The news that Toulouse’s Joe Tekori has retired from international rugby to remain with the French club in a bid to presumably extend his playing career rather than travel to the World Cup, is a classic example of a serious and compromising issue that the
The squad received a €54,000 donation from the Samoan public; funds raised in a 10-hour telethon.
Samoa beat Germany in a two-leg playoff to qualify for the World Cup finals.
Steve Jackson is a former New Zealand Maori representative and played for Tasman, Auckland, North Harbour and Southland, where he was captain.
He was assistant coach at Tasman and Counties-Manukau before securing his first head coaching role at North Harbour, leading them to the Championship win which saw them promoted to the Premiership.
He was an assistant coach with the Blues when he got the Samoan position last year.
Chris Vui was born in Auckland and played Under-20 international rugby for New Zealand before switching allegiance to Samoa.
The 26-year-old moved to England where he joined the Worcester Warriors and then switched to the Bristol Bears in 2019.
The backrow forward made 16 appearances for Bristol under coach Pat Lam during last season’s English Premiership campaign.