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Manu Samoa appoint Mahonri Schwalger as their new head coach

Mahonri Schwalger, nouveau sélectionneur des Samoa (Photo by Harry Murphy/Sportsfile via Getty Images)

Manu Samoa have named former captain and assistant coach Mahonri Schwalger as their new head coach ahead of the World Rugby Pacific Nations Cup in August and September.

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The 45-year-old replaces Seilala Mapusua who has paid the price for what the Samoan Rugby Union feel was a disappointing Rugby World Cup campaign.

Under Mapusua, Samoa enjoyed some success with eight wins in his first 11 games in charge but they only managed to beat Chile in France, despite running England, Argentina and Japan close.

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The Pacific Nations Cup is coming | hype reel

The reimagined Pacific Nations Cup, a six-team annual competition featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, kicks off 23 August 2024. Watch it via your local broadcast partner or on RugbyPass TV.

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The Pacific Nations Cup is coming | hype reel

The reimagined Pacific Nations Cup, a six-team annual competition featuring Canada, Fiji, Japan, Samoa, Tonga, kicks off 23 August 2024. Watch it via your local broadcast partner or on RugbyPass TV.

Schwalger played 40 times for Manu Samoa, captaining them on 13 occasions, and he also won two caps for the Pacific Islands in a Test playing career spanning 11 years and three Rugby World Cups (2003, 2007 and 2011).

The former hooker counts the Highlanders, the Hurricanes, Scarlets and Sale Sharks among his former clubs. Schwalger was Manu Samoa’s scrum coach at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

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Another 8 hours ago
Razor's 2024 All Blacks Christmas wish list

"It seems like the idea of Ardie Savea moving to openside flanker is no longer on the table"


Says who? Savea was picked on the open side, with Wallace Sititi at 8, against France. It makes no difference to Savea’s game, whatsoever and allows Sititi to play in his preferred position. It also provides an option to bring in a third loose forward that may provide a better lineout option and a big body to compete with some of the big bodies found in other teams.


It was unfortunate that Finau was injured so early on against France before he had a chance to show how he might combine with Savea and Sititi, and there is still a possibility that Hoskins Sotutu might be effective alongside them too.


Don’t count out viable options.

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