This year the oldest rugby club in Samoa celebrates its 100th year anniversary.
Vaiala Ulalei Rugby Club announced last Friday evening that it is set to start with a thanksgiving church service at the Congregational Christian Church Samoa at Vaiala on Sunday 25 August 2024 led by Reverend Iese Uele.
Village elder Afioga Tofaeono Fa’atali Le’avasa was on hand for the small launching at the new club rugby field and the recently opened Taula Stadium across from Taumeasina Island Resort.
Club President Valavalatumanu Siaopo Pese relayed to the small gathering the plans approved by the celebration committee and village council.
As Lakapi Samoa is also celebrating 100 years anniversary it is proposed that the original clubs will be marching during a special Lakapi Samoa parade on Tuesday 27 August.
Vaiala Ulalei, being the first ever rugby club in the country, will be there along with Apia Rugby Club and other club teams like Moata’a Rugby Club.
Pese said a Taumafa Samoa Corporate Dinner event will be hosted on Friday 30 August and he said only genuine and original cuisine will be served.
“The size 2 and moa Samoa population will be under threat during our Taumafa Samoa Dinner,” said Valavalatumanu hinting at an abundance of traditional food for the dinner.
Tickets will be available later this week.
The main attraction for the celebrations is of course rugby!
An International Sevens Tournament will be held over two days on the 6th and 7th September and teams’ entries are now being accepted at $1,000 tālā per team.
Teams are expected from American Samoa, Australia, New Zealand, Fiji and Hawaii.
Please contact Luamanuvao Titimaea Tafua on 757 9803 or Fainu’ulelei Ronnie Posini 756 3511 or 768 1903 for tournament details.
Vaiala Ulalei have associate bodies in Australia, New Zealand and Hawaii and they are all looking forward to joining their Samoa based players and leaders for the festivities.
Vaiala Ulalei Rugby was started by the MacDonald brothers Tuiasau Tuala Alec and Angus, grandsons of Vaiala Village LMS Pastor Rev Luteru Tuiasau who served between October 1906 until June 1913, along with many Vaiala, Moata’a and Apia village players, all of whom have passed on.
“We remember and honour these pioneers in rugby as we celebrate this milestone in our village sporting prowess,” said Tofaeono.
A committee has also been formed to put together a souvenir record of the club’s dominant years in Samoan rugby.