Former Manu Samoa coach, Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua, has firmly ruled out putting himself forward to take up vacancies at the helm of either national team. 

“I am not interested at all,” he said in an interview with a Samoa Observer.

Fuimaono has had a court case with the Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U.) in relation to his coaching career.

The case was dismissed by the Supreme Court.

Late in 2018, Fuimaono sued the S.R.U. for $140,000 for terminating his contract as the head coach of the Manu Samoa. He had claimed that the S.R.U. breached an employment contract inked in May 2018 and which was supposed to end in November 2019. 

However, the case was dismissed by the Supreme Court in 2019.

During the time of his court case against the union, Fuimaono said that he was hurt, ashamed when his service was terminated and it had a huge impact on his reputation.

Fuimaono was offered the coaching position in September 2017 and he accepted. 

Supporters credited him with putting Samoa’s name back on the world Rugby map with the sevens’ teams performance under his tenure. 

Then in February 2009, Fuimaono’s appointment as the Manu Samoa head coach was announced. He replaced Niko Palamo.

Part of Fuimaono’s civil claim was that the Union didn’t inform him about any concerns about his performance as the head coach which has led to his dismissal.

Fuimaono has asked the S.R.U. for a public apology for his termination because he says he is embarrassed for him, his family, village, rugby club and his reputation as a rugby administrator.

But Fuimaono’s name has been regularly raised in discussions about the team’s future coach, as someone who can control and discipline the players.