NEWSROOM: 13 January - 19 January 2007

Moors names Samoa 7’s team for Wellington & San Diego
19 January 2007 - Source: Samoa Rugby Football Union Press Release

Samoa 7’s Coach Rudolf Moors has named his 12 member squad to defend the Wellington 7’s Title in New Zealand early next month. The team captains have yet to be announced, and will be expected to be named before the end of the week.

Three players will be making their International Debut at the Series – Forward, Meki Purcell and backs Esera Lauina and Solomona Silipa. All three players were part of the Samoa Barbarians who won the Punta del Este 7’s title in Uruguay earlier this month.

The team are expected to play together at this weeks second leg of the Smoke Free Youth National Rugby 10’s Series at St Joseph’s College, Alafua

The Samoa 7’s Team heading to Wellington are as follows:

Forwards:
NAME - CLUB - VILLAGE
Simaika Mikaele – Vailele - Vailele
Apelu Faaiuga - Moataa - Moataa
Alafoti Faosiliva – Afega - Afega
Alapasa Cortz - Marist St Joseph - Lotopa
Meki Purcell – Vaiala - Lotopa

Backs:
NAME - CLUB - VILLAGE
Uale Mai - Marist St Joseph - Vailoa, Palauli
Lolo Lui – Moataa - Moataa
MIkaele Pesamino – Vailele - Vailele
Alatasi Tupou – Vaiala - Samusu/Vaipuna
Reupena Levasa – Vailele - Vailele
Esera Lauina – SCOPA - Vaivase
Solomona Silipia – Afega - Afega

Non Travelling Reserves:
NAME - CLUB - VILLAGE
Pulemalie Sopo - Marist St Joseph - Sinamoga
Ponifasio Vasa - Marist St Joseph - Sili, Savaii
Fetu Sasalu – SCOPA - Patamea, Savaii
Mike Gabriel – Lepea - Lepea

Team Management:
Stephen Betham, Manager
Galumalemana Rudolf Moors, Coach
Kelly Horne, Physiotherapist

For Further information please contact Wayne Schuster: Mob (+685) 751-6091.
 

Signing ceremony for grant to tackle climate change in Samoa
18 January 2007 - Source: Australian High Commission Press Release

Australia is providing A$400,000 over the next two years to support community environmental activities in Samoa to address the impacts of climate change.

The A$400,000 funding grant will be channelled through the United Nations Development Program’s (UNDP) Global Environment Facility Small Grants Program.

A signing ceremony with the Head of the UNDP in Samoa, Naheed Atiq Haque and the Australian High Commissioner to Samoa, Matt Anderson was held this morning.
 

Vaivase Uta, Tanumapua, Vaimauga works contracts approved
17 January 2007 - Source: Government Press Secretariat

Cabinet has approved the awarding of contracts for overlay works and construction of public drains for : Vaivase Uta Road to Alafua Transport Ltd; Vaimauga Road to Ott Transport Ltd; and Tanumapua Road to Ulia Construction Ltd.

Calls for tender were advertised. Following the Tenders Board’s thorough investigations and review the contracts have been awarded to these three companies which have met the necessary conditions of the Tender.
 

Manu Samoa Coach announced – Tuala Lepale Niko Palamo
16 January 2007 - Source: Samoa Rugby Football Union Press Release

On behalf of the SRU Board, I am pleased to announce the appointment of the first full time Head Coach of the Manu Samoa rugby team today. We believe that the appointment that we have concluded today is the best and most relevant to the goals that we have set for the development of the Manu Samoa.

The Union has undertaken the process to identify a new Head Coach for the Manu Samoa after the resignation of Laauli Michael Jones at the 2007 Rugby World Cup.

The Union has endeavoured to ensure the process to appoint a new coach has been transparent, objective and thorough and performed in an open competitive nature.

During this process it was identified that the depth of the applicants was stronger than at any time I the past and is a response to the fact that coaches have been actively seeking to improve their coaching skills and qualifications.

The Union has taken into account the lessons learnt from the 2007 RWC.

The full time appointment is based in Samoa and will be subject to annual review and a 2 + 2 year contract.

In making the appointment it is recognised that the professional age has changed the mentality of players and has made dealing with them a much more challenging process. It has also extended the role of the Head Coach so that his management skills are now very important.

The position was extensively advertised. The processes adopted was best practice in recruitment of coaches by other major Rugby Unions in that they were complete, objective and transparent. The consisted of 3 stages:
• Culling of applicants to arrive at a shortlist for interviews
• Interview process (with a technical panel strengthen by independent rugby administrators).
• Final consideration of personal qualities important to the position.

The final decision was not easy because of the closeness of the candidates. Only one could be appointed but we hope that the pool of competent candidates will be utilized in the development of Samoa Rugby.

The successful candidate is Tuala Lepale Niko Palamo and the qualities
that enabled him to be the first choice included:
• He had demonstrated the record of leadership and management in and outside rugby. This is a correlation of his role as CEO and Secretary General at SASNOC including his strong involvement in the South Pacific Games.
• Coached the u19s team that won the U19s RWC B Pool and was promoted to the A pool. Niko time the team performance to top results.
• He achieved success as Head Coach of the Samoa National 7s team.
• His coaching of the U19’s elite team gives him a very good position in the identification of up and coming talent to the Manu Samoa.

The Union has been able to make this appointment on the progress made by the most recent management team, and in this regard we would like to take this opportunity to thank Laauli Michael Jones and his management team for the hard work and commitment that they have demonstrated over the past 4 years.

On behalf of the Samoa Rugby Union, I congratulate and wish Tuala Lepale Niko Palamo the best wishes as Manu Samoa Head Coach. The Union will now work very closed with Tuala Lepale Niko Palamo to finalise the rest of the Manu Samoa management team.

Hon. Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi
SRU Chairman
 

The Rock to appear in Wrestlemania Weekend
15 January 2007 - Source: World Wrestling Entertainment

Samoa’s most popular son, Seiuli Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson has been approached by World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE) about getting the former great one to make an appearance during Wrestlemania Weekend.

There has not been any talk of Seiuli wrestling in the sport’s biggest event of the year.

Instead, the role that WWE has in mind for The Rock would see him make an appearance at the company’s annual hall of fame induction ceremony.

He would most likely be present to induct his father Rocky Johnson and his grandfather “High Chief” Peter Maivia into the hall.

No agreement between the two sides has been reached yet, but we do know Seiuli was being considered for an induction last year, only for the plan to fall through when the Rock’s filming schedule prevented him from attending the ceremony.
 

Rumble in Apia for the WBO Oriental Cruiserweight Title
14 January 2007 - Source: eventpolynesia.com

Mr. Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o Edwin Puni, Managing Director of Event Polynesia this week confirmed receipt of Certification Letter from World Boxing Organisation Asia Pacific Chairman Mr. Leon Panoncillo.

In his letter Mr. Panoncillo wrote “Herewith, is the letter to confirm that World Boxing Organization Asia Pacific have certify that the boxing match on Saturday, February 02, 2008, at Apia, Samoa between Lawrence Tauasa vs. Charles Baou for the WBO Oriental vacant Cruiserweight title has been officially sanctioned and recognized by the WBO.”

According to Mr. Puni, “This is history in the making and the start of great things for Samoa boxing going forward. WBO is one of the four major organizations including WBA, WBC and IBF which sanction world championship boxing bouts.”

Mr. Puni also confirmed that Mr. Lon Panoncillo will be in Samoa for the upcoming fight night.

“Samoa’s success in the recent South Pacific Games and the Oceania Tournament 2007 is a welcome sign and comes as no surprise with Samoa being strong in amateur boxing over many years. Unfortunately, Samoa is not able to capitalize on this local talent in the transition to international professional boxing,” Mr Puni said.

The inaugural Samoa International Pro-Am Boxing is an initiative of Event Polynesia Boxing in association with SPBI and SABA to provide our Samoan boxers both amateur and professional a pathway forward by setting up the needed top international competitions right here in Samoa.

Mr. Puni however goes on to say,” Unfortunately we are finding it very hard to raise the funds required to bring such international bouts to Samoa.”

Teleiai Su’atapulolo’o credits the determination and commitment of both the Samoa Amateur Boxing Association (SABA) and the South Pacific Boxing Incorporated (SPBI) in keeping boxing alive in Samoa despite of the lack of financial resources, especially with professional boxing.

The main under card is also a title fight of twelve rounds by three minutes between the rugged Walter Pupu’a of Tonga up against Lupematasila Bob Gasio of Samoa for the South Seas Cruiserweight title fight. Other bouts include the ‘Prime Minister Challenge Cup’ between a top New Zealand Amateur Invitation Team verses a top Samoa Amateur Invitational Team.

For more information contact Mr. Tuilagi Maiava Saipele Esera on (+685) 751-9458 or email: saipele@eventpolynesia.com.
 

Condolence Book opened for Sir Edmund Hillary
13 January 2007 - Source: New Zealand High Commission

The New Zealand High Commissioner to Samoa, HE Caroline Bilkey, announced this Friday that a condolence book has been opened for signature at the New Zealand High Commission, Beach Road, in honor of Sir Edmunds Hillary who died in hospital in Auckland on Friday morning.

The High Commissioner said that the death of Sir Edmund is a profound loss to New Zealand. Sir Ed was an inspiration to us all a true hero and humanitarian as well as a great adventurer." Ms Bilkey added that Sir Edmund epitomised the best of New Zealand and would be announced by all New Zealanders.

The Condolence book will be opened until Friday 18 January and will be given to Sir Edmund's family. The New Zealand High Commission is open from 8am-4pm every week day.
 

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