Samoa Rugby Union management has confirmed the appointment of a new Manu Samoa 15s manager whom they hope together with a new head coach will change the fortunes of the national team. 

Lakapi Samoa General Manager, Seumanu Douglas Ngau Chun, confirmed the appointment of Su'a Hesed Ieremia in an interview with Samoa Observer on Tuesday afternoon. 

He said a selection committee met last Friday and confirmed the appointment after a shortlist of applicants was cut down to three. 

"The committee's meeting last Friday confirmed Su'a Hesed Ieremia's appointment to be the manager for the Manu Samoa,” he said. 

“There were many of those who applied but only three were selected to go through to the interview so the panel's decision was put forward to the committee and they have agreed to Sua's appointment.”

According to Seumanu, the new appointee will work with the Manu Samoa 15s head coach Mapusua Seilala to run the team in preparation for scheduled tournaments in July and November this year.

He said he is excited to have Su’a on board filling an important position on the Manu Samoa management.

"It is with great pleasure for the Samoa Rugby Union that this important position has been finalised and our country's team now has a manager and we are happy that Su'a has been appointed,” he added.

“It is no secret how much Su'a has contributed to rugby, right from the grassroots level to clubs, franchises and also to our union teams.”

There were concerns within the rugby fraternity that Su’a did not have rugby managerial experience as he was until recently the Tourism Promotion Authority’s media and communications officer.

But Seumanu disputed claims that the former S.T.A. official didn’t have the necessary experience, saying he’s been a manager at the grassroots and top level of sports and his events management experience with the Government’s tourism body will assist Manu Samoa.

"I believe with the question about his inexperience, I don't think that's right, Su'a has great experience, he's been a manager for teams in Samoa for long and Su'a has come through the right pathway, from starting from our grassroots level right up to this level. 

“For me, it's a good thing for Su'a to come onboard from his experience at where he was, from S.T.A. running events for the Government and coming here and helping with the development of our Manu Samoa."

Su’a is yet to respond to the Lakapi Samoa offer of the new position with Seumanu indicating that he’ll start work late this month, if he agrees to take up the position.

His start with the team is expected to coincide with the end of Mapusua's mandatory quarantine after he returned from abroad.

“Vaovasamanaia (Mapusua) is in quarantine for two weeks and Su'a is expected to work when Vaovasa is out of quarantine since our game is not that far away, it is fast approaching,” says Seumanu.

“But we need to see if they can leave for New Zealand.”

Giving more details on the recruitment process, Seumanu said Mapusua was present during the interviews and as the head coach has the final say.

He said all the interviews of the shortlisted candidates went well and the position of the team manager is always important as they have to do what the coach says.

Some of the boxes that potential candidates have to tick include being a Samoa resident, experience as a manager, and the undertaking of managerial duties.

"His job is always done off the field, the manager is always said to be the boss of the team because coaches are only on the field, off the field it's all run by the manager. 

“Like how they are going to go from Point A to Point B, there's a lot of dirty work that involves the manager's duties, they work some odd hours, and once the participation is ready in terms of the tournament, it will all be through the manager. 

“The manager makes sure that Samoa is complying with the time for team lists, the time to sign our players, time for our insurance, those are all the managers' duties. 

“He takes photos for the team, writes the sizes of the players, sees if the uniforms are ready, has their shoes ready so the coach's job really is on the field, the game plan but everything else, behind the closed doors, are all the managers' job.”

The former Manu Samoa manager Aloi Alesana confirmed that he didn't reapply for the position.