The National Elite Touch Championship, held last week, concluded on Saturday evening with a closing ceremony at the National University of Samoa (N.U.S) Fale. The victorious teams from the tournament were recognised and presented with their trophies.

General Manager of Struddy’s Australia and keynote speaker Michael Rassmussen, acknowledged the partnership between Samoa Touch Incorporated and Struddys since 2015.

“We’ve enjoyed every moment of it [since 2015], and I’ve always loved to give back to Samoa but also in a way of sponsoring Samoa Touch Association as well,” Rassmussen stated. 

He praised the management, the Samoa Touch Incorporated president, Matiu Tuileva Tuileva and especially the players for their efforts over the two-day competition.

“The competition was outstanding this weekend, and the local talent has just stepped up the game,” said Rassmussen. 

He wished all players luck with the selection and looks forward to more competitions like this in the future.

The Vaatausili men’s team emerged as the champions in the finals on Saturday, dominating the Tagaloa team with a score of 11-7, and were rewarded with their trophy at the ceremony. The Vaatausili women’s team were also rewarded with their trophy after defeating Vaea with a score of 6-4 on Friday, day one of the competition.

Champions of the mixed division and trophy winners for the N.E.T Championship 2023 went to Vaea, who beat Nafanua  7 - 4 in the finals on Saturday.

Logan Lemusu from the Vaatausili franchise was selected as the Most Valuable Player (MVP) in the Women’s Category by Mailata Michael Wulf, the Women’s Samoa Touch Head Coach; the male MVP for the competition was awarded to  Ryder Ah Fook, who was also from the Vaatausili franchise and was chosen by the  Open Men’s Samoa Touch National Head Coach, Kalolo Lepou.

In an interview with the Samoa Observer, 16-year-old Miss Lemusu from Sydney, Australia, said she has been playing touch since 2017 and practically bleeds the sport. 

Despite the past two days of the competition being very “hot and tiring” for Miss Lemusu, she said she was grateful and blessed to have been chosen as the women’s MVP.

Mr Ah Fook, 18, who hails from the villages of Fugalei and Lalovaea and is also from Australia, said that he has “basically been playing since he was born.”

He also agreed and said he was grateful for the opportunity to be playing touch in Samoa.

Both players dedicated their awards to their families and their teammates, and particularly Mr Ah Fook gave thanks to “Margaret”, who is part of their management team, for inspiring him throughout the competition.

The MVPs chosen from the mixed category were two players representing the Vaea franchise, Saelua Seletileaula for the girls and Thomas Moors for the boys. These players were chosen by the National Head coach for the mixed division, Tauiliili Lerrisa. 

The players from both Australia and New Zealand made their way back home during the weekend with some leaving on Monday. 

The training squad will be named this week ahead of the South Pacific Games held in Honiara for 2023.