Samoa to follow Fiji route to Australia

YOU sometimes worry about Samoan rugby – not just the habitual financial problems and the draining rugby politics – but their on-going ability to produce the exciting individuals that have lit up the modern game around the world.

So it was encouraging last week to see a predominantly homebased Samoa A team win the Americas Pacific Championship for the first time in Montevideo, unveiling a couple of genuinely exciting but previously unheralded talents in the process.

The Samoans beat an Argentina XV, the favourites, 36-31 in their opening game, dealt with Pacific neighbours Tonga A 23-15 and then, in the match that decided the title, beat a Uruguay side of near Test strength 38-26 to make off with the title.

Star men throughout were wings Johnny Samuelu and Johnny Vaili, below, while exciting fullback Bradford Lemalufaitoaga also took the eye. All three are tipped to move through into Samoa’s World Cup squad next year.

Coinciding with such a timely reminder of Samoa talent came the news that negotiations are taking place for a professional Samoan side to compete in Australia’s National Rugby Championship.

The Samoans would follow in the footsteps of Fijia Drua, who competed in last year’s championship and finished third. Eight members of the Drua team were announced in the Fiji squad to tour Europe this autumn. A similar scheme and team would be a big boost for the Samoans.

And finally, just to compete one of the better weeks in Samoan rugby, the Union were finally granted a seat on the World Council after the Union revamped their constitution to meet certain financial criteria laid down by World rugby.