Samoa at the Rugby World Cup

Map of nations best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments.

Samoa performing their Siva Tau before playing South Africa at the 2007 Rugby World Cup

Samoa (known as Western Samoa until 1997) have played in every Rugby World Cup since the 1991 tournament. Their omission from the inaugural tournament in 1987 was controversial, as there were no qualifications. Their worst World Cups were in 2007, 2015 and 2019 when they finished fourth in their pool.

Nation	Number of appearances	First appearance	Most recent appearance	Streak	Best result
Samoa	9	1991	2019	9	Quarter finals, 1991, 1995

By position

Rugby World Cup record											Qualification
Year	Round	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	Squad	Head coach		Pos	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA
1987	Not invited										Not invited
1991	Quarter-finals	4	2	0	2	60	72	Squad	P. Schuster		1st	3	3	0	0	123	21
1995	Quarter-finals	4	2	0	2	110	130	Squad			Automatically qualified
1999	Quarter-final play-offs	4	2	0	2	117	107	Squad	B. Williams		3rd	3	1	0	2	59	71
2003	Pool stage	4	2	0	2	138	117	Squad	J. Boe		2nd	4	3	0	1	96	58
2007	Pool stage	4	2	0	2	69	143	Squad	M. Jones		1st	4	3	0	1	133	78
2011	Pool stage	4	2	0	2	91	49	Squad	T. Tafua		1st	2	2	0	0	188	19
2015	Pool stage	4	1	0	3	69	124	Squad	S. Betham		Automatically qualified
2019	Pool stage	4	1	0	3	58	128	Squad	S. Jackson		3rd	6	3	0	3	196	47
2023	Pool stage	4	1	0	3	92	75	Squad	S. Mapusua		1st	2	2	0	0	79	28
2027	To be determined										To be determined
2031
Total	—	36	15	0	21	804	977	—	—		—	24	17	0	7	874	422

Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place	Home venue

By match

1991 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1991 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 matches –

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Australia	3	3	0	0	79	25	+54	6
Western Samoa	3	2	0	1	54	34	+20	4
Wales	3	1	0	2	32	61	−29	2
Argentina	3	0	0	3	38	83	−45	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

6 October 1991

Wales	13–16	Western Samoa
Try: Emyr Evans Con: Ring Pen: Ring		Try: Vaega Vaifale Con: Vaea Pen: Vaea (2)

Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff Referee: Patrick Robin (France)

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9 October 1991

Australia	9–3	Western Samoa
Pen: Lynagh (3)		Pen: Vaea

Pontypool Park, Pontypool Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

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13 October 1991

Argentina	12–35	Western Samoa
Try: Teran Con: Arbizu Pen: Laborde Arbizu		Try: Tagaola (2) Lima (2) Bunce Bachop Con: Vaea (4) Pen: Vaea

Sardis Road, Pontypridd Referee: Brian Anderson (Scotland)

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Quarter final

19 October 1991

Scotland	28–6	Western Samoa
Try: Jeffrey (2) Stanger Con: Hastings (2) Pen: Hastings (4)		Pen: Vaea Drop: Bachop

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

1995 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1995 Rugby World Cup

Pool B games –

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
England	3	3	0	0	95	60	+35	9
Western Samoa	3	2	0	1	96	88	+8	7
Italy	3	1	0	2	69	94	−25	5
Argentina	3	0	0	3	69	87	−18	3

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

27 May 1995

Italy	18–42	Western Samoa
Try: Vaccari Cuttitta Con: Dominguez Pen: Dominguez Drop: Dominguez	Report	Try: Lima (2) Harder (2) Kellett Tatupu Con: Kellett (3) Pen: Kellett (2)

Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Joel Dume (France)

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30 May 1995

Western Samoa	32–26	Argentina
Try: Lam Leaupepe Harder Con: Kellett Pen: Kellett (5)		Try: Penalty try Crexell Con: Cilley (2) Pen: Cilley (4)

Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London Attendance: 11,000 Referee: Dave Bishop (New Zealand)

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4 June 1995

England	44–22	Western Samoa
Try: Underwood (2) Back Con: Callard Pen: Callard Drop: Catt		Try: Sini (2) Umaga Con: Fa'amasino (2) Pen: Fa'amasino

Kings Park Stadium, Durban Attendance: 20,000 Referee: Patrick Robin (France)

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Quarter-finals –

10 June 1995

South Africa	42–14	Western Samoa
Try: Williams (4) Rossouw Andrews Con: Johnson (3) Pen: Johnson (2)		Try: Tatupu Nu'uali'itia Con: Fa'amasino (2)

Ellis Park, Johannesburg Attendance: 52,000 Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

1999 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1999 Rugby World Cup

Qualified for quarter-finals

Qualified for quarter-final play-offs

Pool D games –

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	Pts
Wales	3	2	0	1	118	71	+47	7
Samoa	3	2	0	1	97	72	+25	7
Argentina	3	2	0	1	83	51	+32	7
Japan	3	0	0	3	36	140	−104	3

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

3 October 1999

Samoa	43–9	Japan
Try: Lima (2) So'oalo (2) Leaega Con: Leaega (3) Pen: Leaega (4)		Pen: Hirose (3)

Racecourse Ground, Wrexham Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)

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10 October 1999

Argentina	32–16	Samoa
Try: Allub Pen: Quesada (8) Drop: Quesada		Try: Paramore Con: Leaega Pen: Leaega (3)

Stradey Park, Llanelli Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)

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14 October 1999

Wales	31–38	Samoa
Try: Thomas Penalty try (2) Con: Jenkins (2) Pen: Jenkins (4)		Try: Bachop (2) Falaniko Lam Leaega Con: Leaega Pen: Leaega

Millennium Stadium, Cardiff Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

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Quarter-final playoffs

20 October 1999

Scotland	35–20	Samoa
Try: Murray Leslie Con: Logan Pen: Logan (5) Drop: Townsend		Try: Lima Sititi Con: Leaega (2) Pen: Leaega (2)

Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh Attendance: 67,000 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

2003 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2003 Rugby World Cup Pool C

Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	BP	Pts	Qualification
England	4	4	0	0	255	47	+208	3	19	Quarter-finals
South Africa	4	3	0	1	184	60	+124	3	15
Samoa	4	2	0	2	138	117	+21	2	10
Uruguay	4	1	0	3	56	255	−199	0	4
Georgia	4	0	0	4	46	200	−154	0	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

15 October 2003

Samoa	60–13	Uruguay
Try: Fa'asavalu (2) Lima (2) Tagicakibau Fa'atau Lemalu Vili Fe'aunati Palepoi Con: Va'a (3) Vili (2)		Try: Capo Lemoine Pen: Aguirre

Subiaco Oval, Perth Attendance: 22,020 Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

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19 October 2003

Georgia	9–46	Samoa
Pen: Jimsheladze (2) Drop: Jimsheladze		Try: Tagicakibau Va'a Sititi So'oialo Fe'aunati Lima Con: Va'a (5) Pen: Va'a (2)

Subiaco Oval, Perth Attendance: 21,507 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

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26 October 2003

England	35–22	Samoa
Try: Back Penalty try Balshaw Vickery Con: Wilkinson (3) Pen: Wilkinson (2) Drop: Wilkinson		Try: Sititi Con: Va'a Pen: Va'a (5)

Telstra Dome, Melbourne Attendance: 50,647 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

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1 November 2003

South Africa	60–10	Samoa
Try: Van Niekerk Muller Hougaard Smith Willemse Fourie Van der Westhuyzen De Kock Con: Hougaard (5) Koen (2) Pen: Hougaard Drop: Hougaard		Try: Palepoi Con: Va'a Pen: Va'a

Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane Attendance: 48,496 Referee: Chris White (England)

2007 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup Pool A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	B	Pts	Qualification
1	South Africa	4	4	0	0	189	47	+142	3	19	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2	England	4	3	0	1	108	88	+20	2	14
3	Tonga	4	2	0	2	89	96	−7	1	9	Eliminated, automatic qualification for 2011 Rugby World Cup
4	Samoa	4	1	0	3	69	143	−74	1	5
5	United States	4	0	0	4	61	142	−81	1	1

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

9 September 2007 16:00

South Africa	59–7	Samoa
Try: Habana (4) 33' m, 56' c, 66' c, 76' m Montgomery (2) 40+' c, 53' m Fourie 47' c JP Pietersen 80+' c Con: Montgomery (5/8) Pen: Montgomery (3/3) 3', 10', 15'	Report	Try: Williams 18' c Con: Williams (1/1)

Parc des Princes, Paris Attendance: 46,575 Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)

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16 September 2007 16:00

Samoa	15–19	Tonga
Pen: Williams (5/6) 6', 21', 23', 29', 69'	Report	Try: Taione 60' c Con: Hola (1/1) Pen: Hola (4/5) 3', 38', 47', 67'

Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier Attendance: 24,128 Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)

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22 September 2007 16:00

England	44–22	Samoa
Try: Corry (2) 2' c, 76' c Sackey (2) 32' c, 80+' m Con: Wilkinson (3/4) Pen: Wilkinson (4/6) 15', 22', 33', 72' Drop: Wilkinson (2/3) 6', 69'	Report	Try: Polu 47' c Con: Crichton (1/1) Pen: Crichton (5/5) 9', 12', 38', 40+, 42'

Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes Attendance: 37,022 Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)

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26 September 2007 20:00

Samoa	25–21	United States
Try: Fa'atau 5' m Tuilagi 9' c Thompson 37' c Con: Crichton (2/3) Pen: Crichton (2/2) 30', 72'	Report	Try: Ngwenya 53' c Stanfill 79' m Con: Hercus (1/2) Pen: Hercus (3/4) 32', 65', 75'

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 34,124 Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

2011 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	South Africa	4	4	0	0	166	24	+142	21	2	18	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2	Wales	4	3	0	1	180	34	+146	23	3	15
3	Samoa	4	2	0	2	91	49	+42	9	2	10	Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4	Fiji	4	1	0	3	59	167	−108	7	1	5
5	Namibia	4	0	0	4	44	266	−222	5	0	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

Pool D matches

14 September 2011 14:30

Samoa	49–12	Namibia
Try: Fotuali'i 1' c Tuilagi (3) 17' c, 35' m, 55' c Williams 59' c Penalty try 70' c Con: T. Pisi (2/2) Williams (2/3) Pen: T. Pisi (2/2) 10', 24' Williams (1/1) 53'	Report	Try: van Wyk 63' m Kotzé 79' c Con: Kotzé (1/2)

Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua Attendance: 12,752 Referee: Romain Poite (France)

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18 September 2011 15:30

Wales	17–10	Samoa
Try: Williams 67' m Pen: Hook (2/3) 12', 27' Priestland (2/2) 43', 66'	Report	Try: Perenise 40+' c Con: Williams (1/1) Pen: Williams (1/3) 21'

Waikato Stadium, Hamilton Attendance: 30,804 Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)

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25 September 2011 15:30

Fiji	7–27	Samoa
Try: Talei 67' c Con: Luveniyali (1/1)	Report	Try: Fotuali'i 62' m Stowers 70' c Con: Williams (1/1) Pen: Pisi (4/6) 6', 10', 27', 45' Drop: Pisi (1/2) 12'

Eden Park, Auckland Attendance: 60,327 Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)

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30 September 2011 20:30

South Africa	13–5	Samoa
Try: Habana 9' c Con: M. Steyn (1/1) Pen: F. Steyn (1/3) 25' M. Steyn (1/2) 27' Drop: M. Steyn (0/1)	Report	Try: Stowers 51' m Con: T. Pisi (0/1)

North Harbour Stadium, Auckland Attendance: 29,734 Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

2015 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	South Africa	4	3	0	1	176	56	+120	23	4	16	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2	Scotland	4	3	0	1	136	93	+43	14	2	14
3	Japan	4	3	0	1	98	100	−2	9	0	12	Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4	Samoa	4	1	0	3	69	124	−55	7	2	6
5	United States	4	0	0	4	50	156	−106	5	0	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

20 September 2015	Samoa	25–16	United States	Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton
26 September 2015	South Africa	46–6	Samoa	Villa Park, Birmingham
3 October 2015	Samoa	5–26	Japan	Stadium mk, Milton Keynes
10 October 2015	Samoa	33–36	Scotland	St. James' Park, Newcastle

2019 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	T	B	Pts	Qualification
1	Japan	4	4	0	0	115	62	+53	13	3	19	Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2	Ireland	4	3	0	1	121	27	+94	18	4	16
3	Scotland	4	2	0	2	119	55	+64	16	3	11	Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4	Samoa	4	1	0	3	58	128	−70	8	1	5
5	Russia	4	0	0	4	19	160	−141	1	0	0

Source: ^{[ citation needed ]}

24 September 2019 19:15 JST (UTC+09)

Russia	9–34	Samoa (1 BP)
Pen: Kushnarev (2/2) 19', 26' Drop: Kushnarev (1/1) 48'	Report	Try: Leiua (2) 16' m, 80' m Amosa 45' m Fidow (2) 49' c, 53' c Lee-Lo 63' m Con: Pisi (2/5) 50', 54'

Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya Attendance: 22,564 Referee: Romain Poite (France)

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30 September 2019 19:15 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Scotland	34–0	Samoa
Try: Maitland 30' c Laidlaw 34' c Penalty try (2) 57', 75' Con: Laidlaw (2/2) 31', 36' Pen: Laidlaw (1/1) 9' Drop: Hogg (1/1) 38'	Report

Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe Attendance: 27,586 Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)

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5 October 2019 19:30 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Japan	38–19	Samoa
Try: Lafaele 28' c Himeno 53' c Fukuoka 76' m Matsushima 80+5' c Con: Tamura (3/4) 29', 55', 80+7' Pen: Tamura (4/5) 3', 8', 24', 51'	Report	Try: Taefu 73' c Con: Taefu (1/1) 74' Pen: Taefu (4/5) 10', 15', 34', 45'

City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota Attendance: 39,695 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)

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12 October 2019 19:45 JST (UTC+09)

(1 BP) Ireland	47–5	Samoa
Try: Best 4' c Furlong 10' c Sexton (2) 21' c, 39' m Larmour 48' c Stander 65' c Conway 70' c Con: Sexton (4/5) 5', 11', 23', 50 Carbery (2/2) 67', 72'	Report	Try: J. Lam 26' m

Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka Attendance: 17,967 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

2023 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool D

16 September 2023 15:00 CEST (UTC+2)

(1 BP) Samoa	43–10	Chile
Try: Paia'aua 40+1' c Taumateine 42' m Lee 47' m Malolo (2) 52' c, 80+1' c Con: Leali'ifano (2/4) 40+2', 53' Sopoaga (1/1) 80+2' Pen: Leali'ifano (4/4) 4', 10', 14', 36'	Report	Try: Dittus 6' c Con: Videla (1/1) 7' Pen: Garafulic (1/1) 30'

Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux Attendance: 39,291 Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand) [1]

22 September 2023 17:45 CEST (UTC+2)

Argentina	19–10	Samoa
Try: Boffelli 9' c Con: Boffelli (1/1) 10' Pen: Boffelli (3/4) 25', 34', 54' Sánchez (1/1) 80'	Report	Try: Malolo 75' c Con: Leuila (1/1) 75' Pen: Leali'ifano (1/3) 28'

Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne Attendance: 38,358 Referee: Nic Berry (Australia) [1]

28 September 2023 21:00 CEST (UTC+2)

Japan	28–22	Samoa (1 BP)
Try: Labuschagné 13' c Leitch 32' c Himeno 48' m Con: Matsuda (2/3) 15', 33' Pen: Matsuda (3/3) 28', 56', 75'	Report	Try: S. Lam 38' m Paia'aua 65' c Leali'ifano 78' c Con: Leali'ifano (2/3) 66', 79' Pen: Leuila (1/2) 25'

Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse Attendance: 31,794 Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa) [1]

7 October 2023 17:45 CEST (UTC+2)

England	18–17	Samoa (1 BP)
Try: Chessum 9' m Care 73' c Con: Farrell (1/2) 74' Pen: Farrell (2/3) 18', 58'	Report	Try: Ah Wong (2) 22' c, 29' c Con: Sopoaga (2/2) 24', 30' Pen: Sopoaga (1/2) 48'

Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq Attendance: 47,891 Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland) [1]

Pos	Team v t e	Pld	W	D	L	PF	PA	PD	TF	TA	B	Pts	Qualification
1	England	4	4	0	0	150	39	+111	17	3	2	18	Advance to knockout stage, and qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
2	Argentina	4	3	0	1	127	69	+58	15	5	2	14
3	Japan	4	2	0	2	109	107	+2	12	14	1	9	Qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
4	Samoa	4	1	0	3	92	75	+17	11	7	3	7
5	Chile	4	0	0	4	27	215	−188	4	30	0	0

Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers

Hosting

Samoa has not hosted any World Cup games, and has not put in bids for future tournaments. Due to the lack of facilities, and the small size of the island nation, it is unlikely it will do so in the future.

Portrayal on screen

Samoa can be seen playing South Africa in the feature film Invictus based on the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

See also

• Sports portal

• National team appearances in the Rugby World Cup

References

• Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN   1860746020.
• Farr-Jones, Nick (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup. Australian Post Corporation. ISBN   0-642-36811-2.

1. "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.

External links

• Manu Samoa Supporters website ^[usurped]
• Pacific Islanders Rugby Teams supporters website