For junior Zenora Saelua, rugby is not just a sport — it's also a part of her culture.
Saelua is "Afakasi," the Samoan term for someone who is half Samoan and half Caucasian. Rugby has strong roots in Samoan culture. The game’s key elements – strength, aggression and teamwork – are also important values in the Pacific Islander community.
“When I first started playing rugby, I didn’t really think of it as something tied to my culture,” Saelua said. “But now I have something that I can talk to my cousins about. Even though I don’t speak the language, we can both speak the language of rugby.”
Pacific Island nations have burst onto the rugby scene in recent years. In spite of putting significantly less money into the sport, these countries have had great success against some of Europe’s best teams.
“The teams they’re playing against are funneling millions of dollars into their programs,” Saelua said. “Meanwhile they’re playing on dirt pitches, low quality fields, they have no funding, and they’re still kicking ass. It’s the ultimate underdog story, and it’s really inspiring.”
Saelua said she expected to find more people familiar with her culture when she came to UNC, but was disappointed when she realized the scarcity of Pacific Islander representation on campus.
“I felt so alone,” Saelua said. “No one knew anything about my culture, or where my island was even on a map. I know it’s a very small place, but it’s very depressing trying to relate to someone who doesn’t even recognize your culture exists.”
Saelua signed up for the women’s rugby team listserv her first year but decided not to play because she was afraid she wouldn’t have time. One of her friends from home played rugby at East Carolina University and encouraged her to attend their match at UNC.
“Everything I saw just baffled me,” Saelua said. “There’s a huge huddle of people just smashing into each other. You’re lifting up grown-ass people into the air. It just seems so crazy, and afterwards everyone is just laughing and having a good time, even though you just threw someone into the dirt.”