Australia to play Samoa’s Manusina in historic rugby fixture

04 September 2024 – The Australian Government is partnering with Rugby Australia and Lakapi Samoa to bring a historic women’s rugby union tour to Samoa. Samoa’s Manusina will face Australia A on 16 September at Apia Park in Samoa.

Delivered through PacificAus Sports, the match will be the Manusina’s first home game since 2009, and will be preceded by a high-performance training camp as the team prepares to compete in World Rugby’s WXV3 competition in Dubai in a bid to qualify for the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup.

This tour reflects the Australian Government’s continued commitment to partnering with Rugby Australia and the national unions of the Pacific to enhance women’s rugby and deepen sporting connections between Australia and the Pacific.

“The Australian Government is proud to partner with Rugby Australia and Lakapi Samoa to support this historic match between Manusina and Australia A,” says the Minister for International Development and the Pacific, Pat Conroy.

“Rugby has long brought our two nations together, as competitors on the field, and great friends off it. We look forward to what promises to be an exciting match, and we will continue to support the growth of women’s rugby in Samoa and throughout the Pacific,” he said.

Manusina’s captain, Masuisuimatamaalii Tauasa Pauaraisa says it will be a huge honour and privilege to lead and captain team in Samoa and an awesome opportunity to get in a quality match and showcase the many talented Tama’ita’i in Samoa through rugby.

“I was born and raised in Samoa, and having the opportunity to finally run out on home soil is a dream come true. Words never describe the feeling of playing your first-ever Manusina game for your country in front of our beloved people,” she says.

“We are super excited. This is for our team, our beloved aiga, and the people of Samoa. We feel blessed and grateful to be given this opportunity by Lakapi Samoa and the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports.”

Lakapi Samoa CEO, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i sees the Manusina and Australia A fixture as an excellent opportunity for Manusina to prepare for the key fixtures at WXV in Dubai in the efforts to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup in 2025.

“Having a first-class fixture in Samoa greatly boosts our women’s game. We want to acknowledge the support of the Australian Government through PacificAus Sports in making this fixture a reality; without this fixture, it would have been extremely tough for Manusina to have some meaningful competition before attempting to qualify for the Women’s Rugby World Cup, and it is great that it will be here in Samoa,” said Faleomavaega.

The General Manager of Women’s Rugby at Rugby Australia, Jilly Collins says it’s a unique and enriching experience.

“We’re delighted that our PacificAus Sports partnership with the Australian Government will support an Australia A women’s team tour to Samoa. Playing against Manusina will provide a unique and enriching experience for all involved and further strengthen our women’s rugby partnership with Samoa”.