30 Oct 2012

Sport: NZ Samoans expect stern test on 'Independence Tour'

11:20 am on 30 October 2012

The New Zealand Samoan Women's Rugby Team leave for a two-match tour of Fiji this week, and insist it will be anything but a holiday.

The team first formed two years ago and is made up of New Zealand Samoans living in New Zealand and Australia, including a handful of ex Samoan internationals.

The tour is a part of Samoa's Independence year celebrations and coach Nick Bakulich says they won't be holding back.

"It's very serious. The second match is against the Fijian national team in Suva so in terms of the importance that the Fiji Rugby Union is placing on the tour - it's pretty important for them as well - and the majority of these players wouldn't participate unless they know it's obviously a team that is going to play some pretty good football."