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Vaili named in Manu Samoa squad for Pacific Nations Cup
By Thomas Airey
•
22 June 2019, 10:45PM
A Manu Samoa squad of 38 players, including five non-travelling reserves, has been selected to represent Samoa at the Pacific Nations Cup in July and August.
Ten of the 38 are in line to make their debut in the blue jersey.
The debutants include 21 year-old tighthead prop Alofaaga Sao, who shone for the Savai’i Vikings during their Super 9 campaign.
Tofatuimoana Solia and Johnny Vaili have also made their first Manu Samoa squad off the back of their excellent form on the 2019 World Rugby Sevens Series.
Five additional local players have been selected as non-travelling reserves; Johnny Samuelu and Joe Perez from the Manu Samoa 7s, and Super 9 standouts Afa Aiono (A’ana Chiefs), Patrick Fa’apale and Malu Falaniko (both Vaimauga Eels).
Seilala Lam, Elia Elia, Chris Vui, AJ Alatimu and Kieron Fonotia are recalled having missed last year’s Northern Hemisphere Tour in November.
In all 19 players return from that most recent Manu Samoa campaign, with 14 of that group not being selected for the Pacific Nations Cup.
The squad of 33 will gather in Auckland on the 14th of July (minus Vaili and Solia who will be playing for the Manu Samoa 7s in the Pacific Games) for a week-long camp, before they link up with the non-travelling reserves in Samoa on July 21st, ahead of the opening Pacific Nations Cup fixture against Tonga on July 27th at Apia Park.
Returning from Northern Hemisphere Tour:
Ray Niuia, Motu Matu’u, James Lay, Jordan Lay, Hisa Sasagi, Paul Alo-Emile, Logovi’i Mulipola, Kane Leaupepe, Teofilo Paulo, Faifili Levave, Piula Fa’asalele, Jack Lam, Dwayne Polotaivao, Pele Cowley, Henry Taefu, Rey Lee-Lo, Alapati Leiua, Ahsee Tuala, JJ Taulagi
Unselected players from Northern Hemisphere Tour:
Manu Leiataua, Donald Brighouse, Ben Nee-Nee, Josh Tyrell, Brandon Nansen, TJ Ioane, Iakopo Petelo-Mapu, Ofisa Treviranus, Melani Matavao, Tusi Pisi, D’Angelo Leilua, Stacey Ili, Ed Fidow, Tim Nanai-Williams
Manu Samoa Pacific Nations Cup 2019 squad:
Forwards
Hookers | ||
Names |
Club |
Villages |
Seilala LAM |
Perpignan (FRANCE) |
Gataivai / Taga / Malie |
Raymond NIUIA |
Otago Highlanders (NZ) |
Saipipi / Saanapu |
Elia ELIA |
Harlequins (UK) |
Salelesi / Afega |
Motu MATUU |
London Irish (UK) |
Fasitoo Uta / Falelatai / Manono |
Props | ||
James LAY |
Bristol Bears (UK) |
Safotu / Sasina |
Jordan LAY |
Bristol Bears (UK) |
Safotu / Sasina |
Hisa SASAGI |
Dragons Asia Pacific |
Vaisala / Malie |
Paul ALO-EMILE |
Stade Francaise (FRANCE) |
Leulumoega Tuai / Fasitoo Tai / Falefa |
Logovii MULIPOLA |
Newcastle Falcons (UK) |
Manono / Palauli |
Alofaaga SAO |
Savaii Vikings (SAMOA) |
Saasaai / Saipipi |
Locks | ||
Kane LEAUPEPE |
Hurricanes (NZ) |
Faleasiu / Tanugamanono |
Chris VUI |
Bristols Bears (UK) |
Foaluga / Lano / Saasaai |
Senio TOLEAFOA |
Nevers (FRANCE) |
Fasitoo Tai / Nofoalii / Vaipuna |
Teofilo PAULO |
London Irish (UK) |
Solosolo / Salea’aumua / Faleapuna / Safune |
Loose Forwards | ||
Jack LAM |
Bristols Bears (UK) |
Gataivai / Taga / Malie |
Faifili LEVAVE |
La Rochelle (FRANCE) |
Foaluga / Lano / Saasaai |
Henry STOWERS |
Western Force (AUST) |
Tafagamanu / Salea’aumua |
Piula FAASALELE |
Toulouse (FRANCE) |
Magiagi / Nofoalii |
Afaesetiti AMOSA |
Borderaux (FRANCE) |
Fasitoo Tai / Vailele |
Tofatuimoana SOLIA |
Samoa 7’s / Tornadoes |
Malaemalu / Satalo |
Backs
Halfbacks | ||
Dwayne POLATAIVAO |
Doncaster (UK) |
Lefagaoalii / Nofoalii |
Pelefofoga COWLEY |
Ponsonby (NZ) |
Vaigaga |
Auvasa FALEALII |
Nevers (FRANCE) |
Letogo / Gagaifo Lefaga |
First Fives | ||
AJ ALATIMU |
Western Force (AUST) |
Salei’a, Avao / Salailua / Afega |
Ulupano SEUTENI |
Borderaux (FRANCE) |
Tiavea / Samusu, Aleipata / Malie |
Midfielders | ||
Kieron FONOTIA |
Scarlets (WALES) |
Apia |
Henry TAEFU |
Western Force (AUST) |
Siufaga, Falelatai / Samatau |
Alapati LEIUA |
Bristols Bears (UK) |
Malie / Patamea |
Reynold LEE-LO |
Cardiff Blues (WALES) |
Vailima / Magiagi / Satoalepai |
Outside Backs | ||
Ah See TUALA |
Northampton (UK) |
Gataivai / Sili / Moamoa / Leauvaa |
JJ TAULAGI |
Agen (FRANCE) |
Faleapuna / Saleimoa / Matatufu |
Johnny VAILI |
Samoa 7’s / Aana Cheifs |
Moataa / Satapuala |
Belgium TUATAGALOA |
Valence Romans (FRANCE) |
Samatau / Falelatai / Sapapalii |
Non-travelling reserves | |
Patrick FAAPALE |
Vaiala / Vaimauga Eels |
Afa AIONO |
Marist / Aana Chiefs |
Malu FALANIKO |
Vaimauga Taula Eels |
Johnny SAMUELU |
Aana Chiefs |
Joe PEREZ |
Faleata Knights |
MANAGEMENT
Vaeluaga Steve JACKSON |
Head Coach |
Fogapoa / Auckland, NZ |
Vaaelua Aloi ALESANA |
Team Manager |
Lalomalava / Leufisa / Moataa |
Alistair ROGERS |
Defence Coach |
Auckland, NZ |
Chris LATHAM |
Attack Coach |
Brisbane, AUST |
Ben AFEAKI |
Forwards Coach |
Auckland, (NZ) |
Adam STOREY |
Head S&C Trainer |
Auckland, (NZ) |
John RYAN |
S&C Trainer |
Auckland, (NZ) |
Hari Junior NARAYAN |
Head Video Analyst |
Vaivase Tai / Poutasi, Falealili |
Rauin MORIARTY |
Video Analyst 2 |
Te Kuiti, Waikato (NZ) |
Misa Dr Navy COLLINS |
Team Doctor |
Vaoala / Falelatai / Apolima Uta / Apia |
Olivia WITHERS |
Head Physiotherapist |
London, (UK) |
Josh Crabtree |
Physiotherapist 2 |
London, (UK) |
Tuipoloa Evan CHARLTON |
Media Manager |
Fagamalo/Lelepa / Saleaula |
Dean ALLNUTT |
Logistics Manager |
Auckland, (NZ) |
Seiuli Salesa SEIULI |
Assistant Manager |
Saanapu / Falelima |
Pastor Lenny SOLOMONA |
Mental Skills Coach |
Vaimoso / Tufuiopa |
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By Thomas Airey
•
22 June 2019, 10:45PM
