The Samoa national rugby union team represents the Samoa Rugby Union in men's international rugby union. They are also known as "Manu Samoa", which is thought to derive from the name of a Samoan warrior. They perform a traditional Samoan challenge called the siva tau before each game. Samoa Rugby Union were formerly members of the Pacific Islands Rugby Alliance (PIRA) along with Fiji and Tonga. They are ranked 11th in the world.
Alesana "Alex" Tuilagi is a former Samoan rugby player. He is a retired rugby player, currently residing in Fogapoa Savaii and has appeared numerous times for his national team Samoa. He previously played for Parma in Italy and for Leicester Tigers in the Aviva Premiership and more recently Newcastle Falcons. As an incredibly strong player, Tuilagi uses his blend of pace and power to good effect, proving a nightmare for many defences. Such a combination of speed and strength makes him very difficult for defences to handle.
Viliami Sikalamu "Sika" Manu is a former professional rugby league footballer who played as a second-row forward for Tonga and New Zealand at international level, being a member of the World Cup winning Kiwi team who beat Australia in the 2008 World Cup Final.
Etuale Manusamoa Tuilagi is a professional rugby union player who plays as a centre for Top 14 club Bayonne. Born in Samoa, he represented England at international level after qualifying on residency grounds.
Teofilo Aloisio Mikaele Paulo is a New Zealand-born Samoan rugby union player. He specialises as a lock forward. He plays for Manawatu Turbos in the NPC.
Motu Matu'u is a rugby union footballer who plays as a hooker for London Irish in Premiership Rugby. He previously played for Wellington Lions in the ITM Cup and for the Hurricanes in the Super Rugby. He attended Rongotai College in Wellington, which was also attended by Ma'a Nonu. He is 184 cm tall and weighs 108 kg.
Lolagi Visinia is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a wing or fullback for Auckland in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented both New Zealand and Manu Samoa internationally.
Nepo Eti Laulala is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Top 14 club Toulouse. Born in Samoa, he represented New Zealand at the international level from 2015-2023, after qualifying on residency grounds.
Michael Savea Alaalatoa is a professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for United Rugby Championship club Leinster. Born in Australia, he represents Samoa at international level after qualifying on ancestry grounds.
Senio Toleafoa is an Australian rugby union player who plays for the Waratahs in the Super Rugby competition. His position of choice is lock. He has also represented Samoa and Australia in their national under-20s teams.
Jordan Andrew Lay is a Samoan professional rugby union player who plays as a prop for Super Rugby club Blues and the Samoa national team.
AJ Alatimu is a Samoan rugby union player who plays for the Houston Sabercats of Major League Rugby (MLR) in the United States. His position of choice is fly-half.
Raymond 'Ray' Niuia is a New Zealand born Samoan rugby union player most recently played for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He has also played for both the Highlanders and the Blues. His position of choice is Hooker.
Kane Le'aupepe is a former Samoan rugby union player who plays for the Hurricanes in Super Rugby. His playing position is lock. He was named in the Hurricanes squad for week 1 in 2019.
The 2019 Rugby World Cup was an international rugby union tournament which was held in Japan from 20 September until 2 November 2019. Twenty national teams competed, and each brought a 31-man squad containing no regulated number of players per-position to the tournament. The tournament was administered by World Rugby, to whom each team submitted their finalised squad by 8 September 2019. A player may be replaced for medical or compassionate reasons, but would be unable to return to the squad. Any replacement player has an enforced stand-down period of 48 hours before they can take the field.
Henry Stowers is a New Zealand born, Samoan rugby union player who plays for the Benetton Rugby in the United Rugby Championship. His playing position is flanker. He is also a Samoan international.
Melani Matavao is a Samoan professional rugby union player who plays as a scrum-half for the Samoa national team.
Afaesetiti Amosa is a Samoan rugby player for Aviron Bayonnais in France's Top 14, the highest level of French rugby. His primary position is number 8.
Neria Fomai is a rugby union player, who currently plays as a centre or wing for Hawke's Bay in New Zealand's domestic National Provincial Championship competition and for Moana Pasifika in Super Rugby. He was born and raised in New Zealand, but has represented Manu Samoa – for which he is eligible due to his Samoan heritage – both in the fifteen-a-side form of the game and rugby sevens.
The 2022 World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup was the fifteenth edition of the Pacific Nations Cup annual international rugby union competition and the first since 2019, with a 2-year lay-off due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
