ENG – Excitement Builds for the 9th Marist Touch Tournament 2025
Apia, Samoa – 14th October 2025 – The stage is set for the 9th Marist Touch Tournament, returning bigger and better this year at the Football Federation of Samoa Fields, Tuanaimato, on Friday 24 and Saturday 25 October 2025.
The much-anticipated event will feature Samoa’s top local talent alongside three exciting overseas teams — NSW Selection (Australia), Recess (Fiji), and 2 Fresh (New Zealand) — all converging for a thrilling weekend of fast-paced competition and sportsmanship.
The two-day tournament is free to the public and will also be livestreamed by TV3, ensuring fans across Samoa and abroad can catch every moment of the action.
President of Marist St. Joseph’s Sports Club, Lemalu John Lemisio, said the tournament continues to reflect the Club’s enduring vision to grow and elevate the standard of Touch in Samoa.
“The Marist Touch Tournament has become one of the cornerstones of our annual sports calendar delivered by our Marist Touch affiliate in collaboration with Samoa Touch. We’re proud to see it attracting international interest and providing a platform for our local players to compete at a high level.
This year, we also take a moment to remember and honor former President of Samoa Touch, the late Seumalu Shelley Burich. Shelley devoted many years to the sport as an athlete, and later as an administrator. Her recent passing is deeply felt across the Touch community, and this tribute celebrates her remarkable legacy and lifelong service to the sport she loved,” said Lemalu.
The 2025 edition also marks another milestone in Marist’s commitment to expanding the reach of Touch across Samoa and the Pacific region — aligning with ongoing efforts to strengthen pathways for international participation and promote Samoa as a destination through sports tourism.
Unfortunately, the Men’s Defending Champions, Mana Brothers, will be unable to defend their title this year — meaning fans can expect a new Men’s Open Champion for 2025. Meanwhile, Meitaki will aim to defend their Mixed Open title, while No Idea will look to make it four (4) in a row in the Women’s Division, setting the stage for exciting matchups across all categories.
NSW Selection Men’s and Mixed team expressed their enthusiasm for their inaugural participation.
“I’m incredibly proud and grateful to be named captain of the NSW Selection teams. It’s a true honour to represent our state and our Samoan heritage on this stage. We’re all excited for the upcoming tournament and the opportunity to compete in Samoa. Our goal is to go out and challenge every team we face, but more importantly, this will be an unforgettable experience—especially for our younger players,” said Team Captain Mark Kitiona.
Head Coach Jay Moors added:
“There will be emerging talents on display, and an environment where every pass, dive, and touchdown tells a story of dedication and teamwork. I would encourage young athletes to get involved and experience the joy and growth that touch football brings.”
Recess Touch Team from Fiji, making their first-ever international appearance, also shared their anticipation for this milestone experience:
“I’d like to express how truly excited and grateful we are to be part of the upcoming 9th Marist Touch Tournament. This will be our club’s first-ever overseas tournament, a big moment for all of us. We’re just a bunch of everyday individuals from Nadi who mostly come together on game days, not as full-time athletes, but as people who simply love the game of touch rugby.
Our club is still fairly young, but over the past few years, we’ve made it a point to test ourselves at various tournaments across Fiji. This opportunity now takes that journey to another level. We’ve heard incredible things about the Marist Touch Tournament and are thrilled to finally be part of it. It’s a great opportunity for our players to test themselves, make new friends, and celebrate the spirit of Pacific sport,” said Club President Ilisoni Raravula.
From New Zealand, 2 Fresh emphasized the shared values of respect and friendship that the tournament promotes.
“2 Fresh is made up of a mixture of diverse cultures — Samoan, Tongan, Cook Island, Māori, and Kiwi. Most of the players in our team, this is their first time playing in Samoa and many of them it’s their first touch tournament ever, so we are ready to enjoy the experience,” said Yoba Ezekiel.
Excitement continues to build as preparations enter the final stages for the tournament. The event has evolved significantly over the years, and with the inclusion of overseas teams, guest players, and international referees, it now stands as a testament to how far the Marist Touch Tournament has come — from a local competition to an internationally recognized event.
Marist Touch extends their sincere gratitude to sponsors and partners whose continued support makes the event possible:
Government of Samoa (Ministry of Sports & Recreation), Tanoa Hotel, Tapa Creation, Struddys, VIP Lane, Airport Lounge, Apia Concrete Products, Mari’s Bakehouse & Café, Samoa Tourism Authority, Digicel, The Village Getaway, Exert, Lucky Foodtown, TV3, Freight Plus, Global Travel Rentals, BBE, Tradepac, Vailima, Samoa Commercial Bank, Hotel Laimoa, Br Siaosi Ioane & Marist Brothers Primary School, NUS, and Football Federation of Samoa.
Follow Marist Touch on Facebook and Instagram for all tournament updates, photos, and highlights.
For more information, please contact:
- Lemalu Lefaoseu Nonu John Lemisio – President (+685) 7731363
- Taupau Alex Mikaele – Treasurer (+685) 7105656 / 7298072
- Emma Peters – Secretary (+685) 7242080
Tournament Director:
Taupau Alex Mikaele
📧 alex.mikaele26@gmail.com | 📞 7298072
Media Release Ends
ATA: Supplied.