19 Oct 2015

Sport: Samoa coach steps down following World Cup exit

1:20 pm on 19 October 2015

Stephen Betham has called time on his tenure as Manu Samoa coach, following a disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign.

The Manu failed to reach the knockout rounds after losses to South Africa, Japan and Scotland in pool play.

The Chief Executive Officer of the Samoa Rugby Union, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepuleai, says they prepared the team as best they could and expected to progress further in the tournament.

Manu Samoa coach Stephen Betham.

Manu Samoa coach Stephen Betham has called it a day. Photo: AFP

Faleomavaega says a full review of their World Cup campaign is being undertaken to determine why they didn't perform to expectations.

He says the SRU will also begin the search for a new coach.

"Stephen has called it a day, I guess, and there will be opportunities there and I think we will go through the proper process in recruitment of a new head coach and so forth. The position would be advertised internally and externally and we will secure the best person who we think will take us over the next four years to World Cup success".

Faleomavaega says Stephen Betham has contributed a lot to Samoan rugby as a sevens and fifteens head coach and they hope he will stay involved in a development or selector-type role.