Talk:1988 Pacific Cup

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It has been awhile, over 25 years reading the history information about our Rugby League in Samoa, but I should have made contact with your Samoa Rugby League Administration much earlier to tell you a little about the Rugby League history during 1988 Rugby League Inc’s establishment and 1988 Pacific Cup in Samoa.

My name is Taulapapa Lemalu Roy SLADE, residing in Brisbane Australia over 20 years and I was the President\Chairman of the Western Samoa Rugby League Association Inc in Samoa, established early 1987 before the First Pacific Cup held in the Apia Park in September 1988.

Management Committee were Peter PAUL (Jnr) as Secretary,Cyrel CURRY the Treasurer and few others. - Solicitor Tasi MALIFA and Hon Afioga .....Satini EPATI

Our Patron was the late Prime Minster of Western Samoa, Honourable Afioga Tofilau Eti ALESANA and the Technical Advisor was Susuga Seiuli Paul WALLWORK.

I remembered working closely with Mr Peter Donnelly from New Zealand Rugby League and Arthur xxxx Chairman of the Australia Rugby League trying to establish and develop Rugby League in Samoa.

Western Samoa Rugby Union administration was boycotting the initial establishment of Rugby League Code late 1987 in Samoa because of the limited players in the Island,limited to Rugby Union only and some returned home with experiences from New Zealand disliked the Rugby League sport competition. The Samoa medias were involved with continuous public notices that Union players are not allowed to participate in the newly Rugby League competition or otherwise they will loose their Union status. The worst part about all the negotiation is that I was part of the Rugby Union Administration as the Treasurer, a former Manu Samoa player for 8 years and I was in the middle of this conflict of interest establishment. I accepted the position as President/Chairman - W/Samoa Rugby League when we had a serious meeting discussion with Susuga Seiuli Paul WALLWORK about a proposal from New Zealand Rugby League,a future pipeline opportunities for young players to advance to a different Code competition and move to the next level of professionalism including $$$$ sign to assist with families, as it's stands now.

During the early 1986/7 frictions between the two Codes were getting worst with little progress, and somehow somebody suggested the legal status confirmation, and I decided to perform a registration search through the Samoa Government Registration Department for the Western Samoa Rugby Union status (WSRFU), and surprisingly to confirm that the Western Samoa Rugby Union WSRFU has never been registered since its establishment over 30 years, and their public notices organised by the Secretary were not legal to stop Union players to participate Rugby League competition.

That was the beginning of our Rugby League Association Ltd establishment and registration in Samoa, and at the same time our Western Samoa Rugby Union Ltd was officially registered legally. WSRU Ltd Management agreed to continue my volunteer position as the Union Treasurer and performed the role of Rugby League Chairman until 1991 when we migrated to Brisbane Australia.

I have photos with me with the 1988 Pacific Cup opened by Hon Afioga Tofialu Eti ALESANA and presentations etc.to be posted on the website with your Samoa Rugby League administration approval.

From:

Taulapapa Lemalu Roy Slade lemaluslade@optusnet.com.au m 0466154842 h 07 31422231 (to be continued) — Preceding unsigned comment added by Lemaluslade (talk • contribs) 01:57, 20 October 2011 (UTC)