The Junior Manu Samoa 28-man squad plus five non-travelling reserves has been named for the upcoming World Rugby U20 trophy set to be held in Nairobi, Kenya.
Head Coach Galumalemana Rudolf Moors has named a talented squad, headlined by Moana Under 20s and Manu Samoa 7’s squad members.
Malakesi Masefau and Paul Stanley debuted in the HSBC World Rugby 7s series this year.
Masefau, only 18 years of age, has yet to complete Year 13 at Aleipata College but has already accomplished so much this year.
The young winger/fullback made his Manu Samoa 7’s debut in Toulouse and scored two tries in Samoa’s bronze medal win in London over the NZ All Black 7s.
Paul Stanley, the Vaimoso winger, made his Manu Samoa 7’s debut last year in Hong Kong. The 19 year old carrried his local Vaimoso club at the Marist Pago 7s however, he sustained a niggly knee injury which unfortunately made him unavailable for selection in the last two legs of the HSBC World 7’s series.
Stanley has since recovered and set to go for the Junior Manu Samoa.
Also named in the squad from the Manu Samoa 7s extended squad is speedster William Hunt who featured in Marist St Joseph’s Club championship win in Pago.
From the Moana Pasifika U20s squad are local stars Bitner Tafili and Wally Tau.
The duo were two of four players from Samoa selected in the Moana Pasifika U20s squad earlier this year. They returned and also featured in the Manuma Samoa.
Tafili is a winger/center and plays his rugby for Vaiala Ulalei. He has a knack for scoring tries and is very handy with his goal kicking.
Wally Tau is an outside back from the Marist St Joseph’s rugby club. His size and speed makes him a dangerous winger and Samoa will look to unleash him in Kenya.
The World Rugby U20 Trophy is a second division tournament where the winning team will be promoted next year to the U20s Rugby World Cup.
