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Sevens' loss was fifteens’ gain for Samoa's Tomasi Alosio
By Adam Julian
In June 2021, Tomasi Alosio should have been helping the Samoa Sevens team qualify for the Olympics in Monaco.
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From 2015 Alosio was a regular in the Samoa Sevens team. He played 201 matches in the World Series, scoring 47 tries and 78 conversions and winning the 2016 Paris Cup title.
Instead, family, work, and the COVID menace prevented him from traveling. Samoa was denied entry into New Zealand for training purposes too.
Sevens’ loss was fifteens’ gain. The versatile outside back working in New Zealand as a teacher aide and F45 coach was summoned for national fifteens duty.
Alosio debuted for Samoa against the Maori All Blacks in Wellington in July 2021.
“I’ve had seven caps, and every one is special, but if I had to choose a standout one so far it would be when we beat Tonga 42-13 in Auckland to qualify for the 2023 Rugby World Cup,” Alosio said.
“Tonga is always a very physical game and with so much at stake, they ‘brought it.’ That game was also the first time I played in front of friends and family in a Samoa jersey.
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“The week I debuted for Samoa against the Maori All Blacks in Wellington there was a Covid case near our hotel and we went to Level 3.
“Matching up against Super Rugby players in the Maori All Blacks was a great opportunity. Testing myself against the best and using my experience from sevens was awesome.”
Alosio hopes his combination of sevens flair and growing fifteens experience is enough to outwit Tonga in Samoa’s second match of the Pacific Nations Cup on Friday at Apia Park.
Samoa led defending champions Fiji at half-time in their first outing but were outclassed in the second spell. Tonga is playing their first match in the tournament.
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“Every Tonga side is physical, so we have to win the physical battle to get on top,” Alosio stressed.
“Tonga has quite a different side from the World Cup; lots of new boys. They’ll be hungry, and fearless,
“Rugby is a game of moments. We were quite pleased with some of the things we did in the first half against Fiji but didn’t put them under as much pressure as we’d liked. We missed a couple of opportunities, and they took theirs.
“In the second half, we weren’t disciplined. We played 16 minutes with 14 players and against a good side like Fiji, that’s tough.”
“The Pacific Nations Cup is huge for us. We’re very grateful for the extra games. Getting back to the Islands and connecting with our people, our roots is special.”
Alosio is convinced new captain, Theo McFarland is special. Samoa misfired against Fiji on Friday but wins against Spain (34-30) and Italy (33-25) in July hinted at McFarland’s vast potential.
“I don’t think there is anyone like him in world rugby. He comes from a basketball background and is a freak talent,” Alosio acclaimed.
“He’s been at Saracens in a winning environment and around world-class players for a while now and that’s only grown his game further.
“Theo is an awesome leader, extremely humble. He leads by actions rather than words. When he speaks everyone listens. What he says is deep and meaningful.”
Sir Gordon Tietjens was meaningful in the ascent of Alosio. The All Blacks Sevens legend coached Samoa between 2016 and 2020.
“The thing that stands out about Tich is the care he shows his players off the field. We’re still in touch, and often not about rugby,” Alosio said.
“With Samoa, he had a huge impact. He introduced centralised contracts, improved player welfare and advanced high performance.
“His training regimes are notorious, not always popular, but they build mental toughness.
“Sevens changed massively in the time I was on the circuit. The fitness levels have gone through the roof and winning the kick-off is everything. It’s so competitive now.”
The backbone Alosio developed in sevens helped him advance swiftly in fifteens. He was part of the inaugural Moana Pasifika squad in 2022. Unfortunately, a massive collision with Blues and All Blacks winger Caleb Clarke restricted his Super Rugby career to four games.
He had played 18 games for Wellington between 2015 and 2021 and made ten appearances for Tasman in 2022 and 2023. In April he signed for Major League Rugby club Anthem RC, based out of Charlotte North Carolina. He was recruited by former All Blacks centre Alama Ieremia who had coached Alosio.
“Alamia is the attack coach for the USA and Anthem has started to grow younger players in the US. They just needed an older guy to help them out at the start,” Aloisio laughed.
“Young players need more pathways in America. Once they get that sorted, they’re going to get strong. The New England Free Jacks who won MLR this year play a great brand of footy.”
Born and raised in New Zealand, Alosio attended St Patrick’s College, Silverstream and played in the 2010 Premier-winning First XV. He was a regular in Wellington club rugby from 2011, plying his trade for two years at Petone before joining Hutt Old Boys Marist in 2013. In 2014 he won a Jubilee Cup title starting at fullback in the 14-11 win over Wainuiomata in the final. The next year helped the Eagles capture the Swindale Shield.
With his partner Michaela, Alosio has two daughters Jamera and Chaesi.
