women
international women
Doc Samoa conceded losses in the first and second rounds WXV Global Series Challenger, they have also shown promising signs of growth under new head coach, Bella Milo.
With one lap to go, Manusina still has a chance to finish fifth, he just needs to win Hong Kong China and for Brazil to lose their competition against Spain.
Still, there are still a few days left and for players like Olalini Tafoulua, it is vital to highlight the positives of Samoa’s campaign at the WXV Global Series Challenger, especially as it marks the start of a new era for Manusina.
“The bond within the team has improved and our culture, in terms of getting to know each other, has become stronger. It was important for us to introduce the Samoan rugby culture to players who didn’t have the opportunity to grow in it, but who are now here helping the team.”
Prop Avau Filimau, who started against Spain in the game of the last round, he has the same opinion as the lock.
“Seeing the growth in our team and the amount of support we have for each other is great. We have new players, new management. It’s a new side of things for all of us, but we’ve been able to support each other on and off the field.”
Next up is the home team, Hong Kong China, who will be aiming for victory in their quest for the podium, making the clash one of the highlights of a highly entertaining weekend.
“It’s 100% important to be here and to be able to have this platform.” said Tafoulua, “I’m looking forward to facing our Hong Kong sisters China the team that hosted us these last two weeks.”
According to both players, WXV Global Series Challenger has provided a reliable environment for teams like Samoa to develop and sharpen their skills ahead of the next Women’s Rugby World Cup, as Filimaua explains.
“I believe it is very important to play in a tournament like this, especially when we have World Cup qualifiers next year. It gives us the opportunity to build and grow before that very crucial moment. When that time comes, the new and old faces will get used to each other and be ready to take on the challenge.”
Speaking again, Tafoulua underlined how vital competitions like the WXV Global Series Challenger are to the continued growth and long-term future of the sport in Samoa.
“It gives us a huge opportunity to grow in this sport, and the only way to get better is to play games all year against teams like Fiji, Spain, etc. It helps us develop as players.”
With the 2026 edition of the WXV Global Series Challenger coming to a close on Saturday, Filimaua reflected on how much she enjoyed the experience, sharing some of her favorite memories from the tournament.
“I’ve had a lot since I got here, but if I had to choose one, it would have to be experiencing the culture and the city. It’s really cool that we get to experience countries like Hong Kong China, which makes it a trip to remember. It’s a country that has a lot to offer.”
For Tafoulu, the most special moment of the tournament was discovering the Samoan community in Hong Kong, China, whose members turned out to be out in force to support the team during their matches against The Netherlands and Spain.
“As someone from Auckland, New Zealand, I’m surrounded by Polynesians, so I see them every hour, every day. However, I didn’t expect to meet or see someone from Samoa, but I was surprised. It was a very cool moment!”
With both prop and lock ready to return to their training schedules, the pair remained optimistic about the future of Samoan rugby.
Filimaua pointed out that 2026 is a crucial year for the program, believing it will play a key role in the team’s ongoing development and ambitions on the international stage.
“The growth of the WXV gives several opportunities to different nations and teams. Rugby is a growing sport, especially for the women’s game. We experience different environments and cultures and gain more exposure.”
What is important for Tafoulua is what happens on Saturday, preparing the ground for the match against the home team.
“I really want us to bring our physicality into this last game! We ran away from it in our last game, but I hope we can do well in this one.”