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Moana Pasifika stars bolster Samoa’s squad for Pacific Nations Cup

Jonathan Taumateine of Samoa waves the fans with the Samoan flag after the Rugby World Cup France 2023 match between Samoa and Chile at Nouveau Stade de Bordeaux on September 16, 2023 in Bordeaux, France. (Photo by Gaspafotos/MB Media/Getty Images)

Eight players from Moana Pasifika have been picked in Manu Samoa’s squad for the upcoming Pacific Nations Cup. This 31-man group includes talented athletes who ply their trade at club level in countries around the world.

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Sama Malolo, Luteru Tolai, Michael Curry, Samuel Slade, Meelani Matavao, Jonathan Taumateine, Alai D’Angelo Leuila and Danny Toala are the Moana Pasifika representatives in this Samoa squad.

Utility forward Theo McFarland, who will continue to serve as captain during the tournament from August 23 to September 21, is one of the many who compete for another side overseas. The skipper is the only active Samoa representative to play for English powerhouse Saracens.

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Other members of this squad play for clubs in New Zealand, France, Australia, Wales, the USA and Japan. The good news is there’s plenty of experience there for Manu Samoa to draw upon from clubs and coaches the world over.

Head coach Mase Mahonri will have the challenge of ensuring these players come together and play their best rugby as a unit. Mahonri was successful on debut as Samoa’s head coach with the team stunning Italy 33-25 at Apia Park last month.

Two potential debutants have also been named. Samoa-based Fred Tuilagi and a product of Harlequin Rugby Club in Australia, Tuna Tuitama, are in the mix to wear the coveted blue jersey of Manu Samoa for the first time over the next month or so.

Samoa starts their Pacific Nations Cup campaign against traditional rivals Fiji at ANZ Stadium in Suva on Friday, August 23. They will also take on Tonga at home on August 30 to determine who progresses from the pool stage.

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Eddie Jones’ Japan joins Canada and the USA in Pool B.

Manu Samoa squad for Pacific Nations Cup:

Lolani Faleiva, Marco Fepuleai, Tietie Tuimauga, Kalolo Tuiloma, Aki Seiuli, Sama Malolo, Andrew Tuala, Luteru Tolai, Michael Curry, Samuel Slade, Senio Toleafoa, Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee, Theodore McFarland, Murphy Taramai, Izaiha Moore-Aiono, Olajuwon Noa, Iakopo Mapu, Taleni Seu, Fred Tuilagi, Melani Matavao, Jonathan Taumateine, Afa Moleli, Alai D’Angelo Leuila, Rodney Iona, Danny Toala, Stacey Ili, Alapati Leiua, Pisi Leilua, Owen Niue Fetu, Tomasi Alosio, Tuna Tuitama.

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J
JW 4 hours ago
Why NZR's Ineos settlement may be the most important victory they'll enjoy this year

It really all depends of how much overseas players would be paid (by NZR) to play for the All Blacks. I’ve not heard a peep on this front from any author suggesting it’s a good idea.


If it’s nothing (a player gets his weekly paycheck from the club and thats it (which we know is definitely not the case in Ireland and France, or SA even I think?), then maybe it would retain more SR level players given that they’ll be getting the “AB” component (which is about where things stand, Burke for instance would have had to had his Sader contract upgraded to an AB one (think above Pero levels) to be on similar money.


I’d having to imagine if a player is getting paid to do nothing over the international windows though, they are going to want to get paid extra for appear for the ABs, so in this situation, it’s hard to see many players being retained, yes.


I’m pretty sure they flew to Japan and met in person.


I’ve heard/had these discussions numerous times. I don’t think theres anyway to judge the interest that would be retain in SR. For one, it might be a more entertaining league as a result, as the JRLO is compared to Europe, despite it obviously being a lesser standard.


If SRP is of a lesser standard and now able to use Japanese and American players to bolster teams, perhaps those markets more than make up for the downturn in NZ and Aus? Perhaps it gives NZR flexibility to create a more fit for purpose interdomestic competition, and interest actually increases? All you might need is a proper pathway from school to pro?


Razor asked NZR to keep an open mind. Did NZR answer any of these questions to themself?

24 Go to comments
J
JW 5 hours ago
Kyren Taumoefolau All Blacks stance splits opinions on eligibility

Yeah of course it can be, it manages a good commerical outcome when 100 million people are following it. I’m saying rugby is no where near even remotely close to getting the payoff you’re talking about, never mind the distinct lack of anyway to implement it.


So you’re going for the dirty approach. I’m not surprised, it’s the only way to easily implement it right now. I wouldn’t see the benefit to doing that myself. A draft, if purely feasible in it’s own right, doesn’t need to provide commercial benefit at all (if it works, that’s all it needs to do, as it no doubt did back in america’s heyday). But without the advantageous backing of sponsors and interest levels, if you pick the wrong method to implement it, like a dirty approach, you do potential harm to it’s acceptance.


The aspect’s of the approach you chose that I don’t like, is that the franchises are the ones spending the money of the U20’s only for there opposition to get first dibs. Personally, I would much prefer an investment into a proper pathway (which I can’t really see SR U20s being at all in anycase). I’m not exactly sure how the draft works in america, but I’m pretty sure it’s something like ‘anyone whishing to be pro has to sign for the draft’, and results in maybe 10 or 20% of those being drafted. The rest (that accumulative 80/90% year on year) do go back into club, pronvincial, or whatever they have there, and remain scouted and options to bring in on immediate notice for cover etc. You yes, you draw on everybody, but what is generating your interest in the drafties in the first plaec?


This is your missing peace. If some come through school and into the acadamies, which would be most, you’ve currently got three years of not seeing those players after they leave school. Those that miss and come in through club, maybe the second year theyre in the draft or whatever, aged 20/21, you’re going to have no clue how they’ve been playing. NPC is a high level, so any that are good enough to play that would already be drafted, but some late bloomers you might see come in NPC but then Sky’s not going to broadcast that anymore. So what’s generating this massive interest you’re talking about, and most importantly, how does it tie in with the other 7 clubs that will be drafting (and providing) players outside of NZ?


Is the next step to pump tens of millions into SRP U20s? That would be a good start for investment in the youth (to get onto international levels of pathway development) in the first place but are fans going to be interested to the same level as what happens in america? Baseball, as mentioned, has the minor leagues, if we use that model it hasn’t to be broad over the whole pacific, because you’re not having one draft right, they all have to play against each other. So here they get drafted young and sent out into a lower level thats more expansive that SR, is there interest in that? There would be for large parts, but how financially viable would it be. Twiggy tried to get a league started and NPC clubs joined. BOP and Taranaki want SR representation, do we have a mix of the biggest clubs and provinces/states make a couple of divisions? I think that is far more likely to fan interest and commerical capabilities than an U20 of the SR teams. Or ofc Uni fits a lot of options. I’ve not really read anything that has tried to nut out the feasability of a draft, it can certainly work if this spitballing is anything to go by, but I think first theres got to be a need for it far above just being a drafting level.

36 Go to comments
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