Samoan flags are selling like hot cakes in Apia with most shops running short of the famous red blue and white star striped emblem, thanks to the Rugby League World Cup success of Toa Samoa.

Shopkeepers at a number businesses in the Samoan capital have confirmed when contacted and approached for comment by the Samoa Observer that they currently have nil stock of the Samoan flag.

All this week vehicles could still be seen with the Samoan flag hanging from pole screwed or sticky-taped onto the booth.

In an interview with this newspaper on Thursday, 19-year-old shopkeeper, Lumafale Esene said they were sold out on Monday this week.

“On Monday we were busy as people were rushing to our shops in the morning to buy their flags to support our Manu Samoa 7s and Toa Samoa till the day our rugby players are on the field and all our flags are sold out,” said Mr. Esene. 

Another shopkeeper, 20-year-old Sina Asi said they don’t have much in stock after people rushed in to buy up to five or six flags each.

"This time we don't have many flags because people are rushing to buy more than one  flag as I can tell most people bought five or up to six flags that's why we don't have enough as most of our flags are sold out.”

The price of a Samoan national flag in shops in Apia varies depending on the size with the big ones going for $15, medium $5 and small $2. But the businesses that this newspaper has approached for comment say most people didn’t care about the size.

A member of the public from Vaitele-Fou, 48-year-old Tapeni Togaga'e said he went to the shops on Wednesday last week to buy flags to decorate his car in preparation for this weekend’s Rugby League World Cup semi-final between England and Toa Samoa.

“I stopped at one of the shops at the market and they said their flags are all sold out, there's nothing left, and I stopped here in Vaitele and tried to look for the flags,” he said. 

“But luckily there were six more flags left so I brought them all, but it's very sad if there are not enough flags left now for the next upcoming games as I witnessed most of the flags are sold out in shops.”

Another member of the public, Elisapeta Esau, told this newspaper that the Samoan flags are being snapped up by Toa Samoa and Manu Samoa supporters from shops around Apia.

"All our flags are sold out. People come by the days near the parade days to buy flags to decorate there cars in supporting for our Toa Samoa also our Manu Samoa boys."

• NUS Journalism student Tiara Siuatoilevao Sifaleata Imo contributed to this report.