Kafiga Samoa play Swire Shipping Fijian Warriors tomorrow at Churchill Park, Lautoka in the first ever Global Rapid Rugby fixture.

It will breathe a sigh of relief for Samoa Rugby Union chief executive officer Richard Fale.

“It’s been a long journey, a massive learning process,”Fale told Samoa Observer.

“The difference between professional sports entertainment in the United States and what currently exists in rugby union is very different.

“It’s awesome to finally be able to get out on the field.”

Fale is a former US politician with Tongan, Fijian and Samoa heritage who grew up in Tonga and Hawaii.

“The focus for Kafiga Samoa is to be an asset to the development of Manu Samoa and Samoa A,”he said.

Fale said the team has agreed to take on a minimum of five Samoa-based players that meet certain strength and conditioning standards.

“We also have a wide net of Manu Samoa and Samoa A players that live in both New Zealand and Australia.”

Coach Semo Sititi said the match against the Swire Shipping Fijian Latui is very important.
“We know Fijians can play and also we need to know where we are as well,” he said.

“We had two training sessions in Auckland as we try to put together our team.”

Edited by Osea Boia

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