The Talavalu is the name of a traditional Samoan war weapon, originally carved out of ironwood. As can be seen on the right side of the American Samoa Rugby Union logo, it resembles a club but has eight diamond-shaped teeth carved on one edge. Translated, "tala" is teeth, and "valu" is eight.[1]
National development of rugby union in American Samoa has been overshadowed by the popularity of American football since the 1970s. Unlike neighbouring Samoa, American Samoa has had limited international rugby competition. Most of American Samoa's matches have been played at the South Pacific Games.[1]
American Samoa's first international 15's match was at the 1983 South Pacific Games in Apia, where they lost 55–0 to Western Samoa (as it was then called).[2] They did not make the final stages of that tournament. American Samoa fared much better at the 1991 South Pacific Games in Port Moresby, notching up wins against Solomon Islands and French Polynesia. While they lost 34–7 to Western Samoa in the final, the American Samoans won the rugby 15's silver medal.[2][3]
The South Pacific Games (now called the Pacific Games) subsequently switched to hosting rugby 7s in preference to rugby 15s, and the ASRU, while still eligible for the FORU Oceania Cup, turned more of its attention toward the seven-a-side form of the game. American Samoa competed at the Pacific Games Rugby 7s in 2011, and the Oceania Rugby 7s in 2011 and 2012.[1]
In 2015 the Talavalu made their first appearance at the Oceania Rugby Cup. They won their first match against the Solomon Islands 30–15.[4] In their second game, they lost to Papua New Guinea 36–22.[5][6] Their third game against Tahiti was also a loss, 8–20. The Talavalu's finished the tournament in third place.[7][8]
Diaspora
Due to limited opportunities at home, notable American Samoan players have been selected in other national teams instead of American Samoa. Frank Solomon was the pioneer, playing for New Zealand in the 1930s; and Jerome Kaino was a key member of New Zealand's Rugby World Cup-winning teams in 2011 and 2015.[9] American Samoans that have represented United States include Mose Timoteo, Valenise Malifa, the Suniula brothers (Andrew, Roland and Shalom) and Junior Sifa.[10][11]
^ abc. American Samoa Rugby Union. Archived from the original on 2013-08-13. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^ ab"American Samoa Rugby Union Results". rugbyinternational.net. from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^"Results for the South Pacific Games series". rugbyinternational.net. from the original on 11 November 2013. Retrieved 11 November 2013.
^. Samoa News.com. 22 August 2015. Archived from the original on 23 August 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
^Fausia, Ausage (27 August 2015). . Samoa News.com. Archived from the original on 12 September 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
^"Round 2 of Oceania Rugby Cup Review". Oceania Rugby.com. 28 August 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
^"Preview for final match of ORC 2015". Oceania Rugby.com. 29 August 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
^Fausia, Ausage (31 August 2015). . Samoa News.com. Archived from the original on 15 September 2015. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
^"Rugby: Kaino book captures essence of adjusting". Hawke's Bay Today. 1 August 2015.
^"The Impact of American Samoa". This is American Rugby. 23 May 2012.
^"Auckland-raised Suniula brothers eye All Blacks". ESPN. 30 October 2014.
^Solofa, Monique (18 August 2015). "Safe travels and best of luck to our national 15s squad headed to Papua New Guinea for the Oceania cup!". Taputimu Youth Sports CLUB. Retrieved 3 November 2015.
External links
on IRB.com
February 05, 2023
american, samoa, national, rugby, union, team, also, known, talavalu, represents, american, samoa, international, rugby, union, american, samoanickname, talavaluunionamerican, samoa, rugby, unionhead, coachtoma, akuino, leotafirst, coloursworld, rugby, ranking. The American Samoa national rugby union team also known as the Talavalu represents American Samoa in international rugby union American SamoaNickname s TalavaluUnionAmerican Samoa Rugby UnionHead coachToma Akuino LeotaFirst coloursWorld Rugby rankingCurrent109 as of July 2 2022 First internationalAmerican Samoa 0 55 Western Samoa September 1983 Biggest winAmerican Samoa 30 15 Solomon Islands 22 August 2015 Biggest defeatAmerican Samoa 0 55 Western Samoa September 1983 Medal record Pacific Games1991 Port MoresbyThe Talavalu is the name of a traditional Samoan war weapon originally carved out of ironwood As can be seen on the right side of the American Samoa Rugby Union logo it resembles a club but has eight diamond shaped teeth carved on one edge Translated tala is teeth and valu is eight 1 Contents 1 History 1 1 Diaspora 2 Record 2 1 Overall 3 Recent Squad 4 See also 5 Reference list 6 External linksHistory EditSee also Rugby union in American Samoa National development of rugby union in American Samoa has been overshadowed by the popularity of American football since the 1970s Unlike neighbouring Samoa American Samoa has had limited international rugby competition Most of American Samoa s matches have been played at the South Pacific Games 1 American Samoa s first international 15 s match was at the 1983 South Pacific Games in Apia where they lost 55 0 to Western Samoa as it was then called 2 They did not make the final stages of that tournament American Samoa fared much better at the 1991 South Pacific Games in Port Moresby notching up wins against Solomon Islands and French Polynesia While they lost 34 7 to Western Samoa in the final the American Samoans won the rugby 15 s silver medal 2 3 The South Pacific Games now called the Pacific Games subsequently switched to hosting rugby 7s in preference to rugby 15s and the ASRU while still eligible for the FORU Oceania Cup turned more of its attention toward the seven a side form of the game American Samoa competed at the Pacific Games Rugby 7s in 2011 and the Oceania Rugby 7s in 2011 and 2012 1 In 2015 the Talavalu made their first appearance at the Oceania Rugby Cup They won their first match against the Solomon Islands 30 15 4 In their second game they lost to Papua New Guinea 36 22 5 6 Their third game against Tahiti was also a loss 8 20 The Talavalu s finished the tournament in third place 7 8 Diaspora Edit Due to limited opportunities at home notable American Samoan players have been selected in other national teams instead of American Samoa Frank Solomon was the pioneer playing for New Zealand in the 1930s and Jerome Kaino was a key member of New Zealand s Rugby World Cup winning teams in 2011 and 2015 9 American Samoans that have represented United States include Mose Timoteo Valenise Malifa the Suniula brothers Andrew Roland and Shalom and Junior Sifa 10 11 Record EditOverall Edit Against Played Won Lost Drawn Won Papua New Guinea 1 0 1 0 0 00 Solomon Islands 1 1 0 0 100 00 Tahiti 1 0 1 0 0 00Total 3 1 2 0 33 33Recent Squad EditSquad for the 2015 Oceania Rugby Cup 12 Taeao Paaga Bogdaw Stewart Tuiletufuga Esau Tufugafale Tavita Collins Maresala Jason Tagiilima Vaeau Isaia Taylor Senio Petelo Jereme K Sefuiva Johnny Vou Niki Kata Lua Alesanalesili Suiaunoa Tauaniga Kepu Iopu Muliaga Shaun Tuiaana Salavea Peniata Toalepai Uatau Savelio Falanai Tiperio Finautele Patrick Sio Talosaga Tino Tapuaialupe Tava e Autagavaia Alefaio Alefaio Melea Timo Gordon Setefano Moe Sonny Seti Lameta Faaleo Tevaga Lino Milo Tofailagi IeseManagement Toma Akuino Leota Head Coach Ropati Opa Assistant Coach Taufaiula Mavaega Team Manager Tommy Elisara Assistant Manager See also EditAmerican Samoa national rugby sevens team Sports portalReference list Edit a b c Welcome to Amerika Samoa Rugby American Samoa Rugby Union Archived from the original on 2013 08 13 Retrieved 11 November 2013 a b American Samoa Rugby Union Results rugbyinternational net Archived from the original on 11 November 2013 Retrieved 11 November 2013 Results for the South Pacific Games series rugbyinternational net Archived from the original on 11 November 2013 Retrieved 11 November 2013 TALAVALU wins opening match at Oceania Cup Samoa News com 22 August 2015 Archived from the original on 23 August 2015 Retrieved 3 November 2015 Fausia Ausage 27 August 2015 Talavalu heads into round 3 after loss to PNG Samoa News com Archived from the original on 12 September 2015 Retrieved 3 November 2015 Round 2 of Oceania Rugby Cup Review Oceania Rugby com 28 August 2015 Retrieved 3 November 2015 Preview for final match of ORC 2015 Oceania Rugby com 29 August 2015 Retrieved 3 November 2015 Fausia Ausage 31 August 2015 Talavalu comes in 3rd place at the 2015 Oceania Cup Samoa News com Archived from the original on 15 September 2015 Retrieved 3 November 2015 Rugby Kaino book captures essence of adjusting Hawke s Bay Today 1 August 2015 The Impact of American Samoa This is American Rugby 23 May 2012 Auckland raised Suniula brothers eye All Blacks ESPN 30 October 2014 Solofa Monique 18 August 2015 Safe travels and best of luck to our national 15s squad headed to Papua New Guinea for the Oceania cup Taputimu Youth Sports CLUB Retrieved 3 November 2015 External links EditAmerican Samoa on IRB com Retrieved from https en wikipedia org w index php title American Samoa national rugby union team amp oldid 1096092716, wikipedia, wiki, book, books, library,
