Alama Ieremia says Fiji, Samoa rugby unions need to get their acts together.

Attending the Super Rugby Week seminar in  Nadi, the Samoa Rugby head coach/former All Black made the comment after Tonga, Fiji, and Samoa failed to automatically qualify for the 2019 Rugby World Cup after RWC last year.

“All of the three nations have yet to qualify and that in itself is a real challenge,” Ieremia said.

“All three unions need to get their acts together and I believe we can all qualify because we are strong rugby people.”

Ieremia replaced Stephen Betham after Manu Samoa’s dismal performance at the 2015 RWC.

“We’ve to look at how we are going to revitalise Manu Samoa team and how to actually get the winning ways back. We need to get, gain more respect so people support rugby. It’s not the place to start for any coach so there is a lot of work to be done.

“I aim to get new players, new strategies to improve our teams. It is important to be part of the planning process. ”

Samoa dropped to 15th in the ranking at the 2015 RWC.

“It’s not where we want to be but obviously we have to set the benchmark to qualify for the next RWC through the Pacific Nations Cup.”

Born and raised in Apia, Samoa, he moved to NZ at 18 to study and play rugby.

Ieremia played provincial rugby with Wellington between 1992 and 2000, winning a National Provincial Championship title in his final season. He played Super Rugby for the Hurricanes since its inaugural season, 1996, where he scored the first ever Super Rugby try. This was  against Auckland Blues in Palmerston North on a Friday night, as the Super Rugby began.

His best season was in 1997, when the Hurricanes made it to the semifinals. However the Hurricanes went down to the ACT Brumbies 33–20 in Canberra. He played for the All Blacks from 1994 to 2000.

He began coaching in Japan after playing there. Back in New Zealand  he was assistant coach of both the Wellington Lions in provincial rugby and Hurricanes in Super Rugby.

Edited by Osea Bola

Feedback:  waisean@fijisun.com.fj