Samoa A  is set to play two warm up games against the Waratahs Franchise on the 10th of February and Sydney University on the 17th February.
Following  their two warm up matches , Samoa A’s first game against Brumbies Runners will be on the 24th of February at Canberra Stadium, second game against Junior Waratah’s on the first of March and the Reds on the 5th of March 2012.

The second leg in New Zealand sees Samoa A faces Chiefs on the 10th of March, Highlanders on the 15th and 19th against the Hurricanes.

The format follows from last year’s  structure where A teams from Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga taking on the super franchise selection teams in 3 separate Legs –Australian Leg in February, New Zealand Leg in March and the Pacific Island Leg in October .

Samoa A team: Hookers- Ofisa Smith and Sefo Selesele, Props: Tuliloa Pauga, Lolesio Lavea, Gody Schuster, Hiroshi Tea, Aifala Taelega, Locks: Maene Mapusaga, Sale Pii, Maselino Paulino, Loose Forwards: Afioae Maiava, Emile Fanene, Oneone Faafou Soisoi, Misioka Timoteo, Iosefa Timusa`, Suamalie Tuiletufuga, Halfbacks: Faatalatala Fagasoaia, Ionatana Tino, 1st/5 :- Patrick Fa’apale, Teofilo Lepou, Inside Backs: Meki Magele, Fale Sooialo, Centre :- James Roache, Vailoa Kereti, Wings: Soa Manuele, Tupu Ulufale, Faleniu Iosi, Utility: Tifaipaia Sila, Fullback: Tenari Saumani and Titi Jr Esau.

Non Travelling Reserves: Ausetalia Vaiomanu Hooker, Lipine Fualau Prop, Fereti Masefau Lock, Fale Solomona Loosie, and Sani Niue Utility.

Management: Head Coach, Fepuleai Selefuti Patu, Assistant Coach: - Muagututia Tuala Peseta Sila Vaifale, Team Manager : Ryan Schuster, and Trainer David Edgar

Manu Samoa Sevens Head Coach Stephen Betham has named his 12 member squad for next weekend's Hertz Sevens tournament in Wellington and Las Vegas.
Head Coach Stephen Betham says preparations went well for the last 6 weeks.
“The boys are itchy to get on the field, for the last 6 weeks of hard trainings; we had not had a real game, the boys are injury free, Levasa is back on the field and we are looking forward to next weekend’s battle”

Manu Samoa Sevens team will be leaving on Sunday night.

Manu Samoa Sevens Squad is:
Forwards: Alafoti Faosiliva, Afa Aiono, Faalemiga Selesele, Faatoina Autagavaia, Levi Asifaamatala.
Backs: Reupena Levasa, Uale Ma’i, Lolo Lui, Alatasi Tupou, Robert Lilomaiava, Tom Iosefo, Taulagi Afamasaga

Travelling Reserves: Sani Niue, Fale Sooialo, Paul Perez
Management: Head Coach Stephen Betham, Team Manager Tausa Faamaoni Lalomilo, and Physiotherapist Akbar Bhamji

CAREER OPPORTUNITY

The Australian Rugby Union, International Rugby Board, Samoa Rugby Union and the Australian Sports Commission through the AusAid program invites applications for the roles of In Country Manager and Rugby Development Officer as part of the Pacific in Union program – a Community Rugby initiative designed to improve lives through Sport.

IN COUNTRY MANAGER

2 year contract
Experience:
•    Knowledge and understanding of the Education system, rugby union culture, budgets and marketing and communication processes
•    Skills including effective communication, relationship management, and a working knowledge of Microsoft word, excel, outlook and powerpoint computer programs as a minimum
•    Managing finances and staff, and working with communities
•    A tertiary education qualification would be an advantage.

RUGBY DEVELOPMENT OFFICER

2 year contract

Experience:
•    Knowledge and understanding of the Education system and rugby union culture
•    Skills including effective communication, relationship management, and a working knowledge of Microsoft word, excel, outlook and powerpoint computer programs as a minimum
•    Training, coaching, teaching and/or developing individuals and working with communities

Apply by or before  Wednesday, 1st  February 2012

A competitive remuneration package will be offered to suitable candidates. Interested candidates are invited to send a cover letter noting the position for which they are applying, and addressing the experience and qualifications required for the position, along with their CV and a recent passport size photograph by Wednesday, 1st February 2012 at the address below.

Pacific in Union Program Manager
C/- Australian Rugby Union
PO Box 115, St. Leonards, NSW, Australia 1590
Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it
Fax: +61 2 8005 5681
 
Applications received after the due date will not be considered.

Media Release
19/01/2012

SRU Audited Accounts

The independent audit by Lesa ma Penn, of the Samoa Rugby Union (SRU) accounts for the 10 months ended 31 October 2011 is now complete. The audited accounts also include financial information for the Rugby World Cup 2011 (RWC) campaign. The Audit Report did not highlight any misappropriation or mismanagement of SRU funds.

Audited Accounts

The key audited financial results for the 10 month period are summarized below.
-    Total revenue $8,151,415.
-    Total expenditure $6,884,324
-    Net surplus $1,267,091
-    Total RWC fundraising receipts $4,998,088
-    Total RWC expenses $3,541,256
The net surplus for the 10 months represents an increase of 118% when compared to the 12 months ended 31 December 2010.
RWC fundraising receipts is represented by $4,382,089 (87.7%) raised in Samoa from the government, government entities, the private sector and individuals. The remaining $615,999 is made up of $494,892 (9.9%) from overseas fundraising activities and $121,107 (2.4%) from the International Rugby Board.
Manu Samoa RWC preparation and participation costs are summarized as follows:
-    Northern Hemisphere Tour 2010 including 1 test against Japan - $1,515,182
-    Pacific Nations Cup & Australia Test  - $308,138
-    Western Force team costs - $236,514
-    Rugby World Cup 2011 including Manu Samoa team costs for the 2 Western Force games - $2,681,483
Additional Information
The SRU again highlights that the fundraising activities were organized to raise funds to finance the Manu Samoa costs to prepare for and participate in the RWC 2011. In addition, the preparation and audit of accounts is part of the normal SRU financial process.
The SRU also notes the following recommendations from the 2007 RWC Review which were approved by the Board.
-    An extended preparation period
-    The hiring of specialist coaches and technical staff
-    Direct monitoring of overseas players fitness levels and playing performance
The objective of these recommendations was to develop the Manu Samoa RWC squad of players to the highest level possible. Accordingly, the following actions were implemented.
The extended preparation period for the RWC 2011 began in November 2010 with the test against Japan followed by the Northern Hemisphere Tour, the Pacific Nations Cup, the test against Australia and the 2 warm up games against the Western Force.  For the Pacific Nations Cup an expanded player

squad of 45 was selected. As per the audited accounts, the total costs for these preparation games is Tala$2,059,834.

The Pacific Rugby Cup (PRC) in early 2011 was used by the SRU as a Rugby World Cup development tournament for our “local based” players. This tournament involved games against the wider training squads of Super 15 professional franchises in Australia and New Zealand and games against Fiji and Tonga.

The total SRU cost associated with the PRC tournament is Tala$254,660.
Specialist coaches and technical staff hired included 2 assistant coaches from New Zealand with Super 14/15 experience, a tactical/skill coach from Australia, a scrum coach, a kicking coach, sports psychologist, nutritionist, extra video and performance analyst, extra trainer, extra physiotherapist and masseurs to assist with conditioning and recovery.  Costs for specialist and technical fees including equipment and supplies totaled Tala$465,899.

Scouting visits by the coaches and head trainer to overseas clubs in the United Kingdom and France to assess player fitness levels, injuries and performance were also done.

The Manu Samoa RWC team consisted of 30 players plus a back up squad of 8 players and management staff comprising coaches and various support staff.

The following comprised the core SRU fundraising activities:
1.    Corporate lunch
2.    Radiothon
3.    Farewell dinner
4.    Overseas fundraising – American Samoa, New Zealand, Australia and the United States of America.
Funding was also received from gate sales for the 2 Western Force Games and participation and technical grants from the IRB. The SRU received help from many volunteers and organizations to assist with its fundraising activities. This is a logistic necessity.

Audit Opinion

The independent auditors have issued a qualified opinion based on “limited control over fund raising revenue” which is the direct consequence of a fund strapped organization that relies on volunteer support for its many fundraising activities. The audit opinion reads as follows:

Qualified Opinion

Limited Control over Fund Raising Revenue
Control over the receipts of fund raising revenue prior to its being recorded is limited and no practicable audit procedures exist to determine the effect of this limited control.
We have obtained all other information and explanations we have required.
In our opinion:
-    Proper accounting records have been kept as far as appears from our examination of these records
and:
-    Except for any adjustments that might have been found necessary had we been able to obtain sufficient evidence concerning the above mentioned limitation, the financial statements of the Samoa Rugby Union (Inc)
-    Comply with generally accepted accounting practice; and
-    Give a true and fair view of the financial position of the Rugby Union at 31 October 2011 and of the results of its operations for the period ended on that date.
In presenting the report to the SRU Board the Treasurer explained that the auditors qualified their opinion on revenue received from fundraising activities because the management of the SRU fundraising activities in particular the overseas fundraising activities was outside the direct control of the Union.

“The Union has limited staff and in addition to organizing the various fundraising activities within a short timeframe, the same staffs were involved with organizing the Western Force tour, preparations for the Rugby World Cup, and preparations of Manu Samoa and Manu Sina 7’s teams for the Pacific Games as well as completing their daily administrative tasks.  We therefore, had to rely heavily on assistance from volunteers and organizations to organize and manage the fundraising activities. While we did have some oversight over the overseas fundraising activities the organization of these activities was entrusted to the respective fundraising committees and groups. Therefore, the only information we have is the actual amount received and banked into the SRU bank account.”

Examples of these were the funds from the Manu Samoa Supporters Club in Auckland and the much publicized voluntary financial support from the well known friend of Manu Samoa Mr. J. Campbell.

The SRU Board acknowledges the difficult task faced by the auditors because of these arrangements and has accepted the auditor’s opinion as well as recommendations on how the management of future fundraising activities can be improved.

Apart from the qualification noted, the auditor’s opinion states that the accounts for the 10 months ended 31 October 2011 show a true and fair view of the financial position and operations for the period audited.

Acknowledgement

The Samoa Rugby Union wishes to take this opportunity to acknowledge with sincere thanks and appreciation, the tremendous assistance received from the Government of Samoa, individuals, companies and organizations both in Samoa and overseas that donated towards the fundraising activities and also offered their services and time to assist with organizing the fundraising efforts and the preparations of our Manu Samoa team for the Rugby World Cup.

For any further queries contact the SRU Treasurer c/- SRU Office Tuanaimato. Fax # 25009. Email: This e-mail address is being protected from spam bots, you need JavaScript enabled to view it

Klaus J Stunzner
BBS; Public Accountant (PA).