Samoa – 27 April 2010

Talofa from Samoa!

The first stop in the South Pacific region for the Why Sport Matters journey was Samoa, a small Polynesian island nation in the middle of the Pacific Ocean (more or less half-way between Hawaii and New Zealand). In this tropical paradise, they do things the Samoan Way, or Fa’a Samoa, and this is reflected in their sport culture. With a total population of less than 200,000, Samoans have a great passion and a proven ability in a wide variety of sport.

The national sport in Samoa is clearly rugby — and you cannot be in this country without seeing the effects of it, as they have remarkable international success for such a small country. At this time, Samoa is currently the #1 ranked team in the world for Rugby Sevens, having won the previous three tournaments in the Sevens World Series Circuit. Interest in the sport is sure to keep growing thanks to the IOC’s decision to add it as an Olympic sport, and it will get its big debut in the Rio 2016 Games.

Rugby’s influence comes from the earlier days of British and New Zealand rule, both countries passionate about their rugby (Samoa began independent rule in 1962). As Samoa found success on the international stage, it now seems every Samoan youth dreams of playing for the Manu Samoa – the national team of rugby. While rugby is technically amateur status in the country, many of the players go abroad to play club rugby in places like New Zealand, Australia and Europe. In addition, rugby is also the passion sport in neighboring island nations, especially Fiji and Tonga, which creates a healthy rivalry amongst the islands for rugby supremacy. Samoa is eager to participate in the 2011 Rugby World Cup to be held in New Zealand – don’t miss the Samoan war chant, the Siva Tau, delivered before their home matches.
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