𝐋𝐀𝐊𝐀𝐏𝐈 𝐒𝐀𝐌𝐎𝐀 𝐀𝐏𝐏𝐎𝐈𝐍𝐓𝐒 𝐅𝐔𝐈𝐌𝐀𝐎𝐍𝐎 𝐍𝐄𝐖 𝐌𝐀𝐍𝐔𝐒𝐈𝐍𝐀 𝐇𝐄𝐀𝐃 𝐂𝐎𝐀𝐂𝐇

Lakapi Samoa is proud to announce the appointment of Fuimaono Bella Milo as Head Coach of the Manusina national team.

A New Zealand–born Samoan with heritage from the villages of Solosolo and Salani, Fuimaono brings a wealth of international playing and coaching experience to the role. She is currently based in Hong Kong, where she serves as Women’s Club Coaching Officer for Valley RFC.

Fuimaono enjoyed an outstanding 18-year international career representing Manusina in both sevens and fifteens. She made her debut at just 19 years old and went on to represent Samoa at the Rugby World Cups in 2006 and 2014.

Her transition into coaching began while still playing, taking on roles at Premiership level in Hong Kong alongside national-level appointments. She was a member of the Hong Kong Women’s National Team staff during their historic first Women’s Rugby World Cup appearance in 2017, where she served as Strength and Conditioning Coach and Backs Coach.

Following her retirement from international rugby, Fuimaono continued to build her coaching portfolio, joining the World Rugby Internship Programme with Manusina in 2024. She was later part of the Manusina coaching team at the 2025 Women’s Rugby World Cup, serving as Defence Coach a role she carried out while six months pregnant, reflecting her commitment and resilience.

Fuimaono’s appointment marks an exciting new chapter for Manusina, as Lakapi Samoa continues to strengthen its pathways and performance structures within the women’s game.

She is deeply committed to giving back to the sport that shaped her, with a strong focus on developing opportunities and sustainable pathways for women’s rugby.

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐋𝐚𝐤𝐚𝐩𝐢 𝐒𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐚 𝐂𝐄𝐎, 𝐒𝐞𝐮𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐮 𝐃𝐨𝐮𝐠𝐥𝐚𝐬 𝐍𝐠𝐚𝐮 𝐂𝐡𝐮𝐧:

“Fuimaono brings a strong blend of international playing experience and proven coaching capability. Her deep understanding of the Manusina environment, combined with her commitment to advancing women’s rugby, will be critical as we prepare for our upcoming campaigns.

This also marks a significant moment for Lakapi Samoa, as we appoint one of Samoa’s daughters to lead our Manusina programme. It is a proud step forward for the game, and we are confident her leadership will drive the team to greater heights.”

𝐂𝐨𝐦𝐦𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐟𝐫𝐨𝐦 𝐌𝐚𝐧𝐮𝐬𝐢𝐧𝐚 𝐇𝐞𝐚𝐝 𝐂𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡 𝐅𝐮𝐢𝐦𝐚𝐨𝐧𝐨 𝐁𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚 𝐌𝐢𝐥𝐨:

“It is a privilege to give back to Manusina in this capacity. This team has played a significant role in my life, and I am committed to helping grow the game and creating opportunities for our players to succeed on and off the field.”

Lakapi Samoa looks forward to the leadership and direction Fuimaono will bring as the Manusina programme continues its journey on the international stage.