Lakapi Samoa is pleased to announce the appointment of Matamua Upati Junior Salima as the new Head Coach of the Manu Samoa Sevens team for the upcoming Oceania 7s in December 2024.

Lakapi Samoa Chief Executive Officer Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai confirmed Matamua’s appointment, following a broad selection process. The selection panel recommended Matamua from the shortlisted of qualified local and overseas candidates.

“We congratulate Matamua on his appointment to lead our Manu Samoa Sevens in the Oceania 7s 2024. We wish him well as he embarks on taking our team back up and ensure we can qualify for the Challenger Series 2025,” stated Faleomavaega.

Matamua’s appointment follows the recent relegation of the Manu Samoa 7s from the World Sevens Series. His appointment as Head Coach of the Manu Samoa Sevens is specifically for the Oceania 7s 2024. After the tournament, his performance will be reviewed for the Lakapi Samoa Board to decide on the future direction of the National Sevens Program.

Expressing his gratitude, Matamua said, “I am truly privileged and honored to take this opportunity to lead our Manu Samoa 7s and continue to serving our country. I am committed to giving my all to help us succeed in this tournament and to qualify as a non-Core team for the World Sevens Challenger Series in 2025.”

Matamua Upati Junior Salima, a college teacher by profession and a World Rugby Accredited Level 3 Coach, has served as the Head Coach for both the Tama Samoa 7s (Under 18) and Tama Uli 7s teams. Under his leadership, Tama Uli became a dominant force in the local 7s series, winning the Vodafone Samoa National Sevens Series championship for three consecutive years, from 2017 to 2019. Matamua has led Tama Uli to victory in every major competition on the island from 2014 to 2024, most recently claiming the Vodafone Iva Savaii 7s title. His notable coaching achievements include victories in the Marist Samoa International Sevens in 2022, the 60th Vodafone Samoa Independence International 7s in 2022, the Auckland Samoa International 7s in 2022, and the Auckland Marist Samoa International Sevens in 2023. In 2022, he guided Tama Uli to a remarkable 34-match winning streak, securing six consecutive cup championships. Recently, he led the Church College of Vaiola Under-18 team to victory in the National Schools Sevens Championship in 2024.

As a former Development Officer for Lakapi Samoa, Matamua played a key role in uncovering exceptional talent, particularly from Savai’i, with many of his protégés going on to represent Samoa at the international level. He hails from Salelologa, Tapueleele, Vaiola and Falealupo, is married, and has four children.