After two years in the COVID wilderness Samoa provincial rugby finally made a comeback yesterday with the NPC kicking off for the first time since 2016.

The Super 9 rugby championship replaced the NPC from 2017 to 2019, then COVID hit and national provincial rugby was dormant from 2020 to 2022.

But now with covid behind us, Provincial rugby is back and NPC is back. And who knows Super Lakapi (Super 9) could be back next year.

NPC’s return would not be possible without the work and commitment from the Provincial Unions in fulfilling their provincial requirements in administering the game in their individual districts; which produce teams for the NPC.

Round 1 Fixtures:

Senior A:

• Match 1: Palauli & Itumalo defeated Aleipata 35-25 and a closely fought match.
• Match 2: Taula Vaimauga defeated Alalagafa 38-20 in a match of two halves, with Alalagafa fighting back in the second half, but Taula Vaimauga cruised to victory in the end.
• Match 3: Faleata defeated Anoamaa 24-20 in a very close and tough match.

Under20s:

• Match 1: Palauli & Itumalo defeated Faleata 12-11.
• Match 2: Aleipata defeated Atua i Saute 37-15
• Match 3: Taula Vaimauga defeated Anoamaa 30-7.

Sponsors

We thank our sponsors for making the National Provincial Championship 2023 a reality

• Vodafone Samoa 
• Pacific AusSports
• Samoa National Lotto
• Federal Pacific Insurance

Broadcaster: 

We thank our Broadcaster: TV3 Samoa for broadcasting the tournament live in Samoa and live streaming on their social media outlets to our supporters abroad.

TV3 Samoa social media platforms:

• TV3 Facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/tv3samoa 
• TV3 YouTube Channel: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UC-vCpUtlhKRyUWyl0lBNPww 

We also thank our service providers for their kind support and services:

• St Joseph’s College & Marist Brothers
• Samoa Fire Emergency Services Authority (SFESA)
• Ministry of Police, Prisons & Corrections
• Samoa Shipping Corporation
• Samoa Judiciary Committee
• Samoa Referees Association
• First Aid in Rugby (FAIR)
• Volunteers
• Tara Ice & Hirage
• Sign Studios
• SSAB
• KL Security

Tournament facebook page:

For tournament live scores, videos and photos please like and follow our Tournament Facebook page below.

• Lakapi Samoa: https://www.facebook.com/OfficialLakapiSamoa 

Big faamalo and faafetai to all the participating teams, sponsors, service providers, tournament officials and stakeholders, malo galulue malo onosai.