“Sweet Caroline” and England taunts – How Samoa celebrated their World Cup semi-final victory

As we all know now, Samoa are in the Rugby League World Cup final.

Having come through their first-ever semi-final against England, winning 27-26 against the odds, the Pacific nation will now take on reigning champions Australia to make history.

But Samoa already made history just making it to the semis, let alone the final, and the country’s Deputy Prime Minister Tuala Tevaga Iosefo Ponifasio has already addressed the achievement – “You have bought a tear of joy to every Samoan back home in their heart,” he said.

Elsewhere, after the game the players celebrated in the changing rooms at the Emirates Stadium with a rendition of Neil Diamond’s ‘Sweet Caroline’, a song adopted by many sports teams over recent times including Castleford Tigers and the England football team.

For Toa Samoa to beat england and then celebrate to the english national anthem LMAOOO #RLWC2021 #samoavsengland #rugby pic.twitter.com/oZfqPCKtH7

— jes (@jess3d_) November 12, 2022

There was incredible scenes in Samoa’s capital, Apia, with fans lining the streets at 6am to celebrate the historic victory over Shaun Wane’s England.

6am in Samoa's capital, Apia. What a moment for the country, its people, and the sport of #rugbyleague. @RLSamoa🇼🇸🎉
[🎥: IG/evenicarruthers] pic.twitter.com/tEJT432Pr5

— Bullock Shed (@BullockShed) November 12, 2022

this is Samoa currently. Proud Nation🇼🇸 685 pic.twitter.com/S1d0ccQX9S

— Hati👑 (@hati_devoux) November 12, 2022

One fan held up a sign saying ‘England, who’s your daddy’, in reference to Jarome Luai’s dominance of the game.

ENGLAND WHO / WHO'S YOUR DADDY 😂 pic.twitter.com/if8Qfrsxcg

— Bullock Shed (@BullockShed) November 12, 2022

While another rebranded Buckingham Palace in the Samoa flag.

This belongs to Samoa now, sorry, it’s the rules 🤷🏾‍♂️🇼🇸 pic.twitter.com/K13AjnQISp

— 🫶🏽 (@seuloupologa) November 12, 2022

Celebrations even stretched as far as Utah in the United States, where those with Samoan heritage came together to celebrate.

Former Salford Red Devils player turned professional wrestler, Daniel Vidot, who is of Samoan heritage, kept his celebration simple but effective, with actor and rugby league fan Russell Crowe also reacting to the Pacific Islanders triumph.

https://twitter.com/XyonQuinnWWE/status/1591471264350216198

Finally, one fan showed the magnitude of the win by explaining how Samoa’s usually ‘sacred Sunday’ had been overtaken by the heroics of their rugby league team.

https://twitter.com/SitaLeota/status/1591479776975650816

https://twitter.com/SitaLeota/status/1591674203283292160