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INFORMATION & NOTICES: PACIFIC
TSUNAMI
Editorial: God bless the People of American
Samoa, Samoa and Tonga
Tuesday September 29th 2009, Samoan time
Our
thoughts and our prayers go out to our Brothers and Sisters in
American Samoa and
Samoa and Tonga at this very difficult time.
May God look after you all and guide us in helping where we can....
IMPORTANT NOTICE:
From the NZ Ministry of Pacific Islands Affairs site:
"If you are concerned about family
or friends who are New Zealand citizens in Samoa, and you are
unable to contact them direct, call 04 439
8000. This is an MFAT number"
"If you are concerned about family or friends who are Samoan
citizens then contact the Samoan High Commission on 04
472 0953"
More
will be added as they come online with updates...
Fund
Raising Links: *Reminder to check that
you are actually using the real (genuine) website/bank account.
In New Zealand:This info is from the NZ Herald website:
Pacific Cooperation Foundation
Deposits can be made at at any Westpac branch.
All the money raised will go to the Samoan Government
Red
Cross
- Make a secure online donation at www.redcross.org.nz
- Send cheques to the Samoan Red Cross Fund,
PO Box 12140, Thorndon, Wellington 6144
- Call 0900 31 100 to make an automatic
$20 donation
- Make a donation at any NZ Red Cross office
ANZ
bank Make a donation at any ANZ bank branch,
or donate directly to the ANZ appeal account: 01
1839 0143546 00
News:
Pacific Islands Sevens at Mini Games Updated
September 2009
Pacific
big guns in Rarotonga for South Pacific Mini Games
Watch
out for the Sevens tournament at the start of October at the tail
end of the South Pacific Mini Games held in Rarotonga, Cook Islands.
News: U19 Tournament held
in Apia Updated
September 2009
Fiji
wins the U19 Oceania tournament.
In
the final with Samoa, Fiji came away the winners 20-8 at Apia.
News:
U19 Tournament starts in Apia Updated
25 August 2009
The
U19 Oceania tournament starts in Apia, Samoa with five countries
competing.
Fiji,
Samoa, Tonga, Papua New Guinea and Vanuatu will play matches
on 4 days from
24 August to 4 September (Samoa time).
It is expected that the top three will be Fiji, Samoa and Tonga
- who will all be competing in the 2010 JWC - while PNG and
Vanuatu will seek to obtain the one Oceania representative berth
in next years IRB Junior World Cup trophy.
All matches are to be played at Apia Park, Samoa.
24 Aug 2009
3:00pm - Fiji v Samoa
28
Aug 2009
2:00pm - Samoa v Papua New Guinea
4:00pm - Tonga v Fiji
31
Aug 2009
2:00pm - Fiji v Vanuatu
4:00pm - Tonga v Samoa
4
Sep 2009
2:00pm - Papua New Guinea v Vanuatu
4:00pm - Cup Final
Editorial: Vote for Rugby
Sevens in the Olympics Updated
13 August 2009
The Olympic
Committee must choose Sevens Rugby as an Olympic Sport.
Shortly, the
IOC Executive Board meet in Berlin to decide the sports for the
2016 Games.
The IRB has campaigned to have Rugby Sevens included - and we
all support this!
That Sevens is popular worldwide is undeniable - it really is
now a global game and 2016 should see the introduction of this
short and entertaining format where all teams have a chance of
progressing through the rounds and many teams could be contenders
for medals.
Pacific Islanders love to throw the ball around and when there
is no ball, a coconut or jandal will be used instead - this produces
great Sevens players who can swerve and side step - but of course
does not develop kickers.
Vote for Sevens Rugby and give every kid in the Islands a ball.
Then watch the kickers emerge. News:
Australia in Womens World Cup after win in Apia Updated
09 August 2009
Womens
World Cup 2010 in sight for the Walleroos after big win over Samoa
As expected, Australia has qualified for the Oceania spot at the
Womens Rugby Cup in West London, England in August and September
next year by beating the Manusina 87-0 at Apia Park on Friday
7th August local time.
There are no Pacific Island Countries in the 12 Nation line up
for the Womens Rugby Cup 2010.
News:
Pacific Islanders for the All Blacks in Durban Updated
29 July 2009
Pacific Islanders in New Zealand team against South Africa
The
following Pacifc Island players are in the All Blacks for the
match against the Springboks at ABSA stadium, Durban, SA on
Saturday August 1st 2001:
Jerome
Kaino, Rodney Sooialo, Sitiveni Sivivatu, Maa Nonu, Josevata
Rokocoko, Mils Muliaina.
Reserves: Keven Mealamu, John Afoa.
Mils Muliaina becomes the 4th most capped All Black alongside
fellow Pacific Island player Tana Umaga at 74 tests.
News:
Seven Pacific Islanders start for the All Blacks Updated
25 July 2009
Seven
Pacific Islanders in AB starting lineup with one more in reserve
The
All Blacks meet the Springboks in Bloemfontein, South Africa,
3am NZ time Sunday 26th July 2009.
The eight players have played a whopping 377 tests for New Zealand
between them. News:
Fiji and Samoa to meet in the World Cup 2011 Updated
21 July 2009
Fiji
to meet Samoa in an exciting Pool D at Eden Park
Now
that Samoa has qualified for the World Cup, Rugby fans worldwide
will be able to look forward to a great Pacific match up when
Manu Samoa take on Fiji at Eden Park on Sunday September 25th
2011.
This will be the first time that both teams will have met in a
World Cup match and it will be very much a home ground match for
Samoa as Auckland is the biggest Polynesian city in the world
and Samoans make up the majority of Pacific Islanders in Auckland,
with Fijians the minority.
Then there are the other exciting match ups - Wales will dearly
want revenge on Samoa for 1991 and 1999 and also on Fiji for 2007,
Cup holders South Africa will know to be on guard for both Fiji
and Samoa - we would suggest that their 2007 journey to the final
was tempered by hard, uncompromising matches against all three
of the Pacific powerhouses of Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.
Where
and when: Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand Rugby World
Cup 2011 Sunday
September 25. News:
George Smith (Tongan ) reaches 100 games for Australia
Updated
19 July 2009
George
Smith has now played 100 games for Australia from Sat 18 July:
Aust v NZ
Congratulations
to George Smith on reaching 100 games for the Wallabies on Saturday
night 18th July 2009 in the opening Bledisloe Cup match with the
New Zealand All Blacks at Eden Park, Auckland, New Zealand
One of 8 children, George was born in Manly, Sydney and spent
a year in Tonga at age 15 and has always been proud of his Tongan
heritage.
Making his debut for Australia in 2000, the durable loose forward
has achieved a great milestone and we all wish him and his Family
the very best! News:
Samoa qualifies for Rugby World Cup 2001 Updated
18 July 2009
Samoa
beats Papua New Guinea at home 73-12
Manu
Samoa have beaten Papua New Guinea 73 - 12 in the capital Port
Moresby to make an aggregate score of 188 -19 over the two play-off
ties - and qualifying for the 2011 Rugy World Cup.
Samoa now join South Africa, Wales, Fiji and an African qualifier
( either Tunisia or Namibia who play off in November) in Pool
D.
The game saw the Samoan pack dominate with the PuksPuks encouraged
by the home crowd to have a much closer score than the first play-off
in Apia Park last week which Samoa won 115 - 7.
Manu Samoa performed the Siva Tau a number of times to the delight
of the local crowd and in a Country who has reportedly declared
Rugby League as the national sport, containing a huge amount of
the world's languages over challenging terrain, this nation that
has only 5000 players has embraced Rugby Union and will get better
and better - quickly.
PNG is by far the biggest nation in the Pacific Islands. News:
Samoa Rugby Union pulls out of the Pacific Islanders Updated
15 July 2009
Samoa
Rugby Officials say they have officially quit the Pacific Islanders
In
a report in the Samoa Observer dated Tuesday 14th July (Local)
the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) has stated that it has officially
quit the Pacific Islanders as the combined effort "has not
met its objectives" nor was it likely to as the Pacific Islanders
tours were now set to every four years instead of two and not
enough revenue could be generated...
News:
Samoa Rugby Union declines expanded Super 15 invite
for now Updated
14 July 2009
Samoa
Rugby Officials say conditions hard to meet for application
now
In
a report in the Samoa Observer dated Monday 13th July 2009,
the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) has stated that it has withdrawn
an "expression of interest" in becoming the 15th side
in a Super 15 Competition due to not being able to comply with
financial conditions such as coming up with "about $8 million
Australian" as well as not having sufficient lighting for
TV cameras at the playing field and the astonishing statement
that Apia Park is not a full international Rugby ground - not
meeting the "width and length of a full international field" Read the relevant article in the Samoa Observer
Note from
the Editor:
Expressions of interest are to be submitted by July 22nd, the
winner being announced October 31st.
At the moment, Australia has four teams, New Zealand five teams
and South Africa five teams.
The additional team would be included in the "Australian
conference".
Fiji and Tonga (and others) were asked by SANZAR not
to make an application.
SANZAR's current deal with News Corporation ends at the end
of 2010.
News Corporation has first right of refusal for any expanded
tournament.
The strong feeling is that the winning team will be based in
Melbourne, but it could be also be based in the Gold Coast or
New South Wales (Western Sydney).
The new team could well comprise of players from the Pacific
Islands, Japan, overseas based Australians and even code crossers
from the ranks of Rugby League.
News:
Samoa a possible 15th Super Team and wants out
of the PIs: Updated
12 July 2009
Samoa
Rugby Officials say they want out of the Pacific Islanders
In a report
in the Fiji Times dated Sunday 12th July 2009 Samoan Rugby officials
have stated that they want to do away with Pacific Islanders
tours and concentrate on tests on their own
.
Also, SANZAR (an organisation made up of the South African,
New Zealand and Australian Rugby Unions) has apparently offered
the Samoan Rugby Union an opportunity to bid for the 15th team
spot in the expanded Super 15 competition.
This offer has not been made to Fiji or Tonga and it is reported
that the Samoa Rugby Union is not going to bid for now - but
could do so perhaps later.
If Samoa has pulled out of participating in future Pacific Islanders
tours, it would be a sad day for Pacific Rugby, but it could
still be possible to have Pacific Islanders tours continue without
first choice Manu Samoa players.
Samoa has to look out for its own future, long being a "feeder"
to the All Blacks, it has slipped badly in international rankings
in the last decade and the heydays of 1991 through to 1995 have
long since gone.
The Pacific Islanders tour once every two years and have IRB
support - they are great ambassadors for the game and for the
Pacific Islands as a tourist destination for overseas visitors
- if they were given two warm up games prior to tests as was
the case in 2004, they could well beat a number of first rate
teams.
They are also ideal ambassadors for the game in countries not
toured yet such as Japan, Canada, USA, Argentina and of course
the up and coming countries such as Kenya in Soccer mad Africa
as well as China, Korea, Portugal and more.
The IRB needs worldwide support for Rugby Sevens to be included
in the Olympic Games - the Pacific Islanders would have great,
almost "home" support in the USA where many Pacific
Islanders make their home, and are sure to be welcomed in Japan
where many Pacific Islanders play and where Pacific culture
is revered.
If Samoa leaves - why not open the Pacific Islanders team to
all Pacific Islanders?
There are many Pacific Islanders playing worldwide who would
be honoured to represent the Pacific Islanders and if Samoans
are not picked by the All Blacks or Manu Samoa - what happens
to those players?
And by playing for the PI team they, in effect, are not representing
another country.
Pacific Islanders tours should be a showcase of running
Rugby, promoting the game worldwide.
Consider these facts:
There is only one team to tour New Zealand undefeated - the
1939 Fiji team.
Samoans often make up to a third of the starting All Blacks,
who, under current regulations will never be eligible to play
for Manu Samoa once they are finished with the All Blacks.
Similarly, there have been many great Fijian and Tongan players
for both NZ and Australia.
Tonga has beaten Australia (1973) and France (1999), Fiji, the
Lions (1977), Wales(2007) Australia (1952,1954) and Samoa has
beaten Wales in two big shocks in RWC matches (1991, 1999).
And the player considered by many to be the greatest of all
- Jonah Lomu - is proudly Tongan.
There are also many Pacific players in the NFL ( American football
) who are well known and very well paid.
So what lies ahead for Island based players and PI players based
overseas if there are few tests for their home unions and no
Pacific Islander tours?
Our answer is simple: get those players who are available and
get them touring.
Use the Pacific Islanders to play and promote Rugby to the masses
of the world - and let them have warm up games so they can show
the world what running Rugby is all about.
Pace, position and possession are the famous three Ps of the
great 2nd NZEF "Kiwis" team, they spent time together
and were tempered by war (WW2).
Why not let the Pacific Islanders spend time together before
a tour? - let the selection be made well beforehand of those
who want to showcase their talents in an all out offensive on
the Rugby nations of the world.
And remember the 1939 Fiji team - for this is where their Cibi
was written from.
The Pacific Islanders team have a strong tradition made up of
Pacific brothers - they embody the spirit of the Maori Pioneer
Battalion (WW1), 28th Maori Battalion (WW2) with whom many PIs
served in as well as actual Pacific Islands military bodies
in WW2 such as the Pacific Islands Regiment, Fiji Military Forces,
Tonga Defence Force, Fitafita, first Samoan Battalion (US Marines)
and the French Battalion of the Pacific.
We say - why not have the best of both worlds? - let Samoa concentrate
on winning tests and let the Pacific Islanders tour the world
constantly promoting Rugby - players born to pass the ball around
at blistering pace transcending all barriers, bringing people
together in the love of the game that creates lifelong friendships
based on mutual respect and allows us all to have a welcoming
glimpse on different cultures to our own.
News:
Samoa win first match with PNG for RWC 2011 Qualification: Updated
12 July 2009
Manu
Samoa hammers Puks Puks in Apia 115 - 7
The
Manu Samoa needs to qualify for the RWC World Cup 2011, there
are two qualifying games with
Papua New Guinea.
The first has been held in Apia, Sat 11 July (local time).
Manu Samoa were the victors over the Papua New Guinea "Puks
Puks" (Crocodiles) 115 - 7.
Next weekend, the same teams meet in the PNG Capital, Port Moresby. News:
ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009 Final Standings: Updated
04 July 2009
Fiji
in narrow win over Japan
Junior All Blacks win over gutsy Tonga
The Junior All Blacks made it 4 wins from 4 games taking out a
gutsy Tonga 47-25.
Fiji scored a converted try at the very last moment to defeat
Japan in Suva by just 40-39.
The final standings are:
Team
Played
Won
Drawn
Lost
Points
for
Points
against
Tries
for
Tries
against
Bonus
Points
Points
Place
Junior
ABs
4
4
0
0
161
79
24
11
3
19
1st
Fiji
4
3
0
1
112
120
12
15
2
14
2nd
Samoa
4
2
0
2
91
64
12
5
4
12
3rd
Japan
4
1
0
3
96
145
11
19
2
6
4th
Tonga
4
0
0
4
79
131
8
17
1
1
5th
The stats show
that although Manu Samoa came third in the Tournament, they recorded
a remarkable
defensive record with only 64 points and five tries against in
total.
News:
ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009 Winner declared:
Updated
27 June 2009
Junior All Blacks win ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009
Japan
wins over Tonga
Fiji wins over Samoa
Japan
has defeated Tonga 21-19 in round 4 of the IRB
Pacific Nations Cup in Lautoka, Fiji.
The Flying Fijians have beaten Manu Samoa
19-14 in Lautoka in a game which saw Samoa take the first half
and Fiji the second. Fiji fought back after the break and had
the edge also in goal kicking. Samoa was let down by poor ball
handling at crucial times and some aimless and off the mark kicking
which allowed the Flying Fijians to gain momentum in front of
a supportive crowd - both teams defended vigorously.This game
was always going to be close and it took the final whistle to
put the brakes on Manu Samoa attacks on the Fijian line.
Due to the fact that the Junior All Blacks have
not been beaten in the first three rounds, they are declared winners
of the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009.
It would be nice to see this competition end in a final
between the top two teams in the future as this would
be a fitting end to a tournament of this stature.
This tournament in 2009 allowed all games to be played in the
Pacific Islands in the daytime - something the Junior All Blacks
will remember for a long time after their close game in Apia.
Rugby is always the winner and we look forward to more games being
held in the Pacific where Rugby is held up high and lifetime friendships
are forged between players and staff of all nations. News:
ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009
Updated
23 June 2009
Samoa
wins over Tonga
Samoa
has defeated Tonga in round 3 of the IRB Pacific
Nations Cup in Lautoka, Fiji.
The score was 27-13, entitling Manu Samoa to
their third bonus point in the tournament.
The Junior All Blacks also take on Japan. Updated score JAB 52
- JAP 21 News:
IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship 2009 Updated
21 June 2009 New
Zealand win over England
New
Zealand beat England in the final of the JWC held at Tokyo 44-28.
Final rankings below, top 12 teams qualify for the 2010 Junior
World Championship held in Argentina
1 New
Zealand
2 England
3 South Africa
4 Australia
5 France
6 Wales 7 Samoa
8 Ireland
9 Scotland 10 Tonga
11 Argentina 12 Fiji
13 Italy
14 Canada
15 Japan
16 Uruguay News:
ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009
Updated
13 June 2009
Junior All
Blacks scrape through over Manu Samoa
The Junior
All Blacks managed a 17-16 win over Manu Samoa
at Apia Park, Samoa after leading
at the break 14-0 on Friday 12 June at 4pm local time. News:
ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009
Updated: 13 June 2009 Fiji
win over Tonga in Nukualofa
The Flying
Fijians have opened the 2009 ANZ Pacific Nations
Cup with a 36-22 win over the Ikale Tahi
at Teufaiva Stadium, in the Tongan
capital Nukualofa on Saturday 13 June at 12 noon
local time. IRB
Media Release 22 May News:
Fiji to Host ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009
The
International Rugby Board has confirmed that
Fiji will host the ANZ Pacific Nations
Cup 2009.
The awarding of the key international tournament to the Fiji
Rugby Union represents a further boost to the continued
development of Rugby in the region.
National teams from Fiji, Japan, Samoa
and Tonga will be joined by 2006 and 2007 champions
the Junior All Blacks for the strategically important IRB funded
tournament which kicks off on June 12.
The two opening round matches will be played outside of Fiji with
Samoa hosting the Junior All Blacks in Apia and
Tonga entertaining the Fijians in Nuku’alofa
the following day before the tournament moves to Fiji
for a 17-day festival of international Rugby
spread across three match venues - the National Stadium (Suva),
Churchill Park (Lautoka) and Lawaqa Park (Sigatoka).
“The hosting of the majority of ANZ Pacific Nations Cup
matches for the first time in a single country is a very exciting
development for a tournament which is now a major event in the
global Rugby calendar,” said IRB Chairman Bernard
Lapasset.
“Fiji has a rich Rugby heritage and a passion for the Game
and I am sure that the country will embrace their first major
IRB international fifteen-a-side event and deliver a special and
memorable tournament that will serve to boost the profile
of Rugby across the region.”
“The Game continues to grow exponentially in the Islands
thanks to the delivery of dedicated High Performance programmes
and Union management initiatives as key elements of the IRB’s
unprecedented £48 million global Strategic Investment Programme.”
“A key element of this strategy is the delivery of world
class tournaments such as the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup and the
IRB Pacific Rugby Cup which now completes a defined
high performance competition pathway for Fiji, Japan, Samoa and
Tonga.”
“The fruits were clearly seen at Rugby World Cup
2007 were Fiji reached the quarter finals and Tonga and
Japan produced their best-ever RWC performances. I am sure that
the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup 2009 will serve to lift performance
levels once again as these teams look towards Rugby World Cup
2011 in New Zealand,” added Lapasset.
The tournament will also provide the opportunity for a comprehensive
development and legacy programme that will provide Fiji Rugby
Union staff with major international event experience, while introducing
new fans to Rugby across the region. The Fijian economy will also
directly benefit from around US$1 million in direct IRB funding
for the tournament.
Keni Dakuidreketi, acting CEO of the Fiji Rugby
Union, added: “The Fiji Rugby Union is delighted to be playing
host to such a major international Rugby tournament. This is a
very proud moment for the Union and for the country and reflects
the hard work that has been achieved by the Union in conjunction
with the IRB in developing the infrastructure required to host
the ANZ Pacific Nations Cup.
"We are all looking forward to welcoming the teams and their
supporters for what promises to be a very special festival of
international Rugby.”
Round
1
Friday 12 June Samoa v Junior All Blacks – Apia Park,
Apia – kick off 16:00
Saturday 13 June Tonga v Fiji – Teufaiva Stadium, Nuku’alofa
– kick off 12:00
Round 2
Thursday 18 June Junior All Blacks v Fiji – Churchill
Park, Lautoka – kick off 15:10 Japan v Samoa – Lawaqa Park, Sigatoka
– kick off 13:10
Round 3
Tuesday 23 June Samoa v Tonga – Churchill Park, Lautoka
– kick off 12:10 Japan v Junior All Blacks – Churchill
Park, Lautoka – kick off 15:10
Round 4
Saturday 27 June Tonga v Japan – Churchill Park, Lautoka
– kick off 12:10 Samoa v Fiji – Churchill Park, Lautoka
– kick off 15:10
Round 5
Thursday 2 July Tonga v Junior All Blacks – National
Stadium, Suva – kick off 15:10
Friday 3 July Fiji v Japan – National Stadium, Suva
– kick off 15:10
Round
Date
Time
Team
Team
Score
Location
One
12/6
16.00
Samoa
Junior
All Blacks*
16-17
Apia,
Samoa
One
13/6
12.00
Tonga
Fiji*
36-22
Nukualofa,Tonga
Two
18/6
15.10
Junior
All Blacks*
Fiji
45-17
Lautoka,
Fiji
Two
18/6
13.10
Japan
Samoa*
36-22
Sigatoka,
Fiji
Three
23/6
12.10
Samoa*
Tonga
27-13
Lautoka,
Fiji
Three
23/6
15.10
Japan
Junior
All Blacks*
21-52
Lautoka,
Fiji
Four
27/6
12.10
Tonga
Japan*
19-21
Lautoka,
Fiji
Four
27/6
15.10
Samoa
Fiji*
14-19
Lautoka,
Fiji
Five
2/7
15.10
Tonga
Junior
All Blacks*
25-47
Suva,
Fiji
Five
3/7
tbc
Fji*
Japan
40-39
Suva,
Fiji
News:
IRB Toshiba Junior World Championship 2009 Updated:
21 June 2009 Fiji
plays for 11th, Tonga plays for 9th, Samoa plays for 7th.
Samoan
Fullback
Reyhan Laulala on the run against Scotland. Image IRB +
Hiroyriki Nagaoka
Fiji
try scorer
Noa Nakaitaci in the match against
South Africa Image IRB +
Hiroyriki Setsuda
News:
Samoan shines in the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup Updated:
7 June 2009
Samoan Ross Taylor helped steer the New Zealand
Black Caps to victory in a rain shortened match against Scotland
at the Twenty20 Cricket World Cup in England.
NZ won the match by seven wickets. News:
Australia v Barbarians 2009 June 6th Sidney, Australia. Updated:
7 June 2009
The
Australian Wallabies defeated the Barabarians 55 - 7 at Sydney
last night.
An attraction was Samoan Sonny Bill Williams
who was the traditional uncapped player for the Barbarians who
played in Australia for the first time.
The France based former league superstar was involved in a hearty
contest with Aussie Captain Stirling Mortlock throughout and it
will be interesting to seem him play with a better team.
News:
IRB Sevens World Series - Fiji win Edinburgh Title
Updated:1 June 2009
Fiji
have beaten the champion South African Sevens Team 20-19 in
a hotly contested final of the Edinburgh Sevens in Scotland. This was the last Tournament of the current IRB
Sevens World Series with South Africa being deservedly
declared overall winners, and Fiji a valiant second.
The overall standings are:
1:South
Africa - 132 points
2:Fiji - 102 points
3:England - 98 points
4:New Zealand - 88 points
5:Argentina - 68 points
6:Kenya - 64 points
7:Samoa - 40 points
Also, England Captain Ollie Phillips was named IRB Sevens
Player of the Year.
Previous winners are: 2004Simon Amor, England 2005 Orene Ai'i, New Zealand
-Samoan 2006 Uale Mai, Samoa - Samoan 2007 Afeleke Pelenise, New Zealand
- Samoan 2008 DJ Forbes, New Zealand
- Samoan
News:
IRB Pacific Rugby Cup Schedule 24 April - 30/31 May 2009 Updated:
31 May 2009
Fiji Warriors outclass Upolu Samoa
at Apia Park to win title
The
Fiji Warriors held in defence on a sunny day in Apia and won over
Upolu Samoa 19-7 to take the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup title for 2009.
The
IRB Pacific Rugby Cup is now in its fourth year and has proven
to be very successful and popular.
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga field two regional teams each and play away
and home matches to determine the overall winning team.
The IRB states that last year saw 47 players from the Pacific
Rugby Cup move up to representing their country in the IRB Pacific
Nations Cup.
Date
Time
Team
Team
Score
Location
24/04
1700
Fiji
Barbarians
Fiji
Warriors*
8-47*
Sigatoka,
Fiji
24/04
1730
Savaii
Samoa
Tauuta
Reds*
14-15*
Apia,
Samoa
25/04
1500
Tautahi
Gold
Uplou
Samoa*
9-17*
Nukualofa,
Tonga
01/05
1730
Upolu
Samoa*
Tauuta
Reds
19*-15
Apia,
Samoa
01/05
1800
Fiji
Barbarians
Savaii
Samoa*
17-23*
Lautoka,
Fiji
02/05
1200
Tautahi
Gold*
Fiji
Warriors
26*-21
Nukualofa,
Tonga
08/05
1730
Upolu
Samoa*
Fiji
Barbarians
49*-13
Apia,
Samoa
09/05
1500
Fiji
Warriors*
Savaii
Samoa
39*-22
Sigatoka,
Fiji
09/05
1500
Tautahi
Gold*
Tauuta
Reds
14*-12
Nukualofa,
Tonga
15/05
1800
Fiji
Warriors
Upolu
Samoa*
21-23*
Lautoka,
Fiji
16/05
1200
Tauuta
Reds
Fiji
Barbarians*
15-26*
Nukualofa,
Tonga
16/05
1400
Savaii
Samoa*
Tautahi
Gold
18*-14
Savaii,
Samoa
22/05
1700
Fiji
Barbarians*
Tautahi
Gold
10*-6
Sigatoka,
Fiji
22/05
1730
Savaii
Samoa*
Upolu
Samoa
26*-6
Apia,
Samoa
23/05
1500
Tauuta
Reds
Fiji
Warriors*
15-40*
Nukualofa,
Tonga
29/05
1700
Upolu
Samoa
Fiji
Warriors*
19*-7
Apia,
Samoa
News:
IRB Sevens World Series : London Sevens 23-24 May 2009
Updated: 25 May 2009
England have beaten NZ to win the IRB Sevens in London,
Fiji won the plate.
Standings with
one tournament left in the series (Edinburgh, Scotland 30-31 May):
Popular
Pacific Islanders, Manu Samoa
and current London Irish player Seilala
Mapusua has been named the
Professional Rugby Association's Players' "Player
of the year 2009".
Seilala said when being presented with the award in London,
"It's a very humblng honour and a great surprise to be recognised
with this award, I’ve enjoyed this season immensely, and
to receive this award is a great bonus. This season has been fantastic,
both for me and London Irish, and getting to our first Guinness
Premiership Final is something we have all worked very hard for.
I’m looking forward to giving it a good crack on Saturday
and hopefully finishing the season with another trophy to add
to this one.”"
His club faces the Leicester Tigers next weekend
in the Guiness Premiership Final - a first time
appearance for London Irish and no doubt all Northern Hemisphere
eyes will be on this match in which he plays centre.
Update: Leicester
Tigers won the championship 10-9, playing alongside Seilala were
fellow Pacific Islanders Sailosi Tagicakibau
and Elvis Sevealii in a close match before 81,601
spectators in London.
Seilala Mapusua has been a member of the Pacific Islanders
teams of 2004, 2006 and 2008.
He entertainingly hosts some of the videos on the right hand side
of this page.
News:
Rugby Union: New Samoa Sevens Coach named Updated:
17 April 2009
Samoan
Rugby legend Taufusi Salesa has been named to
take over the Samoan Sevens team for the remaining two tournaments
in England and Scotland. He replaces Rudolf Moors.
News:
Rugby Union: Australia V Barbarians: Mapasua named
Updated:
11 April 2009
Veteran
Pacific Islander Seilala Mapusua has been named
in the Barbarians team to face Australia at the Sydney Football
Stadium on June 6th. Fellow Samoans Sonny Bill Williams
and Jerry Collins along with Tongan Doug
Howllet have also been confirmed with other players yet
to be announced.
News: IRB Sevens: Australia - Adelaide Sevens 3-5 April
2009
Updated: 5 April 2009
South
Africa has retained the Adelaide Sevens title in an action packed
game with fellow Africans Kenya (in their first IRB Sevens final)
winning by 26-7.
Fiji beat England in the quarters 40-0, but were
beaten by South Africa 21-10 in the semis. Samoa did not make the quarters, but won the
bowl, beating France 35-14 in the bowl final.
France beat the Cook Islands in one bowl semi,
while Samoa bested Tonga inthe
other.
Finals Results:
Cup: South Africa
Plate: England
Bowl: Samoa
Shield: USA
Official IRB Quote:
Reaction: Uale Mai, Samoa captain
"I
told the boys that we had to come out here today and win this
Bowl trophy. The people back home in Samoa are only happy if
we win the Cup, but we had to win this today.
"I
think this is my last Sevens tournament, we need to find another
Sevens playmaker and I need to move onto 15s. I think I'm too
old for this now and I need to look for a contract to look after
my family."
Quite
a telling remark from Uale Mai, we'll be looking out for him
to see how he gets on when the Manu Samoa forms
up this year for the Pacific Nations Cup and
a Northern Hemisphere tour.
Standings
with the England and Scotland Sevens remaining:
Coming:
IRB Pacific Rugby Cup from 24th April to 30th May 2009
Updated: 5 April 2009
An overview and updates
on the IRB Pacific Rugby Cup will be published after Easter.
This IRB Tournament is between "regional" Teams from
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. PI Info: The
Siva Tau as performed by the Pacific Islanders
When
Fiji, Samoa and Tonga participated in the IRB World Cup 2007 in
France, they each performed their own challenge in front of their
opponents - for their results click here The Pacific Islanders
combine these three challenges into the Siva Tau:
Fiji
Get
ready, get wild and prepare for battle. We are ready, we are
ready.
Samoa
I
am the warrior, we are the warriors from Samoa
Tonga
We
are going to hit you, tackle you and drop you. And stay down
man we’re the Pacific!
The Fiji Rugby
team performs the war like challenge known as the "Cibi"
. First Test match was 1924
The Samoan Team is known as the Manu Samoa and they perform the
war like challenge known as the
"Siva Tau"
- First Test match was 1924.
The Tongan team is known as the Ikale Tahi (Sea Eagles) and they
perform the war like challenge
"Sipi Tau"
- First Test match was 1924
The Pacific Islanders of 2006 perform the Siva
Tau in front of their opponents Scotland. The Siva Tau performed
here consists of elements of the Fijian Cibi,
The Samoan Siva Tau
and the Tongan Sipi Tau. First Test match was
2004
Images of the Fijian, Samoan and Tongan Rugby teams courtesy
of Zoom Fiji.
Photo of the Pacific Islanders 2006 courtesy Anthony Randell.
