Saturday 11th November 2000, is probably the most important weekend in Samoan sporting history. Three high profile events will be broadcast on radio and television around the world further raising the global awareness of the prowess of Samoan athletes.

Manu Samoa take on Wales at the Millennium Stadium, Cardiff on Saturday afternoon. Under normal circumstances this is a match that the Welsh side would not be looking forward to. The last two occasions they met in Cardiff, the 1999 World Cup and the 1991 World Cup, Samoa won. With players such as Va'ega Tuigamala, Pat Lam and Trevor Leota playing club rugby for English sides there should be little difficulty fielding a world class side.

The truth is somewhat different though. The team currently touring the U.K. consists of mainly emerging talent, retaining only three players from the 1999 World Cup side which played against Wales. This is not an active decision by the Samoan Rugby Union, but has arisen following the decision of many of the players to make themselves unavailable.

The players are concerned about the financial organisation of the Samoan Rugby Union and the level of support being provided by the International Rugby Union. They believe that if the current state of affairs continues there will be some doubt over the future development of Samoan Rugby. A cynic might wonder to what extent personal concerns about levels of remuneration have affected their decision.

The Samoan Rugby Union is playing down the stories of discontentment and believes the reluctance of the big name players stems from pressure applied by the club sides. The Heineken Cup, a European club competition, has imposed a heavy schedule on the European based players. The Samoan team's management also looks upon this as an opportunity to develop new talent.

Team

H Patu, T Faasua, Faapulou Soolefai, Fereti Tuilagi, Filipo Toala, Quintan Sanft, Steven Soaialo, Tuaifuaina Veiru, Onehunga Matauiai (capt), Polo Asi, Opeta Palepoi, Sika Poching, A Vaeluaga, Luke Mealamu, Junior Maligi

Replacements: Dan Tafeamaalii, Mahoni Schwalger, Setefano Tone, Joe Mamea, Ioane Evalu, Aleki Toleafoa, Pule Misa

Manu Samoa will be kicking off at the same time as Toa Samoa start their quarter-final Rugby League Game at Vicarage Road, Watford against the favorites Australia. The task facing them is truly monumental and has been made all the more difficult by the decision of several talented players to switch to Rugby Union shortly before the tournament started. Like Manu Samoa, a significant number of Toa Samoa's players are based in the U.K. and so the wet and windy conditions they are likely to face should not come as too much of a suprise.

Toa Samoa graduated to the quarter-finals from what was known as the "Group of Death". All four sides; Samoa, NZ Maoris, Ireland and Scotland were considered to be equally likely to qualify, but after losing their first game to Ireland, Samoa went on to win their last two, visibly growing in confidence with each match.

The event which will probably receive most coverage this weekend is the fight for the world heavyweight title, between David Tua of Samoa and Lennox Lewis of the United Kingdom. David Tua has had 38 professional fights, of which he has won 37; 32 by knockout. His one lost fight, against Ike Ibeabuchi in July 1997, went all twelve rounds and was decided on points, but Tua was fighting with a broken elbow.

He has finished 25 of his fights inside 3 rounds, but has also proven that he has the stamina to go full distance and win 6 of his fights after 12 rounds. Lewis will find him to be a hard fighter to beat, since he has never been knocked out.

At the weigh-in for the fight, he came in at 17 stone 7 pounds, 4 pounds less than Lennox Lewis. Lewis also has a seven inch advantage in height, but at only 5 foot 10 inches, Tua is used to fighting boxer much taller him.

Although in much of the world the fight is a pay-per-view event, it will be broadcast free in Samoa by TV Samoa, and a generous offer from a California based Samoan business has ensured that it will be free for viewers in American Samoa.

Those of you who will be lucky enough to see it, are certain to witness an event which will go down in boxing history.