The best teams in Test rugby clash this weekend as the November internationals get into full swing with the likes of World Cup winners South Africa heading to Scotland and Ireland hosting New Zealand.
One country missing from the billing is Samoa. The two-time World Cup quarter-finalists withdrew earlier this year from three scheduled games for this month.
In July, Lakapi Samoa, rugby’s governing body in the Pacific island nation, sent a letter to World Rugby saying it was at risk of bankruptcy if the team’s northern hemisphere tour went ahead.
Photo: AFP
“I was a bit disappointed in hearing that obviously these November Tests are exposure for a lot of players, especially players who haven’t really quite cracked professional rugby,” Samoa prop Paul Alo-Emile told reporters. “I think there is still a lot of undiscovered talent coming from the [Pacific] islands, and a lot of really good young Samoan rugby players coming through.”
“So I just think I was a bit sad for that and also just another opportunity for us to play against some top-level teams on this side of the world,” he said. “I just think it’s just a missed opportunity.”
Off-field issues have haunted the sport in the nation of just 200,000 people since rugby turned professional in the 1990s with fundraising initiatives being organized to pay for Manu Samoa’s overseas trips in the past few seasons.
“It’s been out there for a while that there’s always something wrong with our rugby union community in Samoa,” center U.J. Seuteni said last month. “It’s got to that point that it’s not even a surprise anymore.”
Samoa’s rugby players are based across the world, such as Alo-Emile and Seuteni in France, and the same is the case for those who feature in the 13-a-side rugby league code.
A month ago, the Penrith Panthers swept to Australia’s National Rugby League title, with a backbone of Samoans including national team skipper Jarome Luai.
Unlike the union team, Tao Samoa have traveled north this autumn, losing two Tests to England.
“I think there’s a danger of league taking over,” Seuteni said. “Rugby league has been giving more to the community than what union has been doing for our country.”
Later this month, the Samoa rugby union is holding its annual-general meeting to elect a new president with their next Test matches set for July.
“It’s really put a lot of doubt in my mind whether I’m going to play again,” Alo-Emile said. “I see all those issues happening off field and for me, I love playing for the jersey, I love, representing my family, but is it worth it? Is that sacrifice worth it that I don’t see my kids for a few months and I don’t see my family?”
“And at the moment, the answer’s no,” he added.
TAIWANESE EXITS: Fellow Australian Christopher O’Connell joined Tristan Schoolkate as a winner following his 6-1, 6-2 defeat of Tseng Hsin-chun Australian qualifier Tristan Schoolkate on Monday dispatched rising Brazilian talent Joao Fonseca 7-6 (7/5), 6-4 at the ATP Toronto Masters, ensuring a breakthrough into the world top 100. The 24-year-old from Perth moved to 98th in the ongoing live rankings as he claimed his biggest career victory by knocking out the ATP NextGen champion from November last year. Schoolkate, son of a tennis coach, won his first match over a top-50 opponent on his sixth attempt as he ousted the world No. 49 teenager from Brazil. The qualifier played a quarter-final this month in Los Cabos and won through qualifying for his
Top seeds Alexander Zverev of Germany and American Coco Gauff on Tuesday advanced to the third round of the Canadian Open after both players were pushed hard by their opponents. World No. 3 Zverev, playing in his first match since his first-round loss at Wimbledon, was far from his best, but emerged with a 7-6 (8/6), 6-4 win over Adam Walton under the lights in Toronto. Momentum shifted firmly in Zverev’s favor when he won a 52-shot rally in the first set tiebreak and he sealed the win on a double fault by the Australian in the second set. “It was a very
Canadian teenager Victoria Mboko upset top-seeded Coco Gauff 6-1, 6-4 on Saturday night to reach the National Bank Open quarter-finals. “Your support was incredible,” Mboko told the crowd in French after a chorus of “Ole, Ole, Ole” chants echoed around the venue. “I’m really happy to win today ... It’s incredible. I’m so happy to beat such a great champion.” Gauff dropped to 2-3 since winning the French Open. She followed the major victory with opening losses in Berlin and Wimbledon, then overcame double-fault problems to win two three-set matches in Montreal. Gauff had five double-faults on Saturday after having 23 in
Formula 1 champion Max Verstappen on Thursday said that he is staying with the Red Bull team next year, ending months of speculation over his future. “Some people just like to stir the pot, some people just like to create drama, but, for me, it’s always been quite clear, and also for next year,” the four-time champion said ahead of the Hungarian Grand Prix. “I’m discussing with the team already the plans — the things that we want to change for next year, so that means that I’m also staying with the team for next year,” he said. Verstappen has a contract with
RSS