The Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) has announced temporary Coach appointments to the Samoa Sevens team while it continues a selection process for the permanent positions.
Current trainers Fataalii Milovale Moke and Fa’aofo Junior Leota have been appointed Interim Coach and Interim Assistant Coach/Team Manager respectively, to take the Sevens team to the Pacific Games in Papua New Guinea in early July.
SRU interim Chief Executive Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai said the interim appointments allowed the Union to take the time it needed to find the right candidates for the permanent positions, over the next two weeks.
“Ideally we would have appointed the Head Coach and Assistant Coach before now, but we also don’t want to be rushed into making such an important decision.
“We need to be sure we have vetted the best candidates, and we are giving our Sevens side the best opportunity to be successful on the international stage.
“In the meantime, it made sense to temporarily contract the two men who have been working with the team for the past few months.
“The Board has given its blessing for this to happen, and Board members are excited at the level of interest, and calibre of the 29 applications which have come from within Samoa, New Zealand, Fiji, and Europe.
“Our focus now is on supporting the team at the Pacific Games, and then look ahead to what we need to do to qualify for next year’s Olympics,” he said.
The Union began its search for new Sevens Coaches after the Board decided not to renew contracts for Fuimaono Dickie Tafua and Galumalemana Rudolf Moors.