Samoa’s new rugby stadium

The Samoa government is accelerating plans to build a new national rugby stadium following criticism of the playing field at Apia Park.

Manu Samoa beat Tonga 25-17 in their Pacific Nations Cup opener on Saturday, but the game was almost called off before kick-off, with the playing surface resembling a mudbath following heavy use during the Pacific Games and significant rain in the Samoan capital.

Samoa’s Minister for Sport, Loau Keneti Sio, said the pitch at Apia Park is built on swampy land and agreed it was in need of an upgrade. He said the government wants to build a new home of rugby on the other side of town and the sooner the project can get underway the better.

“So we are planning to move down to where the other sports facilities are at Tuanaimato and hopefully we can build a big stadium there for rugby alone and leave Apia Park,” he said.

“Actually, the area is just a swampy area, so we can’t just fix it when we come into bad weather but yes of course we are concerned with it and we are having planning so that we can push through the cabinet where we can move down to Tuanaimato going forward.” Apia Park was built in 1924 and last underwent extensive renovations four years ago, prior to hosting the rugby test between Manu Samoa and the All Blacks and the Youth Commonwealth Games.

Loau Keneti Sio, who is a former Manu Samoa international, expected a new stadium would take two years to build and said if the government is able to get a plan into action soon it could be ready by 2022.

The Samoa Rugby Union CEO Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i said the playing surface at Apia Park last weekend was the worst he had seen for a number of years.

“The last time we had that sort of conditions was around about 2010, way back, and unfortunately at this time of the year it’s supposed to be our dry season and the weather has played a big part not just for the test match last week but for the Pacific Games as well,” he said.

He said the playing surface at Apia Park was signed off by World Rugby three days before kick-off and the referee was happy to proceed with the match on gameday but, ultimately, the ‘weather gods did not work in their favour.’

The SRU is based at Tuanaimato and Faleomavaega said the Union was fully behind the government’s plans to build a new stadium specifically designed for rugby.

Loau Keneti Sio said Samoa plans to ask New Zealand for help in funding the new stadium but will also look to China if their Pacific neighbours are unable to assist.

-RNZI