Samoa
[[Image:|100px|Shirt badge/Association crest]]
Association	Samoan Rugby League
Region	Oceania
Head coach	John Akland
Captain	Nigel Vagana
Home stadium	National Stadium
RLIF ranking	12th
National Uniform
First international USA 6 - 14 Western Samoa (Sydney, Australia; February 1996)
Biggest win New Caledonia 0 - 76 Samoa (Apia, Samoa; 20 October 2004
Biggest defeat Australia 66 - 10 Samoa (Watford, England; 11 November 2000)
World Cup
Appearances	1 (First in 2000)
Best result	Quarter-finals, 2000

The Samoa rugby league team has been participating in international rugby league competition since 1988. From 1988 to 1997 this team was known as the Western Samoa rugby league team. This team is not to be confused with the American Samoa national rugby league team.

History

Western Samoa has participated in the Pacific Cup (1988-1996), World Sevens (1994, 1995) and Superleague World Nines (1996, 1997) competitions. Samoa has participated in the Pacific Cup (since 1998), World Cup (since 2000), World Sevens (2003) and Pacific Rim (2004) competitions. That Samoan team had the benefit of ex-All Blacks John Schuster and Va\'aiga Tuigamala in their backline. When rugby union went professional players such as Apollo Perelini and Fereti Tuilagi left rugby league to return to the 15-man game.

2008 Rugby League World Cup qualifying

Samoa played in the Pacific Pool of the 2008 Rugby League World Cup Qualifiers. They beat the Cook Islands and Fiji, but lost to Tonga. On a points difference, Samoa came in third and had to play USA in the Repecharge Semi Final. Samoa won this match 42-10 and then played Lebanon on 14th November 2007 in the Repecharge Final to see who would take the 10th and final World Cup place. Samoa came out eventual winners of the 10th and final 2008 Rugby League World Cup place beating Lebanon 38-16.

Possible 2008 World Cup Squad

As of 14 November, 2007

2008 Possible Run on World Cup Squad

Samoan Possible 2007 Starting Team
8 Joe Vagana 9 Motu Tony 10 Frank Puletua 11 Tony Puletua 12 Ali Lauitiiti 13 Harrison Hansen 7 Joseph Paulo . | 6 Andrew Manu(C) 4 George Carmont 3 Willie Talau 5 Matt Utai 2 Francis Meli 1 Tangi Ropati

Replacements

• 14 David Solomona
• 15 Iafeta Paleaasina
• 16 Gray Viane
• 17 Phillip Leuluai
• 18 Mauloa Lafi
• 19 Andreas Bauer
• 20 Hutch Maiava
• 21 Taualagi Lepupa
• 22 Malo Solomona
• 23 Evarn Tuimavave
• 24 Smith Samau
• 25 Ponifasio Vasa
• 26 Chris Vaefaga
• 27 Kylie Leuluai
• 28 Chris Lei Sam
• 29 Junior Moors
• 30 Rota Setu
• 31 Jack Afamasaga
• 32 Setaimata Sa

International Results

• Samoa def. Lebanon 38-16 (14 November 2007)
• Samoa def. USA 42-10 (9 November 2007)
• England def. Samoa 38-14 (5 November 2006)
• France def. Samoa 28-6 (29 October 2006)
• Tonga def. Samoa 18-10 (22 October 2006)
• Samoa def. Fiji 30-28 ([[ ]] 2006)
• Samoa def. Cook Islands 46- ([[ ]] 2006)
• Tokelau def. Samoa 34-28 (05 March 2006)
• Cook Islands def. Samoa 44-0 (02 March 2006)
• Fiji def. Samoa 26-4 (23 February 2006)
• Tonga def. Samoa 34-20 (7 October 2005)
• Samoa def. Tonga 52-18 (23 October 2004)
• New Zealand Maoris def. Samoa 70-10 (21 October 2004)
• Samoa def. New Caledonia 76-0 (20 October 2004)
• Samoa def. Niue 36-18 (19 October 2004)
• Australia def. Samoa 66-10 (11 November 2000)
• Samoa def. Scotland 20-12 (5 November 2000)
• Samoa def. New Zealand Maoris 21-16 (1 November 2000)
• Ireland def. Samoa 30-16 (28 October 2000)
• Fiji def. Samoa 30-4 (1999)
• Samoa def. Fiji 6-1 (1999)
• Fiji def. Samoa 22-16 (1999)
• Tonga def. Samoa 24-8 (1998)
• Tonga def. Samoa 24-22 (1998)
• Samoa def. Niue 24-10 (1998)
• Samoa drew with Tonga 20-20 (1998)

Western Samoa

• New Zealand Maoris def. Western Samoa 39-16 (1996)
• Tonga def. Western Samoa (1996)
• Wales def. Western Samoa 22-10 (13 October 1995)
• Western Samoa def. France 56-10 (12 October 1995)
• Western Samoa def. Tonga 18-14 (31 October 1992)
• Western Samoa def. Australian Aborigines 44-26 (28 October 1992)
• Western Samoa def Niue 41-28 (1992)
• Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 66-12 (1992)
• Western Samoa def. Tonga 20-12 (1992)
• Western Samoa def. Fiji 32-18 (1992)
• Western Samoa def. New Zealand Maoris 26-18 (1990)
• Western Samoa def. Australian Aborigines 26-16 (1990)
• New Zealand Maoris def. Western Samoa 19-16 (1988)
• Western Samoa def. Tonga 40-30 (1988)
• Western Samoa def. Tokelau 40-18 (1988)
• Western Samoa def. Cook Islands 52-16 (1988)

Super League World Nines Results

• Western Samoa def. USA 30-10 (1997)
• Western Samoa def. USA 14-6 (1996)

Student Results

• Western Samoa def. USA 82-8 (1996)

External links

• Samoa Rugby League Fans Forums - RugbyLeague.org
• 2008 Rugby League World Cup Site

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