Two months ago work began on producing a world-class rugby show in Samoa with its first episode done and dusted and scheduled for broadcasting in New Zealand on Thursday night.

Timed to coincide with the 2023 Rugby World Cup (RWC) which kicks off in France this weekend, Samoans Tagaloa John Tapu and Oscar Kightley are the masterminds behind the “RWC on Island” program through their company Kava Bowl Media.

The show will feature Pacific rugby legends doing commentary and analysis of this month’s RWC with a particular focus on the island teams Fiji, Samoa and Tonga. The first episode went to air on New Zealand’s Sky TV on Thursday night and had Flying Fijian legends Sireli Bobo and Jone Qovu as well as retired Manu Samoa wing Alesana Tuilagi. Mr. Kightley, a New Zealand-based multiple TV awards winner, actor and comedian, is the host of the 26-minute show.

Tagaloa, who has worked for over two decades in television production, told the Samoa Observer that the inspiration behind the establishment of their company four years ago was their realisation of the need for Pacific islanders to tell their own story to a global audience.

“When non-Pacifika people tell our stories, just misses the mark and as outsiders looking in or observers, it kind of annoyed us,” said Tagaloa in an interview on Wednesday. “So instead of being annoyed about it, we thought, how can we come up with a solution? So we formed this company four years ago.”

Sky TV in New Zealand has been one of Kava Bowl Media’s biggest clients since they began production and Tagaloa’s last place of employment for 22 years.

“And when I left [Sky TV], I still had those really strong relationships. And they wanted us to, they wanted to be engaged in an authentic way with our Pacifika community," he said. “And I said the only way you can do that is if you let us do it. If you don't do it in your studio, let us find the crew. And thankfully enough, they agreed.

“And four years later, we're doing stuff like this. But we've done other shows in New Zealand that have actually become the highest-rating sports shows, in New Zealand.”

Asked how he got to be part of the show, Mr. Kightley said he had known Tagaloa for a long time and were friends, while also sharing his passion for Pasifika stories.

“And we're, you know, we're both quite passionate about Pacifika stories and representing our people, our Pacifika people.

“And then when this opportunity came up, it wasn't hard at all, you know, any excuse to come back to Samoa. We're proud sons of Samoa, we come back as often as we can.

“Our attitude is very much to serve the star of the show is other rugby players, as you know, and, and our location, and also our neighbours, Fiji and Tonga. 

“Those are the stars of the show and the Pacifika heroes and legends past and present, that, that we bring onto the show. I'm just stoked to be a part of it.”

The “RWC on Island” program comes courtesy of a partnership between Kava Bowl Media and the Samoa Tourism Authority (S.T.A.) according to Tagaloa, who added that the authority will get value for money for their support due to their televised show’s authentic content with the shoot being done in Samoa and all their guest rugby commentators flown into Samoa.

“What we're saying is if you become the production company like us, and we build your branding and your storytelling into the show, you have a 26 minutes ad, which aligns with an aspirational product which is the Rugby World Cup and then you'll get the likes of Keven Mealamu, the current former All Blacks winger Sevu Reece, Sireli Bobo, Liam Messam, Nili Latu, Eroni Clarke. All these legends are coming back here to tell their stories, in Samoa.”

Mr. Kightley indicated that the first episode which went to air on Thursday night would be televised multiple times between Thursday this week and Monday next week. 

The first episode of the show was shot in Poutasi, added Tagaloa, to be followed by the second episode with the set for the show then moved to another village for the shooting of the third and fourth episodes. The shoot and production will be done in Samoa for the duration of this year's RWC campaign. 

“So the first two episodes we are in Poutasi, my cousin and his builders, then chuck it [the set] on a truck and move it to our next location, you know, and then we then truck it on a truck, truck it to another location,” said Tagaloa.

The S.T.A. Chief Executive Officer, Pativaine Petaia-Tevita did not respond to questions that were emailed to her by this newspaper seeking comment at the time of going to press.