Pose Seumanutafa is the head coach of the Trinity Western University women’s rugby sevens team. After initially joining the Spartans as a skills coach, Seumanutafa shifted his full attention to the women’s program and has guided TWU through the most successful period in its history.
In 2025-26, Seumanutafa led the Spartans to a second consecutive Canada West bronze medal. TWU finished the conference season with an 8-6-1 record, capped by victories over Calgary and Lethbridge at the final series tournament in Vancouver. The Spartans then closed the season by winning the 2026 Tropical 7s Elite U23 championship in Tampa, Florida. TWU went a perfect 6-0, defeating Long Island University in the quarter-finals, Army West Point in the semifinals and Life University 12-10 in the championship match. The title was the program’s first at Tropical 7s and extended the Spartans’ season-ending winning streak to eight matches. Ava Van Santen earned Canada West First Team All-Star honours, while Kelsa Kempf was selected to the Second Team.
Seumanutafa guided TWU to its first Canada West medal in 2024-25, when the Spartans posted a 10-5 record and earned bronze in front of their home supporters at Willoughby Stadium. Four Spartans received Canada West all-star honours, the highest total in program history. Van Santen was named to the First Team, while Hailey Hibbs, Jenna de Greeff and Kempf were selected to the Second Team. TWU completed the season by reaching the championship match at Harvard University’s Crimson 7s tournament, earning silver after posting wins over Long Island University, American International College and Brown University.
The Spartans’ rise began to take shape in 2023-24. TWU recorded a program-best third-place tournament finish at the Vancouver stop of the Canada West Series, including the program’s first victory over Lethbridge. The Spartans later travelled to Tampa and earned silver in the Elite U23 Division at the 2024 Tropical 7s. TWU compiled a 5-1 record, defeating Army West Point, Clemson, Dartmouth, Quinnipiac and Brown before falling to Harvard in the championship match.
Known for his technical teaching and commitment to individual development, Seumanutafa has helped establish a team built around preparation, resilience and collective play. His work has helped move the Spartans from a developing Canada West program to a two-time conference medallist and international tournament champion.
Seumanutafa has also contributed to grassroots rugby as a junior coach with Bayside Rugby Football Club. His involvement in athlete development began with his children, Shoshanah and Caleb, whom he coached before both went on to play university rugby at UBC. Shoshanah later represented Canada at the senior international level.
