PRESS RELEASE

MANU SAMOA RUGBY WORLD CUP 2007

TOUR REPORT 17

Date 24 September 2007

Na’ama Leileimalefaga called in to Manu Samoa squad to play USA

PARIS, 19 year old Prop Na’ama Leimalefaga makes a comeback for the Manu Samoa, after being called in to replace reserve prop Fosi Palaamo, who joins front rowers Donald Kerslake and Justin Va’a, who have all been ruled out of the Rugby World Cup because of injury.

Na’ama becomes the fifth replacement called into the Samoan camp, which has been ravished by injuries throughout their Rugby World campaign to date.

‘Injuries have taken a large toll on the team, particularly to our front row” laments La’auli Michael Jones, Head coach of the Manu Samoa. “But we still have to front up, and do the best we can” La’auli says.

Na’ama, who was named earlier in the year for the Manu Samoa during the Pacific Nations Cup, has been recently recruited by the Montpellier Rugby Club in France.

He has been named on the reserve bench against the U.S.A on the 26th September at St Ettienne and will be rearing to make an impression, should he be called into the fray against the Americans:

PLAYER POSITION PROP
LAST NAME LELEIMALEFAGA
FIRST NAME NAAMA
COUNTRY OF BIRTH SAMOA
DATE OF BIRTH 20/11/1987
HEIGHT (CM) 178
WEIGHT (KG) 121
SCHOOL SAMOA COLLEGE
CLUB SCOPA/MONTPELLIER RUGBY CLUB