Ed Fidow, a notable Samoan rugby star, shares insights from his journey from a hesitant young player to representing his country on the international stage. His reflections offer a candid look at the challenges and triumphs of a professional rugby career, including the significant influence of playing in the 7s, and the experiences gained across leagues around the world. His story is not just about sports; it’s a testament to resilience, cultural pride, and the relentless pursuit of dreams.
Q: As a kid, were you hesitant to play rugby because of the contact?
A: Obviously, rugby is number one where I’m from (Samoa). I wasn’t the biggest kid growing up…I had a lot of cousins and friends that played near me, and I was always getting bullied by them on the ball. I didn’t get into it until I was 18.
Q: How has your experience in 7s shaped you as a player?
A: It was an opportunity that opened a lot of doors for me. I put my name out there in the 7s squad; even though it wasn’t the 15s jersey that I was hoping for, I still took it really seriously. I still think I’m a good 7s player, but maybe I’m lacking some of that fitness now…
Q: What does it mean to you to represent Samoa?
A: Oh, man…for every kid that grows up in Samoa, it’s their dream to play for the national team. It was a goal for me to make the ‘Manu’ team…my mindset was always, “why not try to make it to the top level?” I never thought I’d grow up and actually achieve that, but it’s an honor to wear the jersey and represent my small nation.
Q: You’ve played in NRC, the English Premiership, the French top 14, and quite a few international competitions, including a world cup. What have you learned and implemented into your game throughout your career?
A: My first professional contract came in Bordeaux in the French league. For me, the biggest difference was the language and cultural barrier…getting to meet new people made me a better player. I not only grew as a player but as a person too. I’m still learning every day. That doesn’t stop.
Q: If you could tell your younger self one thing, what would it be?
A: Just enjoy it. Enjoy the moment. Back myself a little bit more…I might seem super confident, but behind closed doors, I actually lack that confidence at times. I would tell my younger self to have that confidence and that I can be a great player.
Q: What will your life look like after rugby?
A: I’ve always told my wife that I wouldn’t mind being a firefighter or a trainer. I love working with people and helping people. I’d love to train the youth…or definitely a firefighter.
Q: Take me through the news that New York would no longer be a part of the MLR for 2024. Was this difficult, exciting, both, or other?
A: I’m still trying to wrap my head around it. It was crazy. I was gutted for a bunch of the international management and players, who had just moved their families across the world for this opportunity. New York had success, and we had a good thing going, where we could have built something special…but that’s life. Things happen. I’m looking ahead.
Q: In your opinion, what have been the biggest improvements for NOLA from last season to this season?
A: Obviously, I was outside looking in from last season, but now that I’m here, having Coach Brown is huge. The work that Fitz has done too is huge. Everyone in the front office is working hard too. This is a good club. Having a great head coach is the first thing, though.
Q: How do you rate Coach Brown?
A: Oh, very good. He tries to understand us as people outside of the game of rugby. He commits to learning about us as foreign players, individuals…you name it. He can be tough, but he balances it well. The boys are enjoying it.
Q: How has the intensity been coming out of the bye week?
A: Yeah, it’s been good. A bye week is always good to reset and stay away from rugby for a little bit…we have a bunch of tough opponents coming up, starting with Chicago. We’re excited to play another home game, too.
Q: Chicago is a strong side, and maybe their record isn’t reflective of how good they are. What do we need to look out for from them?
A: They have a big back line and are really fit. If you take that away from them and play the game plan we have, we’ll do well.
Q: What will be critical for our squad to execute well on Saturday?
A: We just need to trust in our strengths and focus on us. We need to respect what they’ll bring, but believe in the game plan that Coach Brown has given us.
Q: If you could highlight one positional matchup for this game, what would it be?
A: They’re really strong physically. They seem to rely on their forwards a lot. If we nail the right details in the set piece, we’ll be OK. The big boys! The engine room. They’ll be critical.
Q: What’s on the playlist to get you hype for gameday?
A: I’m a Samoan at heart, man. I love Samoan gospel songs. The song I always play is “Waymaker.”
