American Samoans grow at Marist Sevens

By Thomas Airey 19 February 2019, 12:00AM

The Talavalu club from American Samoa were one of the surprise packages at the Marist International Sevens tournament held last weekend.

They advanced to the Tanoa semifinals with two wins from their four games over the two-day tournament.

Talavalu manager Annielyse Coffin said it was pleasing to get some good results at the Marist Sevens.

“Back home it’s American football all the way but for the American Samoa Rugby Union we’re trying to develop rugby so we can go through the competitions like Manu Samoa, New Zealand, Australia and so forth.”

She said they always try to come to tournaments like the Marist Sevens when they are invited, to feel what a higher level of rugby is like and learn from their mistakes.

Coffin said they also have a women’s team they would have liked to bring over, but the invite came quite late and last-minute preparations meant that was not possible.

The Talavalu side that came to Marist was essentially the American Samoan national team, along with some development players.

They arrived for the tournament on Thursday, but had been training back home for the Marist Sevens for about a month.

Coffin thanked ASRU chair Peseta Mavaega and the whole Union for their support, as well as all the other supporters of rugby in American Samoa.

By Thomas Airey 19 February 2019, 12:00AM
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