Rugby union is very popular in Samoa and the national team is consistently competitive against teams from vastly more populous nations.
The Marist Brothers brought the game to Western Samoa in 1920 and The Western Samoa Rugby Football Union was formed in 1924.
On August 18, 1924 Western Samoa played its first international against Fiji in the capital Apia, the visitors winning 6-0.
The Pacific Tri-Nations series between Tonga, Fiji and Western Samoa was established in 1982.
The Samoa Rugby Football Union joined the International Rugby Board in 1988.
The Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) was set up in 2002 as a basis of co-operation between the Fiji Rugby Union, Samoa Rugby Football Union and Tonga Rugby Football Union.
In 2006, the Pacific Tri-Nations was replaced by the IRB Pacific 5 Nations which was then renamed the Pacific Nations Cup.
|
Main article: Samoa Rugby Football Union |
Rugby union is governed by the Samoa Rugby Football Union who are also members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance.
Samoa were awarded 'second tier' status by the International Rugby Board which entitles them to funding from the IRB.
Rugby union, as in the other Pacific Islands, is a way of life for Samoans with 12 provincial unions made up of around 120 clubs and nearly 5,000 senior and twice as many junior players in a country with a population of just under 175,000 people.
Prominent Samoan players include Brian Lima, Freddie Tuilagi, Apollo Perelini, Douglas Faaee, Pat Lam and Brian Lima. In addition there are many Samoans that have played for or are playing for the All Blacks.
The huge numbers of players playing professionally abroad can work to Samoa's disadvantage when it comes to team training as it is difficult to get them all together as a squad. But Samoa still manage to remain competitive on the world-stage and are regarded as tough opponents.
|
Main article: Samoa National Provincial Championship |
The is the second highest level of competition within Samoan rugby union and is a stepping stone for local players into international rugby.
|
Main article: Pacific Rugby Cup |
The IRB Pacific Rugby Cup started in 2006 and involves representative teams from the three Pacific rugby unions, Fiji, Tonga, & Samoa. Samoa ,along with Tonga and Fiji, have two sides in the tournament, Savaii Samoa and Upolu Samoa. The aim of the tournament is to improve the quality of rugby in the Pacific Islands.
|
Main article: Samoa national rugby union team |
The national team known as Manu Samoa have competed at every Rugby World Cup since 1991, and have made the quarter finals in 1991, 1995 and 1999.
Samoa also play in the Pacific Nations Cup and the Pacific Tri-Nations The sport is governed by the Samoa Rugby Football Union, who are members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance, and thus, also contribute to the international Pacific Islanders rugby union team.
|
Main article: Pacific Tri-Nations |
The Pacific Tri-Nations is the series between Tonga, Fiji and Samoa. It has been played since 1982.
|
Main article: Pacific 5 Nations |
The IRB Pacific 5 Nations is a competition held between five Pacific rim sides; Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga and the Junior All Blacks (New Zealand's second XV). In 2007, Australia 'A' will be joining the current IRB Pacific 5 Nations teams in the New "IRB Pacific Nations Cup"
|
Main article: Samoa national rugby union team (sevens) |