A star of the Manu Samoa Sevens says he is excited at the opportunity he has been given to participate in the 2020 World Tens Series next month on the island of Bermuda in the north Atlantic. 

Tomasi Alosio – who is from the villages of Levi, Saleimoa and Falefa – told the Samoa Observer in a telephone interview that he is grateful for the opportunity.

"I am really excited about this and looking forward to what this series will bring," he said.

“I am grateful for the opportunity to be in this series and it's a pleasure to be playing against other famous players. It's a challenge but with God anything is possible.”

Alosio says that the pandemic has had an impact on his rugby career as it has affected a number of rugby competitions, but he is looking forward to the World Tens Series.

According to the organisers of the international rugby tournament, the World Tens Series is a new international rugby tens tournament, which will kick off in Bermuda from October 24 to November 7. 

The eight participating teams are privately owned and have been drawn into two groups of four with a quarter final, semi-final and final taking place on November 7 at the Bermuda National Stadium.

It is understood the tournament will be expanded next year to 16 teams playing in 12 different locations around the world throughout the whole season.

The World Tens Series Chief Operating Officer, Paul Holmes, believes the tournament is an opportunity for players to enhance their rugby skills and bring in new audiences for the code.

“There is an opportunity with the Tens Series to grow our game and bring new audiences to rugby. The rules have been designed with the audience at the forefront of our thinking, so matches can be exciting and competitive in equal measure,” he said in a statement.

“The Tens format can become for rugby what T20 has done for cricket where Test Match players can star in a shortened version of the game. Becoming the IPL of rugby is the ultimate goal and we look forward to 24 October and starting the World Tens Series journey.”

The World Tens Series management has been working closely with the Bermuda government to follow the stringent protocols put in place to ensure safe access onto the island and when departing. 

All players and staff will conduct COVID-19 tests and need to produce a negative result, in advance of their travel. Regular temperature checks and COVID-19 testing will take place whilst in Bermuda. 

The teams will be staying in their own Resort where they will be in their own bubble throughout their time on the Atlantic island. 

Players who have signed up for the Bermuda World Tens series are: Tom Mitchell, Alex Davis, Tom Bowen, Cecil Afrika, Craig Hunt, Collins Injera, Willy Ambaka, Oscar Ouma, Andrew Amonde, Jacques Du Toit, JT Jackson, Christian Ambadiang, Tienje Burger, Harry McNulty, JP Du Plessis, Bryce Campbell, Dylan Fawsitt, Chris Baumann, JP Eloff, Shalom Suniula, Reikert Hattingh, Ben Cima, Peter Tiberio, Will Magie, Kyle Baillie, Eric Howard, Osea Kolinisau, Nafi Tuitavake, Chris Eves, Api Naikatini, Kurt Morath, and Tomasi Alosio.