English Sevens rugby great, Ben Gollings, Fijian legend, Waisale Serevi and World Rugby hall of famer, Muliagatele Brian Lima are among the high profile applicants for the vacant Manu Samoa Sevens coaching role.
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They have been shortlisted by an independent panel for the job, with a new coach set to be announced next week.
Others in the running, the Samoa Observer has been reliably informed, include former coach, Tausa Fa’amaoni Lalomilo and Fepulea’i Selefuti Patu among others.
Interim Chief Executive Officer of the S.R.U, Faleomavaega Vincent Fepulea’i, told the Samoa Observer that an independent committee has been hired to select the man best suited for the role.
“The final interviews will be held this week on Thursday and Friday,” he said.
“The results from the independent panel will be back early next week and they will go to the board with their findings. “It will be officially announced next week sometime.”
Twenty nine applicants originally applied for the position but Faleomavaega wasn’t able to confirm how many were still in contention as he as given full control to the independent committee. But he did say that former high profile sevens players such as Gollings had applied for the vacancy.
He also said the S.R.U is ready to throw the cash at them if someone of Gollings or Serevi’s ilk is appointed.
“He did, but I’m not aware whether he has been shortlisted,” he said about Gollings. “It all depends who the best candidate will be.
“Whoever is the best candidate the Union will have to look at funding for that sort of calibre. That is why we went all out and advertised the position worldwide.”
Faleomavaega noted that not only would a high profile coach help the Manu Sevens, but the relationship would also be reciprocal.
“Manu Samoa is a very high profile sevens team and winners of the World Series circuit. Every potential or quality sevens coach would like to coach the Manu Samoa team. It would look great on their C.V.”
The successful applicant will be thrown into the hot seat straight away, with Samoa’s’ ambition to qualify for the first ever rugby sevens tournament at the Olympics top of the agenda.
“The upcoming qualification to Rio that will be held in Auckland in November. They will prepare the team for that competition and hopefully the Rio Olympics,” stated Faleomavaega.
The qualifying event won’t be easy though, with teams such as Australia, the Cook Islands and Papua New Guinea also competing and eager to get to Rio.
The length of the chosen coaches contract will be discussed behind closed doors after their appointment.
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