13 Jun 2014

Sport: Tafua appointed interim Samoa 7s coach

4:14 pm on 13 June 2014

The Samoa Rugby Union has appointed Fuimaono Titimaea Tafua as the Interim Head Coach for the national sevens team to compete at next month's Commonwealth Games in Glasgow.

He replaces Viliamu Punivalu, who resigned at the end of last month after one season in charge.

The Samoa Rugby Union CEO Fred Amoa says Fuimaono's record as a former Manu Samoa fifteens and sevens coach was a big factor in his appointment and it says it helps that he is familiar with the current sevens set-up.

"Well he's been helping out as one of the selectors during the IRB series so he has been involved and he's been one of the review panel as well, of the performances of the team. Although he hasn't been coaching he has been actively involved in the review and selection process. He's quite familiar with the players as well [and] he has viewed and analysed their performances".

Fred Amoa says the search for a permanent coach will begin after the Commonwealth Games and Fuimaono is welcome to apply.