As they say in Edinburgh when the Festival is on "tattoo the noo"

TATTOO SUITS YOU
Posted: 17/Nov/05
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Many people know that the Samoans are hard hitting and uncompromisingly physical players on the rugby pitch but as they head for Murrayfield on Sunday (20 November) to take on Scotland in the Bank of Scotland Corporate Autumn Test, their players, including Scottish based duo Opeta Palepoi and Semo Sititi, have been showing the squad’s more traditional side.
Border Reivers players Palepoi and Sititi, who is the Samoa team captain, both have tattoos on their arms but their colleague, Samoan winger Lome Fa’atau (picture attached), has full traditional tattoos from his waist to his knees. Lome’s tattoo, or pe’a, took nine days to complete and the entire operation was carried out with a pig’s tooth attached to a drumstick.
Most Samoans have a strong pride in their ancestry and heritage and along with their spiritual beliefs, Samoans often display their culture on their bodies in the form of elaborate tattoos.
Morag Sangster, a tattoo artist specialising in Polynesian and Maori work, from Tribe Tattoo in Edinburgh said: “Polynesian and Maori tattoo culture is widely regarded as the cradle of decorative body art. The detailed designs have significance regarding the social rank of the wearer, their family and ancestry. Most of the Polynesian islands have different sorts of patterns that have been developed over the ages, the most famous being the Maori 'moko', or facial tattoo. These patterns identify the wearer in great detail to anyone who knows how to read the curves and lines adorning the cheeks, nose, chin and forehead.
“Samoan tattoos however concentrate on the area between the waist and knees, with additional decorations on the hands and wrists. The appearance of Samoan patterns is more linear than flowing Maori ones, illustrating how different Polynesian cultures have interpreted tattoos as adornment. Captain Cook brought the idea with him when he returned from his voyages, and even brought the Samoan word 'tatau' and turned it into the English word 'tattoo'. Here we have been interpreting Polynesian designs in our own way and fused them with western ideas. If someone came to me with a picture of an original Polynesian tattoo I would take the basic look of it and change it so as not to offend someone's personal heritage. Our interpretation of tribal designs is based purely on the decorative aspect, making the beautiful shapes flow over the body in a way that accentuated its natural shape. “
“I love this kind of work as although it is intricate and time consuming, the results are stunning and always compliment the wearer.”
When Sunday comes around, these proud players will remember their warrior heritage as they take to the pitch at Murrayfield and you still have a chance to come along and see them face Scotland. Tickets are available by calling 0131 346 5100, by visiting www.scottishrugby.org or at the Murrayfield Ticket Centre. Ticket will also be available for the ticket centre on the day of the game. Your nation, your team, be part of it – come to Murrayfield.
REMAINING MATCHES IN THE BANK OF SCOTLAND CORPORATE AUTUMN TESTS:
SCOTLAND V SAMOA – SUNDAY 20 NOVEMBER, MURRAYFIELD, EDINBURGH, KICK OFF 3pm
SCOTLAND V NEW ZEALAND – SATURDAY 26 NOVEMBER, MURRAYFIELD, KICK OFF 2.30pm

This article was originally posted on 17-Nov-2005, 09:52 by Hugh Barrow.
Last updated by Hugh Barrow on 17-Nov-2005, 09:53.