The Samoa Deaf 7s rugby team, who will be participating in the upcoming Pacific Rim Deaf Rugby Sevens Competition in Australia this month, had the opportunity to play in the Moataa Rugby Club 7s tournament on Friday.

Leone Peteru and Daniel Mataia shared their experience with the Samoa Observer, claiming it was a great learning experience for them.

"We have just finished our match, I'm very proud of how our team performed today. For the record, this is my first time competing in a rugby competition in Samoa. I have a lot of mixed emotions from today's game. I was nervous, excited, and scared, but after the game, I am so happy and feel proud of myself. This is a great opportunity for us who are deaf to participate and be part of this tournament and showcase our talents. This is an eye-opening experience for me," said Leone.

"Watching the games today, I have seen a lot of improvements with our team's performance, and so many lessons we learnt from today. Not only on the field but also off the field. I've seen how well these teams performed and played rugby. They played the game well compared to us. We have just started training ourselves to compete in tournaments, so we tried our best to learn from them," he added.

For Daniel, the highlight of his experience was meeting legends of rugby such as Savae Michael Jones and other famous former Manu Samoa players.

"This is my first time to play rugby in Samoa, a lot of people were watching us, and the use of uniforms was amazing. I was excited and grateful to learn how the game is done, and observing other teams play was a highlight for me. For me, the only reason why the game becomes difficult for player is due to their preparation. For instance, if your fitness level is not where it should be, then that's your fault. But the match today I enjoyed it. It's so good to play against our people and get a feel of the game," said Daniel.

Meanwhile, it was a fantastic start to the first-ever Moataa Rugby 7s tournament on Friday. 24 teams are vying for the title. The title for the 'Sir Michael Jones Foundation Moata'a Rugby Centenary 7s' is up for grabs at Apia Park.

With the conclusion of the first day, eight teams are one step closer to the championship title as they have made the quarter finals. The eight teams are TIR Moataa, Apia Maroons, Laulii Lions, Marist Rugby Club, BBE Vaiala, Tama Uli, Tepatasi and Laumua O Tumua.