The World In Union The Samoans

What has always fascinated about Rugby is the way perceived or desired national characteristics are embodied by their teams. If England tend to bang away like heavy, industrial machinery, do the French really come from the land of artists?
In this new series, The World In Union, we take a subtle peek to see if the actual matches the imagined.
We start with the softly-spoken, giant-killers of the South Pacific, the Samoans. Being isolated from the world for thousands of years, in the largest ocean on Earth, doesn't seem to have hindered their genetic physical qualities nor their penchant for war-like contact. With raw power and a delicate touch in equal measure, the Samoans have blazed a mighty trail up the dizzying heights of the global rugby ladder.
Players of Samoan descent now populate the Rugby fields around the world and many have gone on to cement positions in a number of their adopted nations, including Australia, England, Japan, New Zealand and even the USA. In the world of Rugby, the Samoans have truly made their mark.
Le Manu Samoa e o mai i Samoa, Le Manu!
Music credit: Tha Feelstyle - Su'amalie.