Faiilagi and Tuitama each score twice as Manu Samoa demolish Hong Kong China 66-19

Manu Samoa produced a dominant display at Estadio Nacional in Santiago on Sunday, dismantling Hong Kong China 66-19 in the opening round of the 2026 World Rugby Nations Cup, with Super Rugby Pacific pair Miracle Faiilagi and Tuna Tuitama each scoring twice.

Coach Lemalu Tusi Pisi’s squad was bolstered by Faiilagi at loose-forward and former All Black midfielder Peter Umaga-Jensen, who started alongside Duncan Paia’aua. Both Faiilagi and Tuitama had been part of the Moana Pasifika squad before the franchise was placed into liquidation last month, yet both have stepped straight onto the international stage without missing a beat.

Tuitama’s try was the product of a slick team move, sparked by a powerful midfield line break from No.8 Iakopo Mapu, who bulldozed through several tackles before Samoa shifted the ball right. AJ Alatimu, who finished the game with 21 points, read the situation perfectly and found Tuitama with a deft offload to score under the posts.

The individual highlight of the afternoon came in the 19th minute, when Samoan Sevens star Warren Solomona launched a counter-attack from inside his own half. Solomona beat four or five defenders through the middle of the field, then stepped off his left foot to dance clear of the last man and dot down — giving Samoa a bonus point inside 20 minutes.

New Zealand-born Gloucester hooker Manaaki Boyle-Tiatia also crossed in the first half, finishing off a well-worked lineout drive in the 31st minute that underlined Samoa’s superiority at set-piece throughout the contest.

For Hong Kong China, coached by Logan Asplin, the heavy defeat comes as they prepare for their first Rugby World Cup appearance in 2027, where they have been drawn in Pool A alongside New Zealand, host nation Australia, and Chile.

Samoa will face Georgia in round two of the round-robin at Estadio Sausalito in Viña del Mar on Sunday, 12 July. Georgia head into that fixture with confidence after defeating Uruguay 41-34 in round one. Hong Kong China, meanwhile, will meet Chile at the same venue immediately after the Samoa-Georgia fixture.