The Lakapi Samoa Board deliberated on the Review of the Team’s Rugby World Cup performance and has decided to re-advertise the positions of the National Head Coach Mapusua and his Management Team.

Mapusua, was recruited from Otago, New Zealand and is contracted till the end of 2024. He was tasked with qualifying and leading our Manu Samoa since 2020 to the recent RWC 2023 in France, and to qualify the team for RWC 2027.

Chief Executive of Lakapi Samoa, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai, remarked on Board’s decision on the vision and the future of Manu Samoa. “The Lakapi Samoa Board has had to make a difficult decision in view of the team’s results and campaign at RWC but also equally important was the consideration of the future and the challenges facing the XV’s Game in Samoa for locally based players moving forward.”

The Board’s decision will not negate or stop what has been planned for the Manu Samoa 2024 program and the current Head Coach and his Management are all encouraged to re-apply. Faleomavaega added; “We can only pick ourselves up and look to continue with areas that worked well and which areas and lessons we can use to produce results for the success of Manu Samoa moving forward.”

The Manu Samoa Head Coach position is to be re-advertised immediately.