Samoa national rugby league team

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Samoa
[[Image:|100px|Shirt badge/Association crest]]
Association Samoan Rugby League
Region Oceania
Head coach Flag of New Zealand John Akland
Captain Flag of Samoa Nigel Vagana
Home stadium National Stadium
RLIF ranking 12th
Team colours Team colours Team colours
Team colours
Team colours
 
National Uniform
First international
Flag of the United States USA 6 - 14 Western Samoa Flag of Samoa
(Sydney, Australia; February 1996)
Biggest win
Flag of New Caledonia New Caledonia 0 - 76 Samoa Flag of Samoa
(Apia, Samoa; 20 October 2004
Biggest defeat
Flag of Australia Australia 66 - 10 Samoa Flag of Samoa
(Watford, England; 11 November 2000)
World Cup
Appearances 1 (First in 2000)
Best result Quarter-finals, 2000

The Samoa rugby league team has been participating in international rugby league competition since 1988. From 1988 to 1997 this team was known as the Western Samoa rugby league team. This team is not to be confused with the American Samoa national rugby league team.

Contents

[edit] History

Western Samoa has participated in the Pacific Cup (1988-1996), World Sevens (1994, 1995) and Superleague World Nines (1996, 1997) competitions. Samoa has participated in the Pacific Cup (since 1998), World Cup (since 2000), World Sevens (2003) and Pacific Rim (2004) competitions. That Samoan team had the benefit of ex-All Blacks John Schuster and Va'aiga Tuigamala in their backline. When rugby union went professional players such as Apollo Perelini and Fereti Tuilagi left rugby league to return to the 15-man game.

[edit] 2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Samoa played in the Pacific Pool of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers. They beat the Cook Islands and Fiji, but lost to Tonga. On a points difference, Samoa came in third and had to play USA in the Repecharge Semi Final. Samoa won this match 42-10 and then played Lebanon on 14th November 2007 in the Repecharge Final to see who would take the 10th and final World Cup place. Samoa came out eventual winners of the 10th and final 2008 Rugby League World Cup place beating Lebanon 38-16.

[edit] Possible 2008 World Cup Squad

As of 14 November 2007

Number Name Position Club Caps
1 Tangi Ropati Full Back East Brisbane Tigers
2 James Fuiava Wing Gold Coast Titans
3 Willie Talau Centre St Helens
4 George Carmont Centre Wigan Warriors
5 Matt Utai Wing Canterbury Bulldogs
6 Nigel Vagana(C) centre/five-eighth Souths
7 Motu Tony Scrum Half Hull FC
8 Alfonso Fuiava Hooker Bulldogs
9 Frank Puletua Prop Penrith Panthers
10 Tony Puletua Second Row Penrith Panthers
11 Ali Lauitiiti Second Row Leeds Rhinos
12 Harrison Hansen Loose Forward Wigan Warriors
13 Taualagi Lepupa Prop Samoan club
14 Evarn Tuimavave Prop New Zealand Warriors
15 Hutch Maiava Prop Cronulla Sharks
16 Phillip Leuluai Prop Salford City Reds
17 Mauloa Lafi Second Row Samoan club
18 Malo Solomona Wing New Zealand Warriors
19 Joe Vagana Prop Bradford Bulls
20 Francis Meli Wing St Helens
21 David Solomona Second Row Bradford Bulls
22 Iafeta Paleaaesina Prop Wigan Warriors
23 Kylie Leuluai Prop Leeds Rhinos
24 Gray Viane Second Row Salford City Reds
25 Junior Moors Second Row Penrith Panthers
26 Rota Setu Hooker New Zealand Warriors
27 Frank Winterstein Second-row Bulldogs

[edit] 2008 Possible Run on World Cup Squad

Samoan Possible 2007 Starting Team

Replacements

[edit] International Results

[edit] Western Samoa

  • New Zealand Maoris def. Western Samoa 39-16 (1996)
  • Tonga def. Western Samoa (1996)
  • Wales def. Western Samoa 22-10 (13 October 1995)
  • Western Samoa def. France 56-10 (12 October 1995)
  • Western Samoa def. Tonga 18-14 (31 October 1992)
  • Western Samoa def. Australian Aborigines 44-26 (28 October 1992)
  • Western Samoa def Niue 41-28 (1992)
  • Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 66-12 (1992)
  • Western Samoa def. Tonga 20-12 (1992)
  • Western Samoa def. Fiji 32-18 (1992)
  • Western Samoa def. New Zealand Maoris 26-18 (1990)
  • Western Samoa def. Australian Aborigines 26-16 (1990)
  • New Zealand Maoris def. Western Samoa 19-16 (1988)
  • Western Samoa def. Tonga 40-30 (1988)
  • Western Samoa def. Tokelau 40-18 (1988)
  • Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 52-16 (1988)

[edit] Super League World Nines Results

  • Western Samoa def. USA 30-10 (1997)
  • Western Samoa def. USA 14-6 (1996)

[edit] Student Results

  • Western Samoa def. USA 82-8 (1996)

[edit] External links