The Manu Samoa 7s will play Argentina in the quarterfinals of the Los Angeles 7s having finished top of Pool D after winning all their three matches after the first day of competition. 

The Pool D comprises Samoa, England, Scotland and Kenya with the men in blue showing consistency throughout their three matches on the first day of the Los Angeles 7s leg of the HSBC World Sevens Series 2022.

The Manu Samoa team defeated Kenya in their first match on Sunday morning (Samoan time) with the men in blue recording a 33-14 victory. 

Va'a Apelu Maliko scored two tries for Samoa, and three other tries coming from Uaina Sione, Paul Scanlan and Niuleavea. Co-Captain of the team, Melani Matavao also added to the scoreboard with four successful conversions. 

In their second game, the Manu Samoa 7s team – which included three new players making their debut in the L.A. 7s leg – went head to head with the team from Scotland. The game was also won by the boys in the blue notching a 22–7 victory.

The three tries were from Va'a Apelu Maliko, Steve Onosa'i and Motu Opetai, and one successful conversion from Matavao. 

In their match against England, the Manu Samoa 7s team defended brilliantly and went on to claim a 31-5 victory, going undefeated in their pool to top Pool D and advance to the quarterfinals against Argentina tomorrow (Monday Samoan time). 

Meanwhile, the Manu Samoa 7s team held their jersey presentation a day before the L.A. 7s leg started where they had the honor of having four time Super Bowl champion with the San Francisco 49ers, Seiuli Manase Jesse Sapolu presenting the team jerseys.

The Samoans in L.A. also turned up to support and cheer on the boys in blue on the first day of the two-day tournament currently underway in the U.S. 

The team that came out fifth at the recent Birmingham Commonwealth Games, have three new players who debut in the Los Angeles leg. They are Levi Milford of Waverley College, Sydney, Australia who has family links in the villages of Lotofaga and Falelatai, Tauanu’u Niulevaea of the Safotu Club, Savaii and Malo Luteru of the Vaiala Club.

The team list: Melani Matavao, Vaafauese Apelu Maliko, Vaovasa Afa Su’a, Faafoi Falaniko, Neueli Leitufia, Motu Opetai, Owen Niue, Paul Scanlan, Steve Onosa’i, Uaina Sione, Levi Milford, Tauanuu Niulevaea, Malo Luteru.

The year 2022 is a huge one for rugby sevens, following the grand finale of the men’s Series in Los Angeles, with all eyes to turn to Cape Town, South Africa in what promises to be a spectacular Rugby World Cup Sevens 2022 from September 9–11. 

The men’s 2023 Series will kick off in Hong Kong on 4-6 November 2022 while the women’s teams kicks off in a combined event in Dubai on 2-3 December 2022.