Uale Mai
Encyclopedia
Uale Mai Vala is a rugby union
player and currently plays for the country's national teams, Manu Samoa
and Samoa Sevens
. He is a former captain of the Samoa Sevens team which represent Samoa
internationally in the IRB Sevens World Series
. He is Sevens rugby's most capped player and is considered one of the greats in the international sport. In 2010 he has joined the CR El Salvador
.
Mai was the first Samoan to be awarded the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
which he received for the 2005–06 World Sevens Series. The ceremony took place in Glasgow's historic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Britain
on 26 November 2006. He was also awarded Player of the Tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens
in 2007.Mikaele Pesamino
received the award in 2010.
In 2009, Mai took a short break from the Samoa Sevens team but returned in 2010 under new coach Stephen Betham
. The team currently leads the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series
.
Mai is from Vailoa
village in Palauli
district on the island of Savai'i
.
. In 2008 he was awarded the Samoan Senior Player of the Year as well as receiving a nomination for the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year. Mai is represented by the MC Sports Agency.
Rugby union
Rugby union, often simply referred to as rugby, is a full contact team sport which originated in England in the early 19th century. One of the two codes of rugby football, it is based on running with the ball in hand...
player and currently plays for the country's national teams, Manu Samoa
Samoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
and Samoa Sevens
Samoa national rugby union team (sevens)
The Samoa national rugby union team represent Samoa internationally in rugby sevens, a competitive sports tournament titled the IRB Sevens World Series which takes place annually in seven countries; United Arab Emirates, South Africa, New Zealand, United States, Hong Kong, Australia, England and...
. He is a former captain of the Samoa Sevens team which represent Samoa
Samoa
Samoa , officially the Independent State of Samoa, formerly known as Western Samoa is a country encompassing the western part of the Samoan Islands in the South Pacific Ocean. It became independent from New Zealand in 1962. The two main islands of Samoa are Upolu and one of the biggest islands in...
internationally in the IRB Sevens World Series
IRB Sevens World Series
The IRB Sevens World Series, known officially as the HSBC Sevens World Series as of the 2010-11 season, through sponsorship from banking group HSBC, and also sometimes called the World Sevens Series, is a series of international rugby union sevens tournaments organised for the first time in the...
. He is Sevens rugby's most capped player and is considered one of the greats in the international sport. In 2010 he has joined the CR El Salvador
CR El Salvador
Club de Rugby El Salvador is a Spanish rugby union club. The club was established in 1960 and currently competes in the División de Honor de Rugby competition, the highest level of Spanish club rugby. The club are based in Valladolid in central Spain, playing their matches at the Estadio Pepe Rojo....
.
Mai was the first Samoan to be awarded the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
IRB International Sevens Player of the Year
The IRB International Sevens Player of the Year is awarded by the International Rugby Board in the autumn each year. It was first awarded in 2004.-List of winners:* 2004: Simon Amor * 2005: Orene Ai’i * 2006: Uale Mai * 2007: Afeleke Pelenise...
which he received for the 2005–06 World Sevens Series. The ceremony took place in Glasgow's historic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Britain
United Kingdom
The United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern IrelandIn the United Kingdom and Dependencies, other languages have been officially recognised as legitimate autochthonous languages under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages...
on 26 November 2006. He was also awarded Player of the Tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens
Hong Kong Sevens
The Hong Kong Sevens is considered the premier tournament on the IRB Sevens World Series in rugby sevens—a variant of rugby union....
in 2007.Mikaele Pesamino
Mikaele Pesamino
Mikaele Pesamino is a rugby union player in the Samoa Sevens team. He is one of the highest point scorers in the 2009–2010 IRB Sevens World Series.Pesamino was born in Vailele on the island of Upolu in Samoa....
received the award in 2010.
In 2009, Mai took a short break from the Samoa Sevens team but returned in 2010 under new coach Stephen Betham
Stephen Betham
Stephen Betham is the Head Coach of the Samoa Sevens rugby union team which has won a number of tournaments in the 2010 IRB Sevens World Series including the Hong Kong Sevens, the USA Sevens and the Adelaide Sevens....
. The team currently leads the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series
2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series
The 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series was the eleventh of an annual series of rugby union sevens tournaments for full national sides run by the International Rugby Board since 1999–2000. Samoa won the series crown for their first time....
.
Mai is from Vailoa
Vailoa
Vailoa is a village on the island of Savai'i in Samoa. Vailoa is the capital of Palauli district on the south east of the island....
village in Palauli
Palauli
Palauli is a district and village of Samoa, with a population of 8,984. It consists of two sections on the southern side of Savai'i...
district on the island of Savai'i
Savai'i
Savaii is the largest and highest island in Samoa and the Samoa Islands chain. It is also the biggest landmass in Polynesia outside Hawaii and New Zealand. The island of Savai'i is also referred to by Samoans as Salafai, a classical Samoan term used in oratory and prose...
.
Career
Mai has been one of the top try and points scorer in the IRB World Sevens Series. He is also an exciting talent who is comfortable at Fly Half and Scrum Half at 15 a side rugby, where he represents Samoa in the national Manu SamoaSamoa national rugby union team
The Manu Samoa is the men's representative side of the Samoa Rugby Union in both the 15's and the 7's for international competitions. The Samoa Rugby Union is owned by the affiliated rugby unions of Samoa. In Samoa, Manu Samoa is in honour of a famous Samoan warrior. From 1924 to 1997 Samoa was...
. In 2008 he was awarded the Samoan Senior Player of the Year as well as receiving a nomination for the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year. Mai is represented by the MC Sports Agency.