Rugby World Cup 2007: Samoa Squad

Samoa is one of the 20 participating nations of upcoming Ruby World Cup 2007. Though Samoa is not a big power in the rugby world, they played last four consecutive world cup tournaments since 1991. Except the first world cup in 1987, Samoa has participated in very world cup tournament. In their debut world cup in 1991, they could progress to the quarter final stage.

However, their performance graph is down fall in the last two world cup tournaments. Now, ahead of the Rugby World Cup 2007, Samoa Coach Michael Jones has recently unveiled the 30 man squad for world cup. 35 year old veteran centre cum wing, Brian Lima, is going to be a part of history. This is going to be the fourth world cup for this veteran member of Samoa rugby team. In the history of Rugby world cup, he is only player who have not missed any world cup match of his country till now. So, Brian Lima will definitely be the center of attention in Rugby world cup 2007 regardless the performance of Samoa. If Brian Lima plays all four matches of pool A for Samoa in the coming world cup then only Jason Leonard [23] will be the only person ahead of Lima in terms of highest no. of appearance in world cup.

Captain Semo Sititi is going to appear in his third world cup campaign. There are some players including prop Kasiano Lealamanua, hooker Mahroni Schwalger, scrum half Steve So’oialo and wing Lome Fa’atau who are going to play their second world cup campaign.

Samoa will play their first match against former champion South Africa on 9 September. Samoa has to show some special performance because defending champion England and former champion South Africa have the greater possibility to go into the quarter final from Pool A. USA and Tonga are the two other teams of this pool.

I am giving the names of the members of Samoa squad below:

Forwards (16): Justin Va’a, Census Johnston, Kasiano Lealamanua, Mahonri Schwalger, Donald Kerslake, Muliufi Salanoa, Silao Vaisola Sefo, Filipo Levi, Kane Thompson, Daniel Leo, Iosefa Tekori, Ulia Ulia, Henry Tuilagi, Siuleo Lafaialii, Justin Purdie, Semo Sititi (Captain).

Backs: Steve So’oialo, Junior Poluleuligaga, Loki Crichton, Lolo Lui, Eliota Sapolu Fuimaono, Jerry Meafou, Anitelea Tuilagi, David Lemi, Seilala Maposua, Elvis Seveali’i, Brian Lima, Lome Fa’atau, Alesana Tuilagi, Gavin Williams.