Samoa will host its first Investec Super Rugby Championship, a match between the Auckland Blues and Queensland Reds on 2 June at Apia Park Stadium.

This makes sporting history for Samoa as it also celebrates its 55^th Year of Independence this year.

The Samoan Government is backing the fixture and has indicated that it hopes to secure more Super Rugby matches in Apia.

Samoa Tourism Authority CEO Sonja Hunter said this momentous event cements Samoa’s growing reputation as a sporting hub in the South Pacific.

"Hosting this the first ever Super Rugby match is a huge thing for our island nation. A sporting event of this calibre opens up tremendous opportunities for Samoa and the rest of the region, and we are ready to welcome all the new visitors that events such as this will bring to our shores."

In 2015, Samoa hosted the All Blacks when it played Manu Samoa. This historic event was hugely successful and showcased Samoa’s ability to host international events at the highest level.

Samoa has placed great effort in building sports tourism, notably with sporting facilities, which have been designed to attract international sporting events. Many of these were either built or improved upon for the 2007 South Pacific Games.