Uale Mai

Who is Uale Mai?

Uale Mai Vala is a rugby union player and currently plays for the country's national teams, Manu Samoa and Samoa Sevens. He is a former captain of the Samoa Sevens team which represent Samoa internationally in the IRB Sevens World Series. He is Sevens rugby's most capped player and is considered one of the greats in the international sport. In 2010 he has joined the CR El Salvador.

Mai was the first Samoan to be awarded the IRB International Sevens Player of the Year which he received for the 2005–06 World Sevens Series. The ceremony took place in Glasgow's historic Kelvingrove Art Gallery and Museum in Britain on 26 November 2006. He was also awarded Player of the Tournament at the Hong Kong Sevens in 2007.Mikaele Pesamino received the award in 2010.

In 2009, Mai took a short break from the Samoa Sevens team but returned in 2010 under new coach Stephen Betham. The team currently leads the 2009–10 IRB Sevens World Series.

Mai is from Vailoa village in Palauli district on the island of Savai'i.