Lakapi Samoa is proud to announce its partnership with Rugby Australia through the Australian Government’s PacificAus Sports initiative to enhance the Manusina 7s program.

This partnership will see the Australian Government provide Lakapi Samoa with AUD$800,000.00 (approx. WST$1,430,000) over four years to support talent identification and development, marking a significant step towards Samoa’s quest for qualification in the HSBC SVNS series.

In addition to supporting the overall development of rugby in Samoa, this partnership will be instrumental in inspiring the next generation of Samoan rugby talent. Through expanded school outreach programs and increased development opportunities, Lakapi Samoa aims to foster emerging talent at all levels of the game. This initiative will not only enhance participation rates but also promote skill development and competitive match opportunities.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐩𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐚, 𝐒𝐞𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐍𝐠𝐚𝐮 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐧

“On behalf of Lakapi Samoa, I sincerely acknowledge and express my gratitude to Rugby Australia, the Australian Government, and PacificAus Sports for their generous support and investment of AUD $800,000 towards the development of Manusina 7s. This partnership comes at a crucial time as we revamp our Sevens program, strengthening our women’s high-performance pathway and providing our athletes with the resources and opportunities needed to compete at the highest level.

Furthermore, this support is instrumental in driving our Manusina 7s bid to qualify and debut in the HSBC World Sevens Series, while also aiding our Manu Samoa 7s in their journey to return to the series. This significant investment reflects the strong and enduring relationship between the Government of Samoa and the Australian Government, highlighting our shared commitment to advancing sports development and creating opportunities for Pacific athletes on the world stage.”

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐇𝐢𝐠𝐡 𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐢𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐞𝐫 𝐭𝐨 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐚, 𝐇𝐢𝐬 𝐄𝐱𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐞𝐧𝐜𝐲 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐑𝐨𝐛𝐢𝐧𝐬𝐨𝐧

“Samoa and Australia share a love of sport that transcends borders and brings people together. This support for Lakapi Samoa’s Manusina Sevens team reflects Australia’s commitment to creating opportunities for athletes across our shared Blue Pacific to learn, grow, and compete together at the elite level. Rugby union has long been a part of our deep sporting connections, and Australia is committed to its growth in Samoa and across the region.

A warm faafetai tele lava to Lakapi Samoa and Rugby Australia for their partnership, and we offer our best wishes to the Manusina Sevens for the upcoming World Rugby Sevens Challenger Series.”

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐂𝐡𝐢𝐞𝐟 𝐄𝐱𝐞𝐜𝐮𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐎𝐟𝐟𝐢𝐜𝐞𝐫, 𝐑𝐮𝐠𝐛𝐲 𝐀𝐮𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐥𝐢𝐚, 𝐏𝐡𝐢𝐥 𝐖𝐚𝐮𝐠𝐡

“Rugby Australia is thrilled to strengthen our partnership with Lakapi Samoa as we work together to elevate rugby throughout the Pacific. We extend our heartfelt thanks to the Australian Government for its ongoing support of Pacific rugby through the PacificAus Sports program. Today’s funding announcement will significantly enhance Lakapi Samoa’s efforts to develop its women’s rugby program. Together, we are building a bright future for women’s rugby in our region”

“With the Australian-hosted Rugby World Cups in 2027 and 2029 on the horizon, we proudly consider these events as home World Cups for our Pacific rugby family. It’s crucial that we unite in support of Pacific teams, empowering them to achieve their fullest potential.”