SRFU Elects 12-Member Board, Votes to Include former Manu Samoa Players 

Leapagatele Mila Mavaeao/

Apia, SAMOA – 12 November 2026  — The Samoa Rugby Football Union (SRFU) has elected a 12-member Executive Board to serve a two-year term during its first Annual General Meeting (AGM) held at the Sheraton Hotel on Wednesday evening.

Attended by representatives from local sub-unions across the country, the landmark meeting confirmed former Manu Samoa international, Matafeo George Latu as Chairman and Tofaeono Dr. Iupati Fuata’i as Vice Chairman.

The newly appointed board members representing the local unions include:

• Silafau Ioane Sio
• Tofaeono Dr. Iupati Fuata’i
• Leniu Vainiu Te’o
• Tuiloma Enele
• Matafeo George Latu
• Seumanutafa Tuimaseve Poto Iosefa
• Aiono Tony Ta’eleipu
• Ifopo Fritz Jahnke
• Tafafuna’i Asiata Aialii Anapu
• Savea Taipi Morris

Two remaining seats on the 12-member board—designated for representatives of Women’s Rugby and School Rugby—are still to be finalized and will be filled at a later date.

Constitutional Amendment for Former Players
In a significant move toward greater inclusivity, union members also voted overwhelmingly in favour of amending the SRFU constitution to grant a board seat for the Manu Samoa Old Boys Association (MSOBA).

During the meeting, an MSOBA representative presented a petition bearing more than 100 signatures, noting that a similar request for board representation had previously been rejected by rival body Lakapi Samoa.

New Zealand Outreach and International Support
Addressing members, Chairman Matafeo outlined the union’s immediate plans to expand its reach and promote its development agenda.

Matafeo confirmed he will depart for New Zealand this weekend to spearhead an SRFU Awareness Program and support an SRFU-backed squad competing in a New Zealand Sevens tournament.

He also took time to acknowledge the strong backing shown by local unions during the recent visit of World Rugby Chairman Brett Robinson to Apia.

The inaugural AGM marks a major milestone in the ongoing restructuring of Samoan rugby. Registered in June and officially launched in late July 2026, the SRFU was established by former Manu Samoa players, coaches, and alienated sub-unions after the Government of Samoa formally withdrew its recognition and financial backing from Lakapi Samoa. In September, Cabinet officially approved the SRFU as the country’s recognized domestic rugby governing body.

While Lakapi Samoa remains suspended from the World Rugby Council under a Memorandum of Understanding that placed national High Performance duties under SASNOC and a Stewardship Committee, the SRFU’s formation of an elected board in its inaugural Annual General Meeting signals its push to establish long-term administrative stability of Samoan rugby at the grassroots level.