Samoa’s former rugby captain Mase Mahonri Schwalger has been appointed head coach of the national side through to the end of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia. Schwalger, 45, previously served as the assistant to head coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua at the World Cup in France last year, where Samoa exited the pool stages after only one win against Chile.
In a statement released on Tuesday, Schwalger expressed his deep humility and excitement for the opportunity to represent his country as head coach. He mentioned that both coaching and playing for one’s country are the ultimate achievements in sports and that he is eagerly looking forward to the journey ahead.
Samoa’s upcoming schedule includes hosting matches against Italy and Spain in July and participating in the Pacific Nations Cup alongside teams like Canada, the USA, Fiji, Japan, and Tonga in August. Prior to his coaching career, Schwalger played as a hooker and earned 40 Test caps. He also captained Samoa in the 2011 World Cup. During his playing days, Schwalger represented teams in Super Rugby, including the Otago Highlanders, Wellington Hurricanes, and Waikato Chiefs. Additionally, he had stints with Llanelli Scarlets and Sale Sharks before retiring in 2014.
