 The national team, which first competed at the Arafura Games was originally known as the Bulldogs, the name being chosen as the AFL's Western Bulldogs wore the Samoan national colours and has sent some professional players to visit the islands on clinics.The team was later renamed the 'Kangaroos', after forging ties with the North Melbourne Football Club.In early years, the game was typically played under derived rules known as 'Samoa Rules' and on rugby fields.