Manu Samoa youngster Faalava Toetu’s story of how he used to run around barefoot and throw around a plastic bottle for a rugby ball is heartwarming and at the same time a reminder of the lack of development and facilities at the grassroots level.

He is just 20-years-old and to say that he and his friends played with a plastic bottle less than a decade ago shows how little equipment is accessible by youngsters in rural Samoa. He is one of many such talents who to date are just throwing around a plastic bottle or a small coconut.

He comes from the village of Fagamalo in Savaii. A youngster from a rural village who did not have much chance to venture out until he was selected for the national school team and then the national U20 side.

Imagine how many other such raw talents are hidden in the rural villages in Savaii and Upolu but never get the chance to play with an actual rugby ball or get the guidance of qualified coaches.

This is a key area of development that has been neglected for so many years. This is perhaps one of the reasons why national selectors are always looking at overseas-based and born Samoans who are developed by the system in the country they live.

Is it so hard to focus on development locally?

Understandably, Lakapi Samoa is cash-strapped but such development programmes are funded by World Rugby. All it needs is a proper plan.

The failure to develop the potential of our youngsters has resulted in national age-grade teams getting a whooping. The recent being at the hands of Scotland at the World U20 Trophy Championship. There is no way the players can be blamed for this loss.

The players went up against a team who have been playing rugby since they were five-years-old in organised competitions. A team coached for every basic skill in primary school and then advanced that skill in high school.

The first step to development is providing sporting equipment. While rugby boots may come into the picture later, each village should be provided with two rugby balls every year. This way primary school children and those in high schools can utilise the balls even for a game of touch rugby to keep the game going.

The second step is to hold coaching clinics by getting four to five schools in one venue and running drills every week. This helps in the development of basic skills. Sports teachers or teachers who coach should be invited to coaching clinics as well.

The most important thing is running a primary school rugby competition starting from the U9 age grade and going to U13. Schools can be divided into zones and there could be up to 10 teams in each zone. The zone winners can then qualify for a knockout district championship to decide the district winner.

The district winners can then battle it out on a national format. Run the tournaments in the first term of every school year. The advancement of a child from U9 to U13 will automatically upskill a young player. This is the missing link on why we are so reliant on overseas based players.

The competitions have to be in boys' and girls' grades.

This could help solve the issue of player selection when it comes to national teams. The former sevens coach Muliagatele Brian Lima once said it was hard to select players. Lakapi Samoa has also admitted that contracting local players was also a hassle because local players did not understand the commitment required of them when they signed a professional contract.

Focusing on development could be the answer.

In a little over two months, Manu Samoa sevens will head to the Oceania Championship and the first headache will be selecting the right players. Imagine if such a competition was in existence, and selectors were able to watch the progress of players from primary school to college and then club teams.

These are just suggestions from the Editorial Board with the hope of developing rugby and players. The Manu Samoa XV team flew out to Fiji last night and this Friday evening they will play their first game of the Pacific Nations Cup.

The PNC is very important as it is a qualifier for the Rugby World Cup. All the best boys.