Samoa has a new coach: 45-year-old Mase Mahonri Schwalger. The former captain of Manu Samoa was the assistant coach of Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua during the 2023 World Cup in France, where Samoa was eliminated from the group stage after just one victory, against Chile.
“Representing your country, whether as a coach or a player, is the pinnacle of sporting achievement, and I am deeply humbled by this opportunity,” Schwalger said in a statement Tuesday.
Samoa host Italy and Spain in July before competing in the Pacific Nations Cup with Canada, USA, Fiji, Japan and Tonga in August.
Schwalger has 40 caps for Samoa, captaining them at the 2011 World Cup. He has played in Super Rugby for the Otago Highlanders, Wellington Hurricanes and Waikato Chiefs and has also played in Europe with the Llanelli Scarlets. and the Sale Sharks, before retiring in 2014.