Players from a local rugby club in New Zealand are excited to be in Samoa to take on local teams while also learning more about their cultural heritage. 

The players are from Kelston Boy’s High School in the Waitakere region of Auckland, New Zealand. One of the students with Samoan heritage, 13-year-old Satali Asolelei Fretton told Samoa Observer he is excited to play and represent New Zealand on the field against a Samoan team. 

“I am here to represent my country and come out to have a run with the Samoan boys to see what they could do against us and I am very excited,” said Mr. Fretton. “This is a great opportunity to express how well we have grown up in the sport and to support the local communities with their rugby. 

"I hope to connect with some of our family here in Samoa when they come out to watch our game. While I am here I am looking forward to learning more about the culture and hopefully trying and climb a coconut tree. My Samoan language is alright but I am still learning.”

Young Satali wants to inspire his peers to make use of their talent while expressing the need for them to expose their talent so they can get more opportunities as they grow up.

Satali plays second five, backs and has been playing rugby for five years for his school and rugby club. He hopes to play rugby professionally one day and looks up to Samoan All Blacks player Ardie Savea, who he described as a hard runner, always encouraging his team, and doing all he can to get his team over the try line.

Another visiting player is Elena Elia, 14, who plays centre and Darnisha Kome who is a prop. They said they are just as eager to put on their rugby boots and take on their opponents. Both girls are in the visiting U-14 Otahuhu Rugby Club team on a tour of Samoa and will play against some of the local teams.

“We came to play rugby here in Samoa against other schools, to make our parents proud and to take the cup home,” said Darnisha. 

Elena added that they looking forward to the fun on the field, but she's also counting down to meeting her grandparents in Savai'i. 

“We are looking forward to having fun but personally I can’t wait to see my grandparents from Savaii and I will get to visit them later," she said. 

They both also want to take up rugby professionally in the future with Elena wanting to play for the Black Ferns and Darnisha for the Sydney Roosters in the NRL.