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Samoa star Lima Sopoaga has reiterated his appeal to fans in an attempt to see his beloved kicking tee returned, as the former All-Black lost the piece of equipment during his Rugby World Cup debut against Chile. The fly-half converted his side’s final try off the bench in their 43-10 win but claimed that his tee was stolen after the match.
The 32-year-old said that he left the tee by the pitch with some eye drops, but took to social media in order to ask for it to be returned – having had the tee for around 18 years. “Could whoever took my goal-kicking tee from the field please give it back to me,” Sopoaga wrote on X (formerly known as Twitter). “I’ll even pay you for it. I’ve had it since I was 14 years old.”
Sopoaga was asked if there was a possibility of him misplacing the tee, to which he replied: “Sadly I think not. I left eye drops with it with it, came back to get them but only the eye drops were there.”
However, his appeal has fallen on deaf ears and he has been forced to go without his trusted kicking equipment. Sopoaga was not named in the team to face Argentina on Friday due to a calf injury, as Samoa suffered a 19-10 defeat, but will be hoping to return next week against Japan – with his plastic stand after making another plea on Friday.
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“F*** me whoever’s got it just give the s*** back,” Sopoaga told RugbyPass after Samoa were defeated by Argentina when asked for an update. “Nah, I haven’t (got it back). I’d love it back aye, honestly, I’d love it back.
“I’ve had a few nice people reach out and offer their kicking tees which are kind of the same. I’ve got a friend in the UK, Alex, he sent me his one which is used which is the same.
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“I’ve had it since I was 14. As a little 14-year-old kid just had to find what was out there and at the time it was that and it’s just stuck with me ever since. That’s why it’s got the black tape around it, it’s been through the wars. It’s been around the world with me, mate, it’s like a baby’s little doudou.
“I’d rather forget my rugby boots than my goal-kicking tee, but maybe it is what it is and we’ve just got to get on with it you know.”
World Rugby media chief Dominic Rumbles also promised tournament merchandise in exchange for the return of the tee, which kickers such as Sopoaga use in order to prop up the ball before attempting penalties and conversions.
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