The Earthquake triggered a powerful Tsunami with waves measuring up to 20 feet that slammed into the small pacific island nations of Samoa, American Samoa and Tonga.
Entire villages have been completely destroyed. 177 people have been confirmed dead and many more are still missing. Although the majority are Samoan, included amongst the dead are tourists from New Zealand, Australia and Britain.
Given the small combined population of 230,000 people, this tragedy will touch everyone living or with relatives in the area. As well as the death toll, the injured and the social costs, financial estimates of damage to infrastructure are in the region of SAT$800million.
The Guinness Premiership's Samoan players have got together to co-ordinate fundraising across the rugby community in England.
Please show your support for these players and their families by making a contribution to the Samoan Tsunami Appeal, which will help assist Samoans during this difficult time.
Gloucester Rugby have been fortunate enough to have had several fine Samoan players wear the Cherry and White in recent times. Terry Fanolua and Junior Paramore both represented the cub with distinction and Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu is carrying on the trend.
Eliota confirmed why the appeal is so important:
"As professional rugby players in England, we may be a long away from home but this tragedy has affected every one of us."
"We are all related to or know someone who has been impacted by this disaster and launching this fundraising initiative is one way that we can help the people of Samoa start to pick up the pieces and rebuild their lives."
To find out more about the Appeal and how to donate, please go to:
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