Three ex-All Blacks and Sevens star named in Samoa's Nations Cup squad

Head coach Tusi Pisi has handed a handful of All Blacks places in his 30-man Manu Samoa squad for the November leg of the World Rugby Nations Cup, with fixtures against Zimbabwe, Portugal and Spain on the horizon.

The headline inclusions are former All Blacks Akira Ioane, Josh Ioane and Shaun Stevenson, who are among eight uncapped players selected for the campaign.

All three qualify for Samoa through heritage and were cleared by World Rugby’s eligibility regulations earlier this year, opening the door to an international switch after previously representing New Zealand.

The trio are joined by another high-profile uncapped addition in Etene Nanai-Seturo.

The former New Zealand Sevens star and All Blacks XV representative has long been viewed as a player with Test rugby potential and will be hoping to cement a place in Samoa’s plans ahead of the 2027 Rugby World Cup in Australia.

Under World Rugby’s eligibility rules, players can switch unions after a stand-down period provided they have a qualifying birthright connection to their new nation. None of Ioane, Ioane, Stevenson or Nanai-Seturo have represented New Zealand within the last three years.

Up front, Samoa’s squad boasts considerable experience. Former Wallabies loosehead Scott Sio and Munster tighthead Michael Alaalatoa headline a seasoned front row group, while Saracens’ Theo McFarland returns as one of the key figures in the second row.

Elsewhere, Jacob Umaga and Peter Umaga-Jensen feature in an experienced backline contingent alongside AJ Lam, Duncan Paia’aua and Irae Simone as Samoa look to build momentum during the Nations Cup window.

The squad also includes uncapped scrum-half Efeso Tuivaiti, prop Millenium Sanerivi, lock Samuel Slade and back-rowers Lamandado Mustuga and Abraham Papali’i among the newcomers pushing for a first Test cap.

Samoa Squad: Scott Sio, Aki Seiuli, Michael Alaalatoa, Marco Fepulea’i, Tietie Tuimauga, Millenium Sanerivi, Sama Malolo, Richie Asiata, Ben Petiuali Nee-Nee, Samuel Slade, Chris Gabriel, Theodore McFarland, Niko Jones, Lamandado Mustuga, Miracle Faiilagi, Akira Ioane, Abraham Papali’i, Connor Tupai, Joel Lam, Efeso Tuivaiti, Jacob Umaga, Josh Ioane, Irae Simone, Peter Umaga-Jensen, Lalomilo Lalomilo, Duncan Paia’aua, Latrell Ah Kiong, AJ Lam, Etene Nanai-Seturo and Shaun Stevenson.