Manuma Samoa
UnionSamoa Rugby Union[1]
Founded2019 (Kagifa Samoa)
2020 (Manuma Samoa)
Ground(s)Apia Park (Cap: 12,000)
Coach(es)Brian Lima
Captain(s)Patrick Fa’apale
League(s)Global Rapid Rugby
Union website
www.manusamoa.com

Manuma Samoa is a professional rugby union team based in Samoa that plays in the Global Rapid Rugby competition.[1] Founded in 2019 as Kagifa Samoa, the team is backed by the Samoa Rugby Union.[2]

History

Kagifa logo 2019

Kagifa Samoa

The Kagifa Samoa team was established in 2019 and competed in the Pacific Showcase series during the inaugural year of Global Rapid Rugby.[2][5] In Samoan colloquial speech, a kagifa refers to an enormous wild fish or shark that wreaked havoc in Polynesian mythical legend,[2] and which is more formally referred to as tanifa.

The team was backed by Pacific Sports International in partnership with the Samoa Rugby Union.[2] The 2019 squad included Samoan-based players,[2][6] Tongans, Fijians and New Zealanders as well as Samoan-eligible players based in Australia and New Zealand.[6][7][8]

Manuma Samoa

The team was renamed Manuma Samoa with the backing of the Samoa Rugby Union for the 2020 Rapid Rugby season.[9]

Home field

Manuma Samoa plays home games at Apia Park Stadium. Due to construction at Apia Park in 2019 for the Pacific Games,[10][11] the team's home matches for the Rapid Rugby Pacific Showcase were moved to Pukekohe Stadium in Auckland and Ballymore Stadium in Brisbane.[12]

Squad

The Manuma squad for the 2020 Global Rapid Rugby season:

Manuma Samoa – 2020 Global Rapid Rugby [A]
Hooker
  • Samoa Afa Aiono
  • Samoa Jenny Taateo
  • Samoa Frank Tupuola
Prop
  • Samoa Steve Eliu
  • Samoa Malaefono Gaupule
  • Samoa Saini Iese
  • Samoa Alo Mauinatu
  • Samoa Sapani Penaia
  • Samoa Noel Sanft
  • Samoa Alofaaga Sao
  • Samoa Frank Sio
  • Samoa Siliva Tapu
  • Samoa Brook Toomalatai
Lock
  • Samoa Miracle Faiilagi
  • Samoa Ioelu Kitiona
  • Samoa Theodore McFarland
  • Samoa Kerisimasi Tiumalu
  • Samoa Steve Tuiuli
  • Samoa Aukusitino Ulugia
Backrow
  • Samoa Nissan Aitui
  • Samoa Joe Faleafaga
  • Samoa Pao Lauama
  • Samoa Iakopo Mapu
  • Samoa Anzac Pago
  • Samoa Tusi Tavita
  • Samoa Elia Tolufale
  • Samoa Tufa Seiuli
  • Samoa Setu Sikoti
  • Samoa Liahona Vaegaau
Scrum-half
First five
Centre
  • Samoa Ueta Avaoletuna
  • Samoa Malu Fagalele
  • Samoa Faleniu Iosi
  • Samoa Samu Iosua
  • Samoa Chris Leota
  • Samoa Faaaliliu Mitivao
  • Samoa Johnny Samuelu
  • Samoa Frank Tato
  • Samoa Manuia Tiumalu
  • Samoa Sooalofaina Tamilo
  • Samoa Tulolo Tulolo
Wing
  • Samoa Ivana Eli
  • Samoa Mathew Evile
  • Samoa Filimoni Filimoni
  • Samoa Dennis Maresa
  • Samoa Larry Mitivao
  • Samoa Papu Wulf
Fullback
  • Samoa Malu Falaniko
  • Samoa Henry Wulf
Notes:
  1. ^ Initial squad was named in November 2019.[1]
Bold denotes player is internationally capped. (c) Denotes team captain. 1 denotes marquee player.

Records

Season standings

Global Rapid Rugby

Year Pos Pld W D L PF PA +/− BP Pts Play-offs
2019 * 3rd 4 0 0 4 96 184 −288 3 3 —

Notes:

^* 2019 Rapid Rugby matches in the Pacific showcase.

Head coaches[edit]

Captains[edit]

See also

References

  1. ^ a b c d Airey, Thomas (14 November 2019). "Manuma Samoa team named for Global Rapid Rugby season". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019.
  2. ^ a b c d e Keni Lesa, Mata'afa (9 April 2019). "Samoa Rugby Union sanctions Kagifa Samoa as it eyes $1.8 million". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 10 April 2019.
  3. ^ "Manuma". Merriam-Webster. Retrieved 15 November 2019.
  4. ^ Gillespie, Rosemary (2009). Encyclopedia of islands. p. 800. ISBN 9780520256491.
  5. ^ "Fijian Latui set for elite international competition". Fiji Sun. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 1 March 2019.
  6. ^ a b "Kagifa Samoa Squad". Kagifa Samoa Facebook. 15 May 2019. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019. Retrieved 16 May 2019.
  7. ^ Airey, Thomas (15 May 2019). "Kagifa Samoa making debut this week". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 16 May 2019.
  8. ^ "Global Rapid Rugby". Rugby Asia 24/7. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019.
  9. ^ "Five challengers for Rapid Rugby title". Western Force. 14 November 2019. Archived from the original on 14 November 2019.
  10. ^ a b Manukia, Matt (9 April 2019). "Samoan franchise given green light for breakaway rugby tournament". One News.
  11. ^ Tautua-Fanene, Deidre (19 September 2018). "Contract awarded for Apia Park, Aquatic Center". Samoa Observer. Archived from the original on 19 March 2019.
  12. ^ "Rapid Rugby 2019 Schedule on show" (PDF) (Press release). Global Rapid Rugby. 1 March 2019. Archived from the original (PDF) on 1 March 2019.
  13. ^ "Manuma Samoa". Rapid Rugby. Archived from the original on 16 March 2020. Retrieved 16 March 2020.
  14. ^ "Dress rehearsal done". Rapid Rugby. Archived from the original on 31 May 2019.

External links

Archives

Global Rapid Rugby
Rugby union in Samoa and American Samoa
Categories