Edwin Puni
Manu Samoa, Ikale Tahi and the Flying Fijians have all checked out of their International Rugby Board- funded hotels at RWC2011 and are already on their way home.
For many of the players who have contracts in Europe, the call to return to rugby duties is immediate without the opportunity to return to the Islands.
The final pool games saw mixed results for our Pacific teams with Wales yesterday overpowering the Flying Fijians to win 66-0.
But inspite of Manu Samoa losing to South Africa 13-5, there was still celebration – especially for their gutsy performance. Then there wss the Ikale Tahi beating France 14-19 in a memorable RWC upset.
And what about the contribution of Pacific rugby and its supporters to the success so far of the 2011 Rugby World Cup?
Tonga had sell-out crowds at each of their rugby world cup matches as reported by the New Zealand Herald.
Samoa sold out three of their four matches – against Wales and then Fiji at the weekend. The Manu Samoa match against South Africa at North Harbour Stadium was sold out months ago.
Credit to the rugby supporters’ committees and the diehard fans, many travelling from the islands and abroad and checking in with relatives around New Zealand.
Colourful supporters
Then there are the colourful supporters with their national flags providing a spectacle never seen in any of the previous rugby world cups.
And what about Samoan, Tongan and Fijian players representing other countries like New Zealand, Australia, England, Japan, USA, Wales – and even France with Wallis and Futuna player Raphael Lakafia.
That is Pacific being represented in 10 of the 20 teams participating in the rugby world cup.
So just because our Pacific teams are not through to the quarter finals is no reason to take our Pacific national flags down. After all the RWC2011 tournament is here in the Pacific.
For staff at Health Star Pacific at Panmure, the RWC2011 adopt-a-second team programme means the opportunity to adorn the Ireland colours – green.
And for Rev William Hakaoro, Tiki Tuakeu and Teiho Tengaru who have been adorning blue, red and white to support Samoa, Tonga and Fiji, it’s the next best thing with green being the Cooks Islands colour.
New Zealand First candidate for Manukau East, Leaufa’amulia Asenati Lole-Taylor said: “Awesome spirit. It is wonderful to see our community and service providers getting behind RWC.”
Salailua Cotter writes from Brisbane: “What an atmosphere to be in!”
Culture counts
If there was anyone in any doubt that culture counts, these last few weeks would have persuaded even the most cynical.
For what we have witnessed in the wake of Rugby World Cup festivities is an explosion of cultural pride and identity being expressed with a myriad of flags flying from every second car; faces painted in the national colours; and the patriotic passion being played out on the field as spectators and teams join together in the singing of their respective national anthems.
Culture counts – and not just on the sports field. It counts in life, according to the Maori Party 2011 Election Cultural Competency policy.
To the Flying Fijians, Ikale Tahi and Manu Samoa of the RWC2011, here is a final shout out for making all of us proud to be part of the Pacific global family.
Edwin Puni publishes the website Eventpolynesia.com
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