Show some pride – Tuilagi to Manu

“No one is bigger than the team. They are only caretakers of the blue jersey. After them, another person will take over” – Lauaki Fereti Tuilagi

Former Manu Samoa, Lauaki Fereti Tuilagi, has expressed disappointment about the decision by Manu Samoa players to threaten a boycott in the middle of their Northern Hemisphere tour.

A retired professional rugby player, Lauaki who has been heavily involved in the Toa Samoa’s Four Nations campaign, concedes that while the players have a valid point, the way they have gone about it is wrong.

Speaking to the Sunday Samoan yesterday, Lauaki said pride in blue jersey should always be placed above all else.

“I can understand their frustrations towards the Union (Samoa Rugby Union) and the management,” said Lauaki, the eldest of the Tuilagi boys, including Manu Tuilagi who is playing for England.

“But here is the thing, playing for your club is your bread and butter. Playing for your country is your pride and honour.”

Lauaki said the players should be mindful that Manu Samoa does not belong to an individual; it is a team by Samoa for Samoa. The threat to boycott the test match against England, he said, has not only affected the good name of Manu Samoa, it has also affected Samoa as a country.

“When Manu Samoa plays any game, the whole country stops. People pray for them when they are preparing to play. You have a whole nation sitting in front of TVs watching the games and kids in the village see them as role models. You can’t put any value on those blessings.”

Lauaki also pointed out that being from a small nation, playing against bigger teams is a golden opportunity for any player to show what they are made of. As professional athletes, those are the games the train for.

“No one is bigger than the team,” Lauaki said. “They are only caretakers of the blue jersey. After them, another person will take over…playing for Manu Samoa is the greatest honour.”

Lauaki said the players should have waited until the tour is finished.

“They have now lost focus of why they are there. Their focus should be about playing and winning.”

The former union and league hard man also supported Prime Minister Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi in pointing out that without the Manu Samoa, a number of professional players would not be where they are today. He recalled the 1991 team captained by the legendary Papali’i Peter Fatialofa.

“That team played with pride, honour and were passionate,” said Lauaki. “They weren’t looking for rewards. They were proud of their talent and gifts they used to represent their country.”

He also disagrees with the view that the more money from sponsors going into the team, the more the players should get. While he concedes that some money should go towards the players, Lauaki said the bulk of it should be put back to the development of rugby at the grassroots level.

The young players of today are the future of the game, he said.

Lastly, Tuilagi turned his attention to the management of the S.R.U and the Manu Samoa.

As a former player, he said the issues are not new.

“If they can’t deliver what they promised, they should have some dignity and step down,” he said.

For example, he said if S.R.U had promised to pay the players $50, then that sum should be paid.

Lauaki also paid tribute to the work of former Manu Samoa captain, Mahonri Schwalger, Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu and his younger brother, Alesana Tuilagi, who have all at some stage of their profession careers returned to Samoa to give back to grassroots development.

Lauaki said these are the true signs of people with passion and hearts for Samoa.

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