The Tufulele rugby union team has taken home the Tuamasaga Rugby Union Tournament shield after defeating Salepoua’e, 15-5.

The tournament is in its second week with Tufulele claiming the top honors when it beat Salepoue’e on Saturday.

Tufulele coach Mataafa Saeni Leautpu’e told Samoa Observer said the team is providing a platform for young players to be identified and progressed to the national team.

“The whole purpose of all this is for the young players to make it to the national teams. All glory to God for we have managed to keep the shield today, no one was injured and all the players have proudly represented our village today,” he said.

Minister of Education Sports and Culture, Loau Keneti Sio – who is also the President of the Tuamasaga Rugby Union Tournament – told Samoa Observer the objective of the tournament is to improve rugby in Tuamasaga.

“Try to get the young boys to promote and improve their talents in rugby and hopefully up to represent our country Under 20s Under 23s and our Manu Samoa and Sevens,” he said. “We’re also looking at capturing the young talents for the future and now that it has successfully ended, Tufulele still holds the shield but congrats to all teams who have started their participation.”

The tournament ends in June this year and will make way for the Super Nines and will after that to the end of the year. 

For the Tufulele team, an inspiration for them is having one of their members, Ueta Avotuna, representing their village and Samoa in the Samoa A team currently in Fiji.

Last week, Tufulele also dominated the first round victories when it won against Afega.

“Even the whole of last year, we managed to keep the shield so we’re very grateful and honoured to keep at it, and we’re looking forward to what’s ahead,” Coach Mataafa said.

Loau acknowledged the crowd of over a hundred people who participated and cheered proudly from the sides.