teams were left out of Super Rugby when rugby turned professional.

Tufaasisina Sir Bryan Williams and Uaea Laki Apelu.

Losing players to the UK
Tuifa’asisina said when rugby turned professional Samoa lost good players to the UK such as Pat Lam, Apolo Perelini, Junior Paramore and Fereti Tuilagi who was a very young player at the 1991 World Rugby Cup.

“After our tour of England, Tuilagi for some reasons decided to stay in England,” he said.

He said the Tuilagi “dynasty” made up of Fereti, Alesana, Anitelea, Henry and Manu had quite an effect on world rugby.

“So many of our Pacific players ended up overseas and that is one of the effects of being left out of Super rugby,” said Tuifa’asisina.

It was also the reason why he and others decided to create Moana Pasefika so Pacific Island players can have a professional platform to play on.

Looking back, he remembered the names of people he was associated with during his time as coach such as Tupua Tamasese Efi who was President of Samoa Rugby Union, Laauli Alan Grey as Chairman, Tuatagaloa Joe Annandale, Su’a Peter Schuster, Lemalu Tate Simi, Marina Schaffhausen, Richard Cook, Laki Uaea Apelu, Dr. Joe Ainuu, Ben Matalavea, Karren Sutton Epenesa Young, Jordan Salesa, George Meredith, Fay Richwhite and Bob Barlow.

In 2007, La’auli Sir Michael Jones coached Manu Samoa and Tuifa’asisina’s two sons played for Manu Samoa.

He wished Samoan rugby the best for the future.