RUGBY HISTORY in Samoa

The game was still in its infancy when Samoa played their first international against a visiting Fijian team in August 1924. This was a two game series and after Fiji won the first match, Samoa won the second.
The game didn't take off as quickly in Samoa as it did in the neighbouring islands of Fiji and Tonga. After the Second World War things moved more quickly for the game, and in 1955, the Samoans toured both Fiji and Tonga.But until 1981 when they since have usually played both neighbours every year, Samoa did not play too many games. After their win against Fiji in September 1924, they had to wait 58 years before they had their second victory. In that 58 years there were only 14 matches played between Samoa and Fiji.They made made an eight match tour of New Zealand in 1974 but won only one game. The Tri-series between the three islands began in 1982 and Samoa won the first tournament. Wales visited Samoa in 1986 and won the international 32-16 in Apia. Great All Black flanker Michael Jones, who later became coach of Manu Samoa, played in this match against Wales.Samoa missed out on a place in the 1987 inaugural World Cup, but after making a 14 match tour of Europe in 1988, qualified for the 1991 World Cup in an elimination series in Tokyo. In the two full internationals on the 1988 tour, Wales beat them 24-6 and Ireland won 49-22.They made a huge impact at their first World Cup, causing a major upset when they defeated Wales, and qualifying for the quarter finals. Wales have had problems with the size and skill of the Samoans since that win, and were also beaten by them at the 1999 World Cup.There has always been a close relationship between the Samoan and New Zealand Rugby Unions, although recently many people have began to be angry at the fact that some Samoan players choose to play for the All Blacks instead of their own country.
This is possible because for a hundred years or so, Samoans have emigrated to New Zealand to work, study and live. They often began their serious rugby in New Zealand, and are usually attracted to play with the world famous All Blacks.Jones is one such player, while Bryan Williams, who coached Samoa in the 1999 World Cup, is another prominent former All Black with a Samoan background. Samoa have been known as Manu Samoa for several years now. The name comes from a famous chief of some 10 generations ago.Wales harpooned
Samoa's first ever World Cup match made a huge worldwide impact on rugby. The match was played on 6 October 1991 at Cardiff Arms Park, and Wales were firm favourites to win.But the locals hadn't counted on the superb defence of the Samoans, and were beaten by a better team. Welsh fullback Tony Clement will certainly remember the tackle made on him by flanker Apollo Perelini.It was the start of the rot for Wales, as they failed to go past their pool matches, but when the Samoans added a 35-22 win over Argentina, they qualified for the quarter finals.Cliff Morgan the great Welsh and British Lions flyhalf, in his role as a media commentator, said tongue in cheek, after the Welsh loss, " thank goodness we were only playing Western Samoa, think what the score would have been if we had played the whole country ".