The Apia Maroon Rugby Club is celebrating its 100th anniversary this year, marking a milestone for a sport that has elevated many of the village’s sons and daughters to international platforms. The campaign to mark the event begins on Sunday, 21st January 2024, with the launch of the Apia Maroons Rugby Club Logo during the village’s annual Lotu Fa’afetai Service.
Rugby for the Apia Maroons started at an early stage when trading steamboats, such as The Tofua and others, frequently visited the Apia shores. History recounts that The Tofua anchored at the Matautu wharf sometime in January/February 1924, and a sailor onboard the boat kicked a rugby ball that landed on the Black Sand Beach opposite the EFKS Taimane o le Vasalaolao Church in Apia. The significance of this kick, and the ball landing on the Black Sand Beach, opened doors of opportunity for the future generations of the village in rugby. This event became a landmark for rugby matches for the Apia Aumaga, and today, the younger generations continue to uphold the legacy of the Black Sand Beach, dubbed as the first rugby field for the Apia Maroon Club.
Since then, the Apia Maroons have excelled in competition and have made a mark in the history of Samoan rugby. The campaign will feature the revival of the King of Rugby Tournament in August, hosted by the Apia Maroons and drawing interest from rugby teams around the world, including Australia, New Zealand, and American Samoa. There will be additional activities and events scheduled to mark this prestigious milestone.
The 100th anniversary is dedicated to the village elders who transformed a simple ball kicked from onboard a boat into a pivotal moment and took the initiative to start the Apia Maroon Rugby Club.
