The Manusina team – the Samoa women’s side – for the Oceania regional qualifier for Rugby World Cup Sevens 2009 will break new ground with two thirds of the squad named made up of locally based players for the first time.
Ten of the 16 players who will attempt to secure one of the two qualifying places for Oceania at the first ever women’s competition in Dubai next year on home soil in Apia from 25-26 July are locally based.
Manusina have been training over the last month and have recently had some input from Ramsey Tomokino, who along with New Zealand Sevens legend Eric Rush has guided Auckland to four straight national Sevens titles.
“I really want to see the local girls succeed,” admitted Tomokino. “Samoa has some very fast girls and this team is special as Samoan Women’s Rugby is heading in to a new era. I’m pleased that I was given an opportunity to pass on some knowledge to these girls and wish them all the best.”
Samoa will face New Zealand in the opening match of the qualifier, which features both men’s and women’s teams from the Oceania region, then Niue and Australia before concluding the round robin stage against Fijiana.
Seven of the 16 places in the women's competition at RWC Sevens 2009 have already been filled with England, the Netherlands, Russia, Spain France and Italy qualifying from Europe and Brazil from South America. The remaining qualifiers will come from Oceania (two), Africa (two), North America (two) and Asia (three).
Meanwhile the Fijiana side, who named their squad earlier this month, meanwhile will be captained by Salote Tikoisuva, one of the most experienced members of the squad having played in the Hong Kong Sevens back in 2003 and led them to the Pacific Sevens title in 2007.
Manusina squad: Leute Mataipule Tuugamusu, Maria Akenese Taimalelagi, Anna Schuster, Amanda Cahill, Tumaia Manaia Iopu, Gabrielle Apelu, Seifono Misili, Tasmania Samuelu, Filoi Eneliko, Rowena Faaiuaso, Ester Noeleen Fualava, Bella Irene Milo, Merina Malatai, Simeatu Lemana, Mele Leulua’iali’i, Iva Faaaloalo Talaga.
For more information, visit www.oceaniarugby.com.
