The Samoa women's national rugby union team is a national sporting side of Samoa, representing the nation at rugby union. The side first played in 2000, and have competed in three Rugby World Cup's since their debut in the 2002 tournament in Spain. In 2023, they claimed their first Oceania Championship.
 | ||
| Nickname(s) | Manusina Samoa | |
|---|---|---|
| Union | Rugby Samoa | |
| Head coach | Ramsey Tomokino | |
| ||
| World Rugby ranking | ||
| Current | 15 (as of 15 April 2024) | |
| Highest | 13 (2003) | |
| First international | ||
 Samoa 10–12 Japan  (Apia, Samoa; 15 July 2000) | ||
| Biggest win | ||
Samoa 91–0 Papua New Guinea  (Pukekohe, New Zealand; 13 July 2022) | ||
| Biggest defeat | ||
Samoa 0–87 Australia  (Apia, Samoa; 8 August 2009) | ||
| World Cup | ||
| Appearances | 3 (First in 2002) | |
| Best result | 9th | |
| Rank | Change* | Team | Points |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |  |
 England |
96.18 |
| 2 | |
 New Zealand |
90.56 |
| 3 | |
 France |
88.00 |
| 4 | |
 Canada |
86.27 |
| 5 | |
Australia |
81.61 |
| 6 |  1 |
 Scotland |
77.17 |
| 7 |  1 |
 Italy |
75.13 |
| 8 | |
 Wales |
73.41 |
| 9 | |
 United States |
72.57 |
| 10 | |
 Ireland |
72.35 |
| 11 | |
Japan |
69.38 |
| 12 | |
 South Africa |
65.17 |
| 13 | |
 Spain |
65.15 |
| 14 | |
 Russia |
61.10 |
| 15 | |
Samoa |
59.57 |
| 16 | |
 Netherlands |
58.98 |
| 17 | |
 Fiji |
58.65 |
| 18 | |
 Hong Kong |
58.31 |
| 19 | |
 Kazakhstan |
55.97 |
| 20 | |
 Sweden |
52.72 |
| *Change from the previous week | |||
History edit
Samoa has attended three Rugby World Cup's, namely the 2002, 2006 and 2014 Rugby World Cups.[2]
Samoa won the 2019 Asia Pacific Championship in Fiji.[3] In 2021, they were scheduled to play two test matches against Australia in July but the matches were canceled due to the COVID-19 pandemic.[4][5][6]
Samoa and Hong Kong both withdrew from the Final Qualification Tournament in Dubai, for the 2021 Rugby World Cup, due to travel restrictions caused by COVID-19.[7][8][9]
In 2023, the Manusina created history when they won their first Oceania title after beating Fiji.[10][11] They have also confirmed their place in World Rugby's inaugural WXV tournament in the WXV 2 division.[10][11]
Record edit
Rugby World Cup edit
| Year | Round | Position | GP | W | D | L | PF | PA |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2002 |
9th Place Playoff | 9th | 4 | 3 | 0 | 1 | 56 | 30 |
| 2006 |
9th Place Playoff | 10th | 5 | 2 | 0 | 3 | 80 | 84 |
| 2010 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2014 |
11th Place Playoff | 11th | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 15 | 148 |
| 2017 |
Did not qualify | |||||||
| 2021 |
Withdrew due to COVID-19 pandemic | |||||||
| Total | 3/7 | 9th | 12 | 5 | 0 | 7 | 151 | 262 |
Overall edit
(Full internationals only, updated to 26 May 2023)
| Opponent | First Match | Played | Won | Drawn | Lost | For | Against | Win % |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Australia |
2009 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 0 | 87 | 0.00% |
| Canada |
2014 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 7 | 42 | 0.00% |
| England |
2005 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 3 | 118 | 0.00% |
| Fiji |
2006 | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 117 | 186 | 42.85% |
| Hong Kong |
2019 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 34 | 15 | 100.00% |
| Ireland |
2002 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 22 | 0 | 100.00% |
| Italy |
2013 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 22 | 65 | 0.00% |
| Japan |
2000 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 10 | 12 | 0.00% |
| Kazakhstan |
2002 | 3 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 60 | 10 | 100.00% |
| Netherlands |
2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 33 | 14 | 100.00% |
| New Zealand |
2006 | 2 | 0 | 0 | 2 | 12 | 140 | 0.00% |
| PNG |
2018 | 4 | 4 | 0 | 0 | 295 | 57 | 100.00% |
| Scotland |
2002 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 3 | 13 | 0.00% |
| South Africa |
2006 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 84 | 52 | 50.00% |
| Spain |
2006 | 3 | 0 | 0 | 3 | 22 | 65 | 0.00% |
| Sweden |
2013 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 29 | 0 | 100.00% |
 Tonga |
2006 | 5 | 5 | 0 | 0 | 262 | 34 | 100.00% |
| United States |
2023 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 1 | 26 | 36 | 0.00% |
| Wales |
2002 | 1 | 1 | 0 | 0 | 17 | 14 | 100.00% |
| Summary | 2000 | 40 | 21 | 1 | 17 | 1,057 | 960 | 52.5% |
Players edit
Current squad edit
Manusina Samoa named a 30-player squad for the inaugural 2023 WXV 2 tournament in Cape Town, South Africa.[12]
*Denotes new cap
| Players | Position | Caps |
|---|---|---|
| Rereglory Tauvela Aiono | Forward | |
| Maletina Maevaga Brown | Forward | new cap |
| Tiara-Lee Fanuatunu | Forward | new cap |
| Avau Filimaua | Forward | |
| Ana Mamea | Forward | |
| Sosoli Talawadua | Forward | new cap |
| Angelica Sesa Vaisha Schwenke | Forward | |
| Cathy Ulu'ulumatafolau Leuta | Forward | |
| Mary Lumsden | Forward | |
| Easter Isadora Aimasi Savelio | Forward | |
| Olalini Manamea Tafoulua | Forward | |
| Fogamanono Tusiga | Forward | |
| Utumalama Atonio | Forward | |
| Nina Maria Foaese | Forward | |
| Masuisuimatama'ali'i Tauaua-Pauaraisa (c) | Forward | |
| Sinead Ryder | Forward | new cap |
| Tia Tauasosi | Forward | |
| Bella Irene Milo | Fly-half | |
| Saelua Leaula | Back | |
| Fa'alua Ioe Tugaga | Back | |
| Cassie Muaimalae Tanu Siataga | Back | |
| Rebeka Cordero-Tufuga | Back | new cap |
| Allison Futialo | Back | |
| Ta'alili Iosefo | Back | |
| Hope Vavaemamate Schuster | Back | |
| Lutia Col Aumua | Back | new cap |
| Michelle Ame Curry | Back | |
| Linda Fiafia | Back | |
| Hasting Leiataua | Back | |
| Karla Wright-Akeli | Back | new cap |
Previous squads edit
Coaches edit
| Name | Years | Refs |
|---|---|---|
| Feturi Elisaia | 2002 | |
| Peter Fatialofa | 2013 | [13] |
| Euini Lale Faumuina | 2014 | |
| Ramsey Tomokino |
References edit
- ^ "Women's World Rankings". World Rugby. Retrieved 25 March 2024.
- ^ "Sport: World Cup qualification a boost for Fiji women's rugby". RNZ. 4 December 2019. Retrieved 9 May 2022.
- ^ "Samoa win Asia Pacific Women's Rugby Championship". www.rugbyworldcup.com. 3 June 2019. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Manusina women to play two tests vs Wallaroos". RNZ. 11 May 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Wallaroos and Manusina to meet in two-test series". worldrugby.org. 12 May 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "COVID fears hit Australian XVs season". Scrum Queens. 27 June 2021. Retrieved 19 November 2021.
- ^ "Scots in World Cup play-off final boost". BBC Sport. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ Iveson, Ali (22 January 2022). "Samoa and Hong Kong pull out of Rugby World Cup qualifying due to COVID-19". www.insidethegames.biz. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ "Statement regarding Rugby World Cup 2021 Final Qualification Tournament". www.women.rugby. Retrieved 22 January 2022.
- ^ a b "Cassie Siataga inspires Samoa to first Oceania crown". www.world.rugby. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ a b Cama, Akuila Cama (5 June 2023). "Fijiana 15s falls, Samoa creates history". Fiji Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved 5 June 2023.
- ^ worldrugby.org (3 October 2023). "WXV 2: Anticipation builds for South Africa as squads named". www.world.rugby. Retrieved 8 October 2023.
- ^ "Sport: New Manusina coach says he has big shoes to fill". RNZ. 22 January 2014. Retrieved 11 May 2022.
External links edit
