All go for Village Kings tournament on Saturday

It’s the perfect lead-in to Saturday night’s ITM Cup Premiership final. Last year’s inaugural Village Kings tournament hosted by the Wellington Samoa Rugby Union (WSRU) was hugely popular and this year’s second edition at Porirua Park on Saturday promises to be just as exciting.

Tournament director Steve Lau Young said this year’s tournament involves 12 teams representing their respective villages from Samoa.“They’ll be putting everything on the line for their families, friends and villages.

“Last year’s winners, Malie Sharks, are back to defend their title, and the other eleven teams will be doing their best to wrestle the title away from them,” he said.

The teams taking part in this year’s tournament include Aana, Anoamaa, Faleata, Falelatai, Fasitoouta, Malie Sharks, Moataa, Nofoalii, Siumu, Tama o le Motu, Tama o le Usoga and Wainui Samoans.

The teams are distributed into four pools, consisting of three teams each.

The format for the tournament is very exciting and unique from normal rugby games, WSRU chairperson Tunumafono Ken Ah Kuoi said.

“The playing format is quite different because each game is around thirty minutes long, and made up of two 15-minute halves and a very short halftime.

“With these changes, the game is fast, furious, and explosive for the players. For the spectators, it’s exciting and exhilarating to watch.”

Tunumafono said watching the families, supporters and friends cheering for their players was quite a sight, with many of the players not knowing they were actually related until they got together to prepare for the tournament.

With a third of Wellington’s senior rugby players of Pacific Island heritage, look out for a host of well-known rugby playing names playing and supporting Saturday’s tournament.

Although it’s a bit of a double-edged sword having Wellington in the ITM Cup final - several Lions players would otherwise have played - many local Jubilee Cup and Swindale Shield players will be playing as well as the possibility of a couple of superstars from recent times. Teamlists are being confirmed on Friday.

Each team is only allowed to include three players from Super Rugby, ITM Cup, or overseas based competitions.

Alama Ieremia, who is helping the organisers of the tournament, said one of the objectives of the event was to help the development of young, Wellington-based Samoan players for the future.

“It also offers them opportunities to play and learn off established players, Samoan or non-Samoan from different competitions.”

Ieremia said the shorter version of the game not only encouraged fast-flowing rugby, but forced teams to tactically plan their games.

“Hopefully, after last year’s successful tournament, we will see some great games, and more importantly, increase the depth of rugby players in Wellington,” he said.

The tournament will also include a team parade, food stalls, and bouncy castles for the little ones.

“There will be heaps of fun, frivolity, ‘smashed em bro’s, and stunning try scoring, Tunumafono said.

Tournament Details:

What: Wellington Samoa Rugby Union Village Kings Tournament
Where: Porirua Park (played on the main lower ground and the top field)
When: Saturday 26 October, all day

Pools and teams:

Pool A: Malie, Nofoalii, Moataa Pool B: Anoamaa, Aana, Tamo o le Motu Pool C: Siumu, Wainui Samoan, Tama o le Usoga Pool D: Faleata, Falelatai, Fasitoo-Uta

The draw a glance:

The day starts off at 8.00 am with the 12 teams assembling on the field followed by an opening prayer.

Pool play (on both fields) is between 9.00 am and 1.00 pm, followed by a break and scheduled entertainment.

The play-off rounds begin at 1.30 pm:

1.30pm: Bowl semi-finals
2.10 pm: Plate semi-finals
2.50 pm and 3.30 pm: Cup semi-finals
4.10 pm: Bowl Final
4.50 pm: Plate Final
5.30 pm: Cup Final
6.30 pm: Prizegiving