The American Samoa Women’s Rugby Team recently returned from Samoa where they represented the territory in the Samoa Women’s Sevens Rugby Tournament.

The team, under the leadership of team coach/player Annielyse Coffin and team captain Uini Tanuvasa, came back home with the third place win and “lots of valuable experience”.

Altogether, the American Samoa delegation included ten players and two alternates.

Coffin said this is the second time the local women’s rugby team, known as the Sisters United Rugby Club, has participated in the Samoa Women’s Sevens - the first time was in 2011 where they didn’t place in the final standings.

She said during their recent trip, they traveled as a development team for the American Samoa Rugby Union (ASRU). The Sisters United Rugby Club includes female players from Alao, Faga’itua, Pago Pago, Tafuna, Ili’ili, and Vaitogi, and it is the only active women’s rugby team in the territory.

Coffin said their goal is to bring interest to local women so more teams can be formed and local competitions can be held.

She said they plan on playing again during the upcoming Moso’oi Festival - a local annual event held in October - against visiting teams from Apia.

The Sisters United Rugby Club practice at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Tafuna. Local females interested in playing rugby are invited to come and inquire about a sport that is becoming popular among the female population.