RUGBY
The people of Samoa enjoy sports as much as any other part of the world.  Samoa is probably best known for the sport of Rugby.  In 1991, the Samoan Rugby Team (SRT) played in the World Cup, making it all the way to quarter finals.  The SRT is known for being quick on their feet, strong at tackling and vigorous athletes.   Most Samoan rugby players actually play in New Zealand, however, teams around the world are recruiting Samoan athletes to their own teams. 

Following are the words to the ritual challenge that the SRT recites to their opponents before kick off:

Le Manu Samoa e, ia manú le fai o le faiva

Le Manu Samoa e, ia manú le fai o le faiva

Le Manu Samoa lenei ua ou sau
Leai se isi Manu o le atulaulau

Ua ou sau nei ma le mea atoa

Ma lo'u malosi ua atoatoa

Ia e faatafa ma e sósó ese

Leaga o lenei Manu e uiga ese

Le Manu Samoa! Le Manu Samoa!

Le Manu Samoa e o mai i Samoa!




CRICKET
Another popular Samoan game is Kirikiti, or Cricket.  It is similar to the game of Cricket that is played elsewhere in the world, in that they use a bat with 3 sides, and a ball.  Some differences is that Krikiti does not limit the number of players on a team, and teams may be made up of both males and females.  The game is played year round, usually between neighboring villages.




LAFOGA
Another traditional Samoan game is called Lafoga.  It is played with coconut shells that are split in half.  Children play facing one another, with a stack of several coconut shell halves piled in front of each of them.  Each child tries to throw a coconut shell and knock down the other person’s stack.  Whoever knocks down the most in the stack wins the game!  It sounds like a great game for a carnival!





Just FYI...

...There are so many Samoan men playing on NFL teams in the United States, that one man made an All-Samoan ‘Dream Team!’



Fun Vocabulary Games!