Matiu Tuileva Tuileva, President of Samoa Touch Rugby Incorporated, says he is proud of Samoa’s performance at the Asia Pacific Open Touch Cup, describing it as a strong showing against better-resourced nations.

Samoa’s men’s, women’s, and mixed teams all reached the playoff stage of the tournament. The men’s team was eliminated in the quarterfinals, while both the women’s and mixed teams reached the semifinals.

Tuileva said the results showed Samoa’s competitiveness across the region and beyond, noting that teams faced opponents from Asia, Europe, and the Pacific, including Singapore, China, Hong Kong, Sri Lanka, Greece, and Lebanon.

He said Samoa was right up there in the mix despite limited resources compared to other countries. He also highlighted wins over several international teams, calling the performances a sign of the talent and determination within the squad.

Key highlights included the large number of debut players. A total of 9 women and 13 men made their international debut for Samoa during the tournament. The men’s team featured 6 debutants, the mixed team 11, and the women’s team 5.

Tuileva also pointed to the experience of leadership in the squads, with the most-capped local players captaining both the men’s and women’s teams.

Another standout feature was the age of the squad. Samoa included nine players under 18, including two 14-year-old girls in the women’s open team. Tuileva said their skill level stood out, despite the open division normally being for players 18 and older.

He said coordination was one of the main challenges, as the squad included both local and overseas-based players. He also pointed to financial pressures, saying some top players were unable to attend due to costs and work commitments.

Looking ahead, Tuileva said there is discussion about Samoa potentially hosting an Oceania Cup next year. He said more regular competition against top teams is important for development.

He also raised concerns about facilities, saying Samoa Touch Rugby does not have a home field and must hire venues for competitions. He said a dedicated field would help reduce costs and improve the sport’s long-term development in Samoa.