Samoa at the Rugby World Cup

Map of nations best results, excluding nations which unsuccessfully participated in qualifying tournaments.
Samoa performing their Siva Tau before playing South Africa at the 2007 Rugby World Cup

Samoa (known as Western Samoa until 1997) have played in every Rugby World Cup since the 1991 tournament. Their omission from the inaugural tournament in 1987 was controversial, as there were no qualifications. Their worst World Cups were in 2007, 2015 and 2019 when they finished fourth in their pool.

Nation Number of appearances First appearance Most recent appearance Streak Best result
 Samoa 9 1991 2019 9 Quarter finals, 1991, 1995

By position

Rugby World Cup record Qualification
Year Round Pld W D L PF PA Squad Head coach Pos Pld W D L PF PA
New Zealand Australia 1987 Not invited Not invited
England France Ireland Scotland Wales 1991 Quarter-finals 4 2 0 2 60 72 Squad P. Schuster 1st 3 3 0 0 123 21
South Africa 1995 Quarter-finals 4 2 0 2 110 130 Squad Automatically qualified
Wales 1999 Quarter-final play-offs 4 2 0 2 117 107 Squad B. Williams 3rd 3 1 0 2 59 71
Australia 2003 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 138 117 Squad J. Boe 2nd 4 3 0 1 96 58
France 2007 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 69 143 Squad M. Jones 1st 4 3 0 1 133 78
New Zealand 2011 Pool stage 4 2 0 2 91 49 Squad T. Tafua 1st 2 2 0 0 188 19
England 2015 Pool stage 4 1 0 3 69 124 Squad S. Betham Automatically qualified
Japan 2019 Pool stage 4 1 0 3 58 128 Squad S. Jackson 3rd 6 3 0 3 196 47
France 2023 Pool stage 4 1 0 3 92 75 Squad S. Mapusua 1st 2 2 0 0 79 28
Australia 2027 To be determined To be determined
United States 2031
Total — 36 15 0 21 804 977 — — — 24 17 0 7 874 422
  Champions    Runners-up    Third place    Fourth place Home venue


By match

1991 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1991 Rugby World Cup

Pool 3 matches –

Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 Australia 3 3 0 0 79 25 +54 6
 Western Samoa 3 2 0 1 54 34 +20 4
 Wales 3 1 0 2 32 61 −29 2
 Argentina 3 0 0 3 38 83 −45 0
Source: [citation needed]
6 October 1991
Wales 13–16 Western Samoa
Try: Emyr
Evans
Con: Ring
Pen: Ring		Try: Vaega
Vaifale
Con: Vaea
Pen: Vaea (2)
Cardiff Arms Park, Cardiff
Referee: Patrick Robin (France)
9 October 1991
Australia 9–3 Western Samoa
Pen: Lynagh (3)Pen: Vaea
Pontypool Park, Pontypool
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)
13 October 1991
Argentina 12–35 Western Samoa
Try: Teran
Con: Arbizu
Pen: Laborde
Arbizu		Try: Tagaola (2)
Lima (2)
Bunce
Bachop
Con: Vaea (4)
Pen: Vaea
Sardis Road, Pontypridd
Referee: Brian Anderson (Scotland)

Quarter final

19 October 1991
Scotland 28–6 Western Samoa
Try: Jeffrey (2)
Stanger
Con: Hastings (2)
Pen: Hastings (4)		Pen: Vaea
Drop: Bachop
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Referee: Derek Bevan (Wales)

1995 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1995 Rugby World Cup

Pool B games –

Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 England 3 3 0 0 95 60 +35 9
 Western Samoa 3 2 0 1 96 88 +8 7
 Italy 3 1 0 2 69 94 −25 5
 Argentina 3 0 0 3 69 87 −18 3
Source: [citation needed]
27 May 1995
Italy 18–42 Western Samoa
Try: Vaccari
Cuttitta
Con: Dominguez
Pen: Dominguez
Drop: Dominguez		ReportTry: Lima (2)
Harder (2)
Kellett
Tatupu
Con: Kellett (3)
Pen: Kellett (2)
Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Joel Dume (France)
30 May 1995
 Western Samoa32–26 Argentina
Try: Lam
Leaupepe
Harder
Con: Kellett
Pen: Kellett (5)		Try: Penalty try
Crexell
Con: Cilley (2)
Pen: Cilley (4)
Basil Kenyon Stadium, East London
Attendance: 11,000
Referee: Dave Bishop (New Zealand)
4 June 1995
England 44–22 Western Samoa
Try: Underwood (2)
Back
Con: Callard
Pen: Callard
Drop: Catt		Try: Sini (2)
Umaga
Con: Fa'amasino (2)
Pen: Fa'amasino
Kings Park Stadium, Durban
Attendance: 20,000
Referee: Patrick Robin (France)

Quarter-finals –

10 June 1995
South Africa 42–14 Western Samoa
Try: Williams (4)
Rossouw
Andrews
Con: Johnson (3)
Pen: Johnson (2)		Try: Tatupu
Nu'uali'itia
Con: Fa'amasino (2)
Ellis Park, Johannesburg
Attendance: 52,000
Referee: Jim Fleming (Scotland)

1999 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 1999 Rugby World Cup
Qualified for quarter-finals
Qualified for quarter-final play-offs

Pool D games –

Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD Pts
 Wales 3 2 0 1 118 71 +47 7
 Samoa 3 2 0 1 97 72 +25 7
 Argentina 3 2 0 1 83 51 +32 7
 Japan 3 0 0 3 36 140 −104 3
Source: [citation needed]
3 October 1999
Samoa 43–9 Japan
Try: Lima (2)
So'oalo (2)
Leaega
Con: Leaega (3)
Pen: Leaega (4)		Pen: Hirose (3)
Racecourse Ground, Wrexham
Referee: Andrew Cole (Australia)
10 October 1999
Argentina 32–16 Samoa
Try: Allub
Pen: Quesada (8)
Drop: Quesada		Try: Paramore
Con: Leaega
Pen: Leaega (3)
Stradey Park, Llanelli
Referee: Wayne Erickson (Australia)
14 October 1999
Wales 31–38 Samoa
Try: Thomas
Penalty try (2)
Con: Jenkins (2)
Pen: Jenkins (4)		Try: Bachop (2)
Falaniko
Lam
Leaega
Con: Leaega
Pen: Leaega
Millennium Stadium, Cardiff
Referee: Ed Morrison (England)

Quarter-final playoffs

20 October 1999
Scotland 35–20 Samoa
Try: Murray
Leslie
Con: Logan
Pen: Logan (5)
Drop: Townsend		Try: Lima
Sititi
Con: Leaega (2)
Pen: Leaega (2)
Murrayfield Stadium, Edinburgh
Attendance: 67,000
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)

2003 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2003 Rugby World Cup Pool C
Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD BP Pts Qualification
 England 4 4 0 0 255 47 +208 3 19 Quarter-finals
 South Africa 4 3 0 1 184 60 +124 3 15
 Samoa 4 2 0 2 138 117 +21 2 10
 Uruguay 4 1 0 3 56 255 −199 0 4
 Georgia 4 0 0 4 46 200 −154 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
15 October 2003
Samoa 60–13 Uruguay
Try: Fa'asavalu (2)
Lima (2)
Tagicakibau
Fa'atau
Lemalu
Vili
Fe'aunati
Palepoi
Con: Va'a (3)
Vili (2)		Try: Capo
Lemoine
Pen: Aguirre
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 22,020
Referee: David McHugh (Ireland)
19 October 2003
Georgia 9–46 Samoa
Pen: Jimsheladze (2)
Drop: Jimsheladze		Try: Tagicakibau
Va'a
Sititi
So'oialo
Fe'aunati
Lima
Con: Va'a (5)
Pen: Va'a (2)
Subiaco Oval, Perth
Attendance: 21,507
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
26 October 2003
England 35–22 Samoa
Try: Back
Penalty try
Balshaw
Vickery
Con: Wilkinson (3)
Pen: Wilkinson (2)
Drop: Wilkinson		Try: Sititi
Con: Va'a
Pen: Va'a (5)
Telstra Dome, Melbourne
Attendance: 50,647
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
1 November 2003
South Africa 60–10 Samoa
Try: Van Niekerk
Muller
Hougaard
Smith
Willemse
Fourie
Van der Westhuyzen
De Kock
Con: Hougaard (5)
Koen (2)
Pen: Hougaard
Drop: Hougaard		Try: Palepoi
Con: Va'a
Pen: Va'a
Suncorp Stadium, Brisbane
Attendance: 48,496
Referee: Chris White (England)

2007 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2007 Rugby World Cup Pool A
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 4 0 0 189 47 +142 3 19 Advanced to the quarter-finals and qualified for the 2011 Rugby World Cup
2  England 4 3 0 1 108 88 +20 2 14
3  Tonga 4 2 0 2 89 96 −7 1 9 Eliminated, automatic qualification for 2011 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 69 143 −74 1 5
5  United States 4 0 0 4 61 142 −81 1 1
Source: [citation needed]
9 September 2007
16:00
South Africa 59–7 Samoa
Try: Habana (4) 33' m, 56' c, 66' c, 76' m
Montgomery (2) 40+' c, 53' m
Fourie 47' c
JP Pietersen 80+' c
Con: Montgomery (5/8)
Pen: Montgomery (3/3) 3', 10', 15'		ReportTry: Williams 18' c
Con: Williams (1/1)
Parc des Princes, Paris
Attendance: 46,575
Referee: Paul Honiss (New Zealand)
16 September 2007
16:00
Samoa 15–19 Tonga
Pen: Williams (5/6) 6', 21', 23', 29', 69'ReportTry: Taione 60' c
Con: Hola (1/1)
Pen: Hola (4/5) 3', 38', 47', 67'
Stade de la Mosson, Montpellier
Attendance: 24,128
Referee: Jonathan Kaplan (South Africa)
22 September 2007
16:00
England 44–22 Samoa
Try: Corry (2) 2' c, 76' c
Sackey (2) 32' c, 80+' m
Con: Wilkinson (3/4)
Pen: Wilkinson (4/6) 15', 22', 33', 72'
Drop: Wilkinson (2/3) 6', 69'		ReportTry: Polu 47' c
Con: Crichton (1/1)
Pen: Crichton (5/5) 9', 12', 38', 40+, 42'
Stade de la Beaujoire, Nantes
Attendance: 37,022
Referee: Alan Lewis (Ireland)
26 September 2007
20:00
Samoa 25–21 United States
Try: Fa'atau 5' m
Tuilagi 9' c
Thompson 37' c
Con: Crichton (2/3)
Pen: Crichton (2/2) 30', 72'		ReportTry: Ngwenya 53' c
Stanfill 79' m
Con: Hercus (1/2)
Pen: Hercus (3/4) 32', 65', 75'
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Attendance: 34,124
Referee: Wayne Barnes (England)

2011 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2011 Rugby World Cup Pool D
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 4 0 0 166 24 +142 21 2 18 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2015 Rugby World Cup
2  Wales 4 3 0 1 180 34 +146 23 3 15
3  Samoa 4 2 0 2 91 49 +42 9 2 10 Eliminated but qualified for 2015 Rugby World Cup
4  Fiji 4 1 0 3 59 167 −108 7 1 5
5  Namibia 4 0 0 4 44 266 −222 5 0 0
Source: [citation needed]

Pool D matches

14 September 2011
14:30
Samoa 49–12 Namibia
Try: Fotuali'i 1' c
Tuilagi (3) 17' c, 35' m, 55' c
Williams 59' c
Penalty try 70' c
Con: T. Pisi (2/2)
Williams (2/3)
Pen: T. Pisi (2/2) 10', 24'
Williams (1/1) 53'		ReportTry: van Wyk 63' m
Kotzé 79' c
Con: Kotzé (1/2)
Rotorua International Stadium, Rotorua
Attendance: 12,752
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
18 September 2011
15:30
Wales 17–10 Samoa
Try: Williams 67' m
Pen: Hook (2/3) 12', 27'
Priestland (2/2) 43', 66'		ReportTry: Perenise 40+' c
Con: Williams (1/1)
Pen: Williams (1/3) 21'
Waikato Stadium, Hamilton
Attendance: 30,804
Referee: Alain Rolland (Ireland)
25 September 2011
15:30
Fiji 7–27 Samoa
Try: Talei 67' c
Con: Luveniyali (1/1)		ReportTry: Fotuali'i 62' m
Stowers 70' c
Con: Williams (1/1)
Pen: Pisi (4/6) 6', 10', 27', 45'
Drop: Pisi (1/2) 12'
Eden Park, Auckland
Attendance: 60,327
Referee: Bryce Lawrence (New Zealand)
30 September 2011
20:30
South Africa 13–5 Samoa
Try: Habana 9' c
Con: M. Steyn (1/1)
Pen: F. Steyn (1/3) 25'
M. Steyn (1/2) 27'
Drop: M. Steyn (0/1)		ReportTry: Stowers 51' m
Con: T. Pisi (0/1)
North Harbour Stadium, Auckland
Attendance: 29,734
Referee: Nigel Owens (Wales)

2015 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2015 Rugby World Cup Pool B
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  South Africa 4 3 0 1 176 56 +120 23 4 16 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2019 Rugby World Cup
2  Scotland 4 3 0 1 136 93 +43 14 2 14
3  Japan 4 3 0 1 98 100 −2 9 0 12 Eliminated but qualified for 2019 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 69 124 −55 7 2 6
5  United States 4 0 0 4 50 156 −106 5 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
20 September 2015 Samoa  25–16  United States Brighton Community Stadium, Brighton
26 September 2015 South Africa  46–6  Samoa Villa Park, Birmingham
3 October 2015 Samoa  5–26  Japan Stadium mk, Milton Keynes
10 October 2015 Samoa  33–36  Scotland St. James' Park, Newcastle

2019 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2019 Rugby World Cup Pool A
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD T B Pts Qualification
1  Japan 4 4 0 0 115 62 +53 13 3 19 Advanced to the quarter-finals and
qualified for the 2023 Rugby World Cup
2  Ireland 4 3 0 1 121 27 +94 18 4 16
3  Scotland 4 2 0 2 119 55 +64 16 3 11 Eliminated but qualified for 2023 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 58 128 −70 8 1 5
5  Russia 4 0 0 4 19 160 −141 1 0 0
Source: [citation needed]
24 September 2019
19:15 JST (UTC+09)
Russia 9–34 Samoa (1 BP)
Pen: Kushnarev (2/2) 19', 26'
Drop: Kushnarev (1/1) 48'		ReportTry: Leiua (2) 16' m, 80' m
Amosa 45' m
Fidow (2) 49' c, 53' c
Lee-Lo 63' m
Con: Pisi (2/5) 50', 54'
Kumagaya Rugby Stadium, Kumagaya
Attendance: 22,564
Referee: Romain Poite (France)
30 September 2019
19:15 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Scotland 34–0 Samoa
Try: Maitland 30' c
Laidlaw 34' c
Penalty try (2) 57', 75'
Con: Laidlaw (2/2) 31', 36'
Pen: Laidlaw (1/1) 9'
Drop: Hogg (1/1) 38'		Report
Kobe Misaki Stadium, Kobe
Attendance: 27,586
Referee: Pascal Gaüzère (France)
5 October 2019
19:30 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Japan 38–19 Samoa
Try: Lafaele 28' c
Himeno 53' c
Fukuoka 76' m
Matsushima 80+5' c
Con: Tamura (3/4) 29', 55', 80+7'
Pen: Tamura (4/5) 3', 8', 24', 51'		ReportTry: Taefu 73' c
Con: Taefu (1/1) 74'
Pen: Taefu (4/5) 10', 15', 34', 45'
City of Toyota Stadium, Toyota
Attendance: 39,695
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)
12 October 2019
19:45 JST (UTC+09)
(1 BP) Ireland 47–5 Samoa
Try: Best 4' c
Furlong 10' c
Sexton (2) 21' c, 39' m
Larmour 48' c
Stander 65' c
Conway 70' c
Con: Sexton (4/5) 5', 11', 23', 50
Carbery (2/2) 67', 72'		ReportTry: J. Lam 26' m
Fukuoka Hakatanomori Stadium, Fukuoka
Attendance: 17,967
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)

2023 Rugby World Cup

Main article: 2023 Rugby World Cup Pool D
16 September 2023
15:00 CEST (UTC+2)
(1 BP) Samoa 43–10 Chile
Try: Paia'aua 40+1' c
Taumateine 42' m
Lee 47' m
Malolo (2) 52' c, 80+1' c
Con: Leali'ifano (2/4) 40+2', 53'
Sopoaga (1/1) 80+2'
Pen: Leali'ifano (4/4) 4', 10', 14', 36'		ReportTry: Dittus 6' c
Con: Videla (1/1) 7'
Pen: Garafulic (1/1) 30'
Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux, Bordeaux
Attendance: 39,291
Referee: Paul Williams (New Zealand)[1]
22 September 2023
17:45 CEST (UTC+2)
Argentina 19–10 Samoa
Try: Boffelli 9' c
Con: Boffelli (1/1) 10'
Pen: Boffelli (3/4) 25', 34', 54'
Sánchez (1/1) 80'		ReportTry: Malolo 75' c
Con: Leuila (1/1) 75'
Pen: Leali'ifano (1/3) 28'
Stade Geoffroy-Guichard, Saint-Étienne
Attendance: 38,358
Referee: Nic Berry (Australia)[1]
28 September 2023
21:00 CEST (UTC+2)
Japan 28–22 Samoa (1 BP)
Try: Labuschagné 13' c
Leitch 32' c
Himeno 48' m
Con: Matsuda (2/3) 15', 33'
Pen: Matsuda (3/3) 28', 56', 75'		ReportTry: S. Lam 38' m
Paia'aua 65' c
Leali'ifano 78' c
Con: Leali'ifano (2/3) 66', 79'
Pen: Leuila (1/2) 25'
Stadium de Toulouse, Toulouse
Attendance: 31,794
Referee: Jaco Peyper (South Africa)[1]
7 October 2023
17:45 CEST (UTC+2)
England 18–17 Samoa (1 BP)
Try: Chessum 9' m
Care 73' c
Con: Farrell (1/2) 74'
Pen: Farrell (2/3) 18', 58'		ReportTry: Ah Wong (2) 22' c, 29' c
Con: Sopoaga (2/2) 24', 30'
Pen: Sopoaga (1/2) 48'
Stade Pierre-Mauroy, Villeneuve-d'Ascq
Attendance: 47,891
Referee: Andrew Brace (Ireland)[1]
Pos Team
 Pld W D L PF PA PD TF TA B Pts Qualification
1  England 4 4 0 0 150 39 +111 17 3 2 18 Advance to knockout stage, and
qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
2  Argentina 4 3 0 1 127 69 +58 15 5 2 14
3  Japan 4 2 0 2 109 107 +2 12 14 1 9 Qualification to the 2027 Rugby World Cup
4  Samoa 4 1 0 3 92 75 +17 11 7 3 7
5  Chile 4 0 0 4 27 215 −188 4 30 0 0
Source: World Rugby
Rules for classification: Pool stage tiebreakers

Hosting

Samoa has not hosted any World Cup games, and has not put in bids for future tournaments. Due to the lack of facilities, and the small size of the island nation, it is unlikely it will do so in the future.

Portrayal on screen

Samoa can be seen playing South Africa in the feature film Invictus based on the 1995 Rugby World Cup.

See also

References

  • Davies, Gerald (2004). The History of the Rugby World Cup. Sanctuary Publishing. ISBN 1860746020.
  • Farr-Jones, Nick (2003). Story of the Rugby World Cup. Australian Post Corporation. ISBN 0-642-36811-2.
  1. ^ a b c d "Rugby World Cup 2023 pool stage". World Rugby. Retrieved 11 September 2023.