* Samoan rugby was formerly part of the PIRA (Pacific Islands Rugby alliance) along with Tonga and Fiji.

Before each the game the Samoan rugby team perform a war dance called the 'Siva Tau' designed to intimidate the opponent.

* Samoa are currently 11th in the IRB world rankings.

* In the 2007 Rugby World Cup Samoa were grouped with England, South Africa, Tonga and the USA. Samoa had only one win, beating the USA and finishing fourth in the group.

* Samoa's largest ever defeat was in 2008 when they lost 101-14 to New Zealand.

* Samoa's most decorated rugby player is Brian Lima who holds the record of most caps (62) and most tries (29).

* Samoa have played Ireland on four occasions, Ireland were the victors three times and the Samoans only once, a 57-25 win in Apia in 1997.

* The furthest Samoa have ever reached in a World Cup is the quarter-final. They reached that stage twice, in 1991 and 1995.

* Rugby was introduced to Samoa in the late 1890s and a union was formed in the early 1920s.

* The Samoan rugby team are often referred to as 'Manu Samoa'.

* Samoa has been drawn in Pool D of the 2011 Rugby World Cup along with Fiji, South Africa, Wales and Namibia.

* There are 28 Samoans playing for top-level European clubs, but the most well known are George Stowers (current captain of Samoa), Sailosi Tagicakibau, Seilala Mapusua and Elvis Seveali'i who are called the 'Awesome Foursome' at London Irish.

* The Pacific Nation's Cup is an annual tournament that Samoa enter. Samoa defeated Fiji 31-9 in the 2010 final to win their first ever Pacific Nations Cup trophy.

* Christian Cullen and Tana Umaga can both claim Samoan origin.