Manu Siva Tau

Picture 30 men standing in front of you, each at least six feet tall, average weight, 245 pounds. One starts to yell and soon the others join his rib-shaking chant, which is accompanied by a series of potentially violent arm motions, punctuated by thigh slaps. Then, to really heighten the experience, they begin to advance…towards you. And why are they doing this? Oh, just to psych themselves up so they can kick your ass. Welcome to Manu Samoa rugby.

Rugby refresher: two teams, each comprised of eight defensive players (the pack) and seven offensive players (the backs), attempt to take the ball down the field to the end zone without being tackled. Points can also be won by kicking the ball through the uprights on the line between the field and the end zone. The ball can only be passed backwards or kicked forwards. Players engage in rucks or mauls to gain control of the ball when it’s on the ground. And all of this occurs without pads or helmets.  Toss in some other specifics like penalty plays, line outs, and scrums, and you have a fascinating display of controlled chaos that makes you wonder, “Do they have any idea what’s going on?!” And then a player will do something amazing, like dropkick the ball down the field and sprint to catch it, and you know, yup, they’ve got it down, and they’re totally badass. There really is a method to their madness. No team embodies this logical madness more than Manu Samoa.



Rugby was first introduced to Samoa in 1920, about three centuries after the game was developed in England. It was four years after the arrival of rugby before the Samoans played another country, and it wasn’t until 1974 that they took on nearby powerhouse New Zealand. Though the development of their international play was on the slow side, the late 1980s and the 1990s were successful years for Manu Samoa. They found themselves battling Scotland in the 1991 quarterfinals of the Rugby World Cup, a massive achievement. In 1995, the Samoans made it to the quarterfinals again, but lost to South Africa, who went on to win it all. During the Rugby World Cups of 1999 and 2003, Manu Samoa showed their strength and solidified their status as a force to be reckoned with.

What can be responsible for the rapid development of Manu Samoa rugby? Could it come from their name, taken from a Samoan chief who lived ten generations before the team was formed? Perhaps the formidable size associated with Pacific Islanders? Maybe just luck? Or could it be the Siva Tau, the Samoan war dance performed before each game–the chanting, pounding, hair-raising ritual described above? Honestly, who cares?! They’re clearly here to stay, and you won’t see me out there challenging them.