The Samoa Rugby Union has announced that Aiolupotea Lilomaiava Taufusi Salesa will take over as Manu Samoa Sevens coach for the remaining two events of the 2008/09 IRB Sevens World Series.

Salesa takes charge for the Emirates Airline London Sevens at Twickenham on 23-24 May and the Emirates Airline Edinburgh Sevens at Murrayfield on 30-31 May, aiming to improve Samoa’s current standing of seventh.

Last season Samoa finished in third place overall after reaching six Cup semi finals and winning the London title. This term, however, results have been more modest with only one semi final so far, in Hong Kong.

Salesa's appointment also coincides with the retirement from Sevens of Uale Mai, the most capped player in the history of the game's shorter form.

Leading up to this appointment, Salesa has been Samoa’s Director for Rugby and was Technical Advisor to the Sevens team recently in Hong Kong and Adelaide. 

One of Samoa’s best-known international players, he formerly coached the Sevens side to one of its most historical milestones, victory at the 1993 Hong Kong Sevens. He is also actively involved with club and provincial union rugby, and in directing national sevens tournaments.

Salesa replaces Galumalemana Rudolf 'Rudi' Moors as coach, who will now assist in developing Samoa’s depth of Sevens players.

“Naturally I’m disappointed but that’s part of life," said Moors. "The Rugby Union makes decisions for the best interest of Samoa’s rugby and I firmly support Taufusi and the team to the remaining tournaments.

“For me moving forward I’m still young, so I’ll take away the experience and continue to learn with the outlook of coming back better in the future because rugby is still my passion."

In London Samoa face pool matches against hosts England as well as France and Georgia, and in Edinburgh they face Argentina, Wales and the Georgians on day one.

Taufusi Salesa fact file

- Hails from the villages of Vaivase, Moataa and Asau in Samoa
- Captained first Samoa schoolboys team to tour New Zealand, 1978
- Won ‘Fastest player of the Tournament', Hong Kong 1979
- Won Western Samoa Sportsman of the Year, 1981
- Invited to tour South Africa with World Invitational team, 1982
- Winner SAM Award (Samoan Athletes in Motion, Hawaii) Sportsman of the Year, 1982
- Captained 'Rest of the World' Sevens team for Sports Aid for South Africa, in Cardiff, 1986
- Won Middlesex Sevens, 1992
- Won Western Samoa Sportsperson of the Decade Award, 1992