There is now a pathway for young Samoan rugby players to move to the next level, an opportunity that never existed and this is being done through Oceania Rugby and Moana Pasifika.

The two have partnered to launch a new age-grade competition called the Oceania Rugby U20s Challenge. It aims to provide a pathway for young players in the Pacific region to advance to the professional environment of Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua.

Vincent Fepuleai, Chief Executive Officer of Lakapi Samoa praised the initiative as a great opportunity for young players to compete and potentially secure a contract with Moana Pacifica.

“This is a crucial step in nurturing our local talent, and we are really excited about these opportunities,” said Fepuleai. 

He mentioned his excitement for the initiative and said that Lakapi Samoa’s high-performance coaches have arranged trials with over 100 local players participating.

Moana Pasifika will host the tournament at North Harbour in Auckland. The matches will be held on Tuesday, February 27, with the second round beginning on Saturday, March 2, and ending with the final round on Wednesday, March 6. 

Pelenato Sakalia, CEO of Moana Pasifika, said it's a privilege to be a part of the competition and to give back to the Pacific nations. 

“It’s an exciting opportunity for our youth. It’s also an opportunity to unify Moana Pasifika with community rugby and the home nations U20 programs. We’re focused on running a successful competition,” said Sakalia.

General Manager of Oceania Rugby, Frank Puletua said this unique blend of athleticism, creativity, and cultural pride promises to showcase the region's top rugby talent in a traditional hub for Pasifika communities, the city of Auckland.

“Oceania Rugby is proud to support the development and growth of our young athletes, and we look forward to seeing more young men and women graduate into elite competition through the U20's program," he said.

This upcoming competition will act as a qualifying round for Samoa and Tonga for the 2024 World Rugby U20s Trophy, scheduled in Scotland from 2-17 July. The victor between these two Pacific rivals in round two will progress to the key event as Oceania’s representative.

The 2024 competition will have Fiji, Samoa, Tonga, and a Moana Pacifica U20s team. This partnership aims to include other Pacific Unions with Under 19/20 programs, such as Papua New Guinea, Cook Islands, Solomon Islands, and the French Polynesian territories, in an inclusive approach. This will allow these unions to follow a pathway towards success.