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Tom Maiava’s incredible journey from Sydney F45 coach to Hong Kong Sevens
Samoa’s Tom Maiava dropped his head as Spain kicked the ball into touch on Friday morning. With the SVNS Series’ 10th-placed side claiming a thrilling 17-14 win over one of their bottom-four rivals, it was a moment that could have huge ramifications for both teams.
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Walking as one down towards the tunnel at the world-famous Hong Kong Stadium, you could see how much the pain of defeat hurt. With South Africa and Ireland still to play in Pool C, that was a match that both Samoa and Spain needed to win.
But after stopping for a few minutes to chat about the match, Samoa playmaker Tom Maiava let out a smile. After debuting in Perth a couple of months ago, the SVNS Series rookie was playing at the prestigious Hong Kong Sevens for the first time.
From that perspective, it’s a feel-good rugby story, but there’s much more to this tale. For Tom Maiava, playing for Samoa at the spiritual home of the sport is another significant milestone in the former F45 coach’s journey to international rugby.
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There are more than 7,300 kilometres between Hong Kong China and Sydney. After moving across the ditch from New Zealand, Maiava calls Sydney’s eastern suburbs home and has experience as an F45 gym coach.
“Coogee is my home,” Maiava told RugbyPass at Hong Kong Stadium. “I moved to Australia from New Zealand, moved over to Randwick, great club down there – up the wicks!
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“Transitioned to working at F45. Great man (former Wallaby) Stephen Hoiles runs the place… just chipping along.
“This opportunity appeared after my time was done… managed to move into Samoa and make it happen. Good to be here.”
Maiava began playing for Randwick in New South Wales’ Shute Shield competition before going on to wear Samoa’s iconic blue strip at the 2023 Pacific Games, and later the SVNS Series.
The Samoa international has impressed so far and was on the field as the game clock ticked closer to full-time against Spain on Friday morning. Samoa did what they could but it wasn’t to be in the end.
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Spain had an attacking scrum feed with about 18 seconds left on the clock, and as time continued to tick by, it seemed that the Samoan’s fate was sealed. The Spanish pushed back against a strong surge at the scrum to win both the feed and match.
With just two tournaments to go until the Grand Final event – and that includes this weekend’s tournament at the Cathay/HSBC Hong Kong Sevens – time, much like in their loss to Spain, is running out for Samoa.
“It’s always disappointing losing to any team,” Maiava explained. “When you work so hard and just those little skills at the end cost us.
“Heaps of room for improvement, obviously it’s a long tournament, anything can happen. Just looking to pick ourselves back up, regroup and go again.
“We talked about how crucial that result was for us so to lose like that, obviously it dims out lights a bit.
“But again, we can’t sit around for too long and sulk and stuff. (We’ll) get ready for the next game against Ireland. Obviously a good team. Just fix those things and hopefully come away with a win.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Grt bench player..keep him there..
3 Go to commentsA Springbok 2-0 win: haha told you we were champions now shut up An Irish 2-0 win: the referee was under orders from world rugby to cheat us but luckily we don’t care because this is part of Rassie’s grand world Cup plan.
107 Go to commentsI hope they didn’t pay Jones fee?
2 Go to commentsTo be fair, the teams he's had to put out are reminiscent of those available to Gatland during his horrible run at the Chiefs in late 2020. Anyway, he's only got a two year contract and Wellingtonian Tamati Ellison will be ready by then, as will a lot of talented youngsters (like the Chiefs Gatland blooded). The Crusaders are planning for the long term.
5 Go to commentsGreat to see more community spending leading to higher participation in the community. It's a long road but that's a good first step.
2 Go to commentsPoetic justice for trying to sell him to Australia as another kiwi saviour coach, not ! Deans was just as bad actually but McCaw and Carter covered up for him. That’s why they didn’t want him as All Black coach, even after Graeme Henry’s bumbling effort in 2007.
5 Go to commentsSACK HIM !
5 Go to commentsSafas are so triggered by Ireland. 3 consecutive losses, incl RWC. 8 losses out of last 12 Tests. Always excuses, of course, with Bok fans. Now Rassie with his “88%” nonsense, the Claytons Excuse is an embarrassment to Bok teams of the past when every test mattered. Their fickle mojo will be on edge for the Ireland tour. Have the referees been appointed yet ? They will need security. Have WR laid out strict guidelines for TMO’s and replays on the stadium screens ? Will the constant stoppages from Bok forwards for cramps and bootlaces be tolerated ? We’re not talking a dominant Springbok team here, they won the LOTTO Cup and they know it whether they admit it or not. The Disney doco has their fans positively fermenting internally, its going to be a nasty hangover if they get beaten on home soil. What will the excuses be then……
107 Go to commentsGreat role model.
2 Go to commentsOne significant tell, not a single Waratahs player stopped to whinge to the ref about Finau’s tackle. They got on with playing the game. Great tackle.
8 Go to commentsWouldn’t be a bad move if Ireland pulled into SA with a young side. Particularly in Pretoria. Invaluable experience getting thumped in the bosveld.
107 Go to commentsIreland. The Princess Diana of Rugby. I never cheered so much for a team as i did for the All Blacks in that QF.
107 Go to commentsWill be great to see the Leinster first XV back in action again after their cotton wool time…
1 Go to commentsLooked up Grant Constable on google and reply was doppelgänger for Ben Smith
107 Go to commentsIt is so good that we now all get excited and debate who is best and emotionally get involved. We all back our teams which is great. Up until about 15-20 years ago, NZ was basically on its own, and then Saffa, Aussie and sometimes French and English were there. We now have at least 5-6 really top sides and another 4 who keep improving. This is so healthy. So we should not resort to rubbish comments and unhealthy debate, but rather all be chuffed that the product we watch is not competitive, exciting and often uncertain. It would be so good if World Rugger could find a way to align the rules to professional players as well as spectators. Live rugby games are SO boring as there is SO much down time as we wait for refs and TMOs and whoever else to look at every small event going back endless phases with the hope of eventually find a minute infringement to then decide cancel what was a wonderful try. This is the ultimate cork back in the bottle moment and feels like every balloon is always being popped. Come on- we must be better with the rules.
107 Go to comments“upon leaving said establishment I tripped over a stool knocking some bottles into the air and as I fell I accidently dislodged a police officer’s teaser who was passing by on an unrelated matter there by landing on said taser which caused it to discharge 50,000 watts into me. Out of shock I shouted Ireland are going to win the world cup. Upon waking up I apologised for the distress caused by my Ireland comment. The matter is closed. If you wish to pursue this matter may I remind you what I told Wayne Barnes when he sent me off. I AM A BIG ASS MAN”. Or was it “I AM A BIG ASS, MAN” or was it “I AM A BIG ASSMAN”?
2 Go to commentsThe only championship the Boks hold are: Great value for the incompetence of referees during the RWC Moaning endlessly and champions of spewing utterly ignorant 💩 at all times. Displaying the dangers of a third world education End of.
107 Go to commentsSouth Africa and Rassie do a phenomenal job of treating the 4 years in between World Cups as nothing more than a training exercise to build squad depth. The Six Nations money that keeps Irish rugby afloat is unfortunately too important to allow the same approach, and basic population size means we'll never get close to matching the depth of South Africa, England and France. That being said, Irish rugby is in a relatively good place and slowly improving inch by inch. If the other three provinces can pull the finger out and actually develop some players it'd be even better.
107 Go to commentsGood on Clarke for taking on the criticism and addressing his deficiencies, principally his laziness.
3 Go to comments“It is the people’s favourite against the actual favourite. It is the people’s champions against the actual champions. I’m joking, but it’s going to be a fantastic series.” Why did Darcy make that joke knowing it would be used as click bait? Why did RP headline it as a serious comment? Anyway, the tired comment isn’t very astute. SA players may have played more games etc. Darcy over estimated as a pundit.
107 Go to comments