(Fasavalu Europa Rose) Tuesday 12 February 2008

DONE DEAL……SRL President Peter Paul shook hands with Teleiai Edwin Puni of Event Polynesia
(NZ), Event Polynesia President Tuilagi Saipele Esera and SRL Secretary Fritz Tuiavi’i.

The SRL (Samoa Rugby League) and Event Polynesia have joined forces to fundraise for the Toa Samoa’s World Cup campaign in October.

The fundraising will include some of the top Corporate and business owner’s step in the ring against each other.

President of the SRL Peter Paul said during a press-conference yesterday at the Millennia Hotel in Sogi, the focus of the fundraiser is to raise money to accommodate for the Toa Samoa.

“It’s our biggest challenge but that’s what we hope to achieve through the fundraising money to bring the Toa Samoa squad here to run few training sessions, and give them a big farewell before heading to the World Cup in Australia,” Paul explained.

“These are professional league players and they deserved to be well looked after,” he said.

“If we get the team here by that time we would have already selected our five local players to play in the World Cup and from here the full Toa Samoa team will depart knowing that our nation is in full support of them.”

“This is why we honored to work together with the Event Polynesia, to promote and market the Toa Samoa in Samoa,” Paul concluded.

In April the Event Polynesia will kick-start their corporate boxing fundraiser.

Event Polynesia President Tuilagi Saipele Esera said the aim of the Toa Samoa promotion is not only for the World Cup but to also continue the road after.

“The road to the World Cup is important, but the most important road is the road going down after the World Cup, and this will include a five year plan for rugby league after the World Cup,” said Tuilagi.

“At the moment we have a $200,000 budget to work with, but the value can increase after the World Cup based on the performance of our team,” he said.

However, for the corporate boxing no names has yet to be confirmed but Teleiai Edwin Puni of Event Polynesia (NZ) had some suggestion.

“I am sure Samoa would love to see a bout between Digicel and Samoatel, or maybe a representative from the controversial right-hand-drive and left-hand-drive cars, it will be good for fundraising.”

In addition, the SRL will restart their national tournaments in May prior to the World Cup, to select the few that will represent the Toa Samoa in the 2008 World Cup with Australia the host.

(Fasavalu Europa Rose) Friday 15 February 2008

SRL President Peter Paul is looking to get overseas contracts for some of the local rugby league players.

This is one of Paul’s goals he hopes to achieve for Samoa league in the World Cup in late October.
“This is one of our aims to see some of these boys qualify for a club contract overseas. Right now we are trying to open new doors for our local players by getting overseas clubs to notice them,” he said.

“This sport was made for Samoans.

We have the natural built and athleticism. What’s missing is the knowledge and skills which can be gained overseas.”

One proof says Paul that Samoa can get international contracts is the statistics of Samoan players, playing professional contracts.

“There are a lot of Samoans playing in the NRL, ARL and now in Great Britain. It goes to show that Samoa is recognised in the sport, which is what we are also aiming to do for our locals,” he said.

However, the lack of promotion and understanding of the game in Samoa is what’s slowing the process down.

“Samoa is a rugby nation we understand that. Ever since the Manu Samoa defeated a rugby superpower Wales in the 1991 World Cup Samoa was automatically hooked with the sport. This is what we also want to do for Samoa rugby league. If the Toa Samoa put up a challenging performance in the World Cup to make it into the quarters or the semis maybe we will get the same recognition,” Paul said.

“But if our local players do catch the eyes of overseas scouts during the World Cup it will be a benefit for Samoa league.”

SRL recently joined forces with Event Polynesia with a hope of fundraising for the accommodation of the Toa Samoa in Samoa before lacing up in the World Cup in October.

Part of the Event Polynesia and SRL fundraiser will see corporate and business managers exchange punches in the first Samoa Corporate Boxing fundraiser.