The future of Manu Samoa Coach, Namulauulu Alama Ieremia, is to be determined by the outcome of a performance review by the Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U).

The decision was made by the Board of the Union during a meeting last week.

The Chief Executive Officer of S.R.U, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea'i, confirmed the review, saying everything – including the winless record in 2017 – will be considered.

 “At this time, Namulauulu Alama Ieremia remains as Head of Coach of Manu Samoa,” he said.

 “He is now the subject of a review looking into the campaign of the last four games. This was the decision by the S.R.U. during our meeting last Thursday evening.”

Faleomavaega declined to speculate on what the outcome might be.

 “We are going through the process and we cannot speculate about what the results of the review will be until after such a time,” he said. 

“After that review, then the report will go back to the Board and that’s basically what has happened.”

The review should be completed next month.

Last week, Faleomavaega told the Samoa Observer that Namulauulu relied on the experienced players to help Samoa qualify for the Rugby World Cup in 2019.

Unfortunately that did not happen. 

 “I think the issue was the selection of the players and that’s what the coach needs to look at,” Faleomavaega said.  

“When he first came, his mission was to qualify Samoa for the World Cup using the experienced players and for the Manu Samoa team to prepare to bring in new players.  

“He’s relied mostly on the senior players to qualify us for the World Cup. Unfortunately that hasn’t happened and that’s what we need to look at.” 

The C.E.O admitted that the results have been poor and the loss against Fiji last week was devastating not just for the team but also the nation.  

But the C.E.O stopped short of blaming anyone in particular. He said even he is looking at the administration side if they could have done anything that might have changed the outcome.  

 “We need to ask whether we’ve got the right players. And have we  supported them in everything they wanted? The financial packages, everything to do with the team.” 

 Faleomavaega is adamant that the team was well looked after. 

 “They got everything that you would expect from an international team.  

“Whatever they asked for from the Union we supplied. Even with the travel arrangements, and the hosting of the players and paying their weekly allowances.” 

Asked about his part, he said: “My role is the administrative side of things and I don’t have anything to do with operational side of things. 

“My role is to look for the money and give the team the support in what they do. 

“However at the end of the day, it’s the coach that makes that decision. 

“Ultimately it’s the coach that makes all the decisions.”