The Samoa Rugby Union (S.R.U.) is mourning the death of former Manu Samoa rugby player, Su'a Saini Lemamea. 

The Chief Executive Officer of S.R.U., Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea'i, expressed his condolences in a statement issued by the Union this week.

“We are saddened to hear of Saini’s passing,” he wrote.

He added that Saini was an integral part of the Manu Samoa team in the late 1980s and the Rugby World Cup team in 1991.

“Saini was a quiet achiever and well-liked; known by his team mates in the Manu Samoa family as ‘the Bushman’."

Faleomavaega said that Saini hailed from the Lefaga Union where he was first selected as a promising Lock Forward and played for Apia Maroons for many years. 

“He was first selected in the Manu Samoa team which toured Wales and Ireland in 1988 where he played in both test matches.

“He is fondly remembered as the first Manu Samoa player to score a try in Cardiff Arms Park which is known today as the Millennium Stadium.” 

A former Manu Samoa Head Coach, Su’a Peter Schuster was also saddened by the news of Saini’s passing. 

“Our Manu Samoa family has lost one of the nicest blokes and team man.

“He exemplified a great character on and off the field as a gentle giant and always put his body on the line for his mates and Country.”

S.R.U. also stated that their thoughts and prayers are with his five children and seven grandchildren through these hard times having lost their mother Kuini in 2017. 

Su’a was the current Pulenu’u at Malololelei where he served and lived with his young family. 

Another son of Samoa who is a former Toa Samoa rugby league player, Masada Iosefa passed away on Monday following a reported quad-bike accident, just hours before his 33rd birthday.

He was born in Moto'otua and made his NRL debut in 2008 and played 57 games for the Penrith Panthers and Wests Tigers.

He made four appearances for Toa Samoa and was on course to feature in the 2013 World Cup before breaking his arm in a warm-up match.