AusLeisure

Following its successful recent hosting of the 2019 Pacific Games, the Government of Samoa is to move forward with plans to build a new national stadium for its national rugby teams.

Built in 1924 and renovated four years ago ahead of the 2015 Commonwealth Youth Games in Apia, Samoa’s Apia Park has been criticised for its playing surface in recent years.

Home of the Pacific island nation’s rugby union and rugby league teams, the 12,000 capacity venue has staged not only events at the recent Pacific Games, but also staged Samoa’s Pacific Nations Cup victory over Tonga last Saturday.

However, last weekend’s game was nearly called off after the pitch suffered damage caused by the Pacific Games events and torrential rain in the city.

Loau Keneti Sio, Samoa’s Minister for Sport, has stressed the need for a new stadium away from the Apia Park site, which he has described as a “swampy area”.

Speaking to Radio New Zealand, he advised “we are planning to move down to where the other sports facilities are at Tuanaimato and hopefully we can build a big stadium there for rugby alone and leave Apia Park.

“Actually, the area is just a swampy area, so we can’t just fix it when we come into bad weather but yes of course we are concerned with it and we are having planning so that we can push through the cabinet where we can move down to Tuanaimato going forward.”

With plans to have the new venue built by 2022, Minister Sio suggested that Samoa would ask New Zealand for funding help.

Image: Samoa's Apia Park.

Related Articles

30th July 2019 - Controversy mounts over transgender athlete’s weightlifting gold medal at Pacific Games

8th July 2019 - XVI Pacific Games opens in Samoa

11th June 2019 - Leadership program supports Pacific women in football

5th June 2018 - Samoa to host 26 sports at 2019 Pacific Games

18th September 2017 - Samoa steps in to host 2019 Pacific Games

16th July 2017 - Rugby partnership aims to boost childrens’ activity and health in Samoa

11th May 2016 - Samoa to host first official home rugby league Test Match

27th July 2015 - Samoa runs up $1.5 million deficit from hosting the All Blacks

4th July 2015 - Hamilton turf technician heads to Samoa for All Blacks Test preparation

30th June 2015 - Rugby Southland general manager moves to oversee development of Samoan rugby

24th April 2015 - Samoa expects up to US$11.7 million Commonwealth Youth Games cost

12th November 2014 - Hong Kong Stadium playing surface to be rebuilt next year

---

Support our industry news service
We hope that you value the news that we publish so while you're here can we ask for your support?

As an independent publisher, we need reader support for our industry news gathering so ask that - if you don't already do so - you back us by subscribing to the printed Australasian Leisure Management magazine and/or our online news.