18 July 2025 – Lemalu Tusi Pisi has named his first matchday squad as head coach of Manu Samoa, with six uncapped players included in the 23 vs Scotland at Eden Park this evening.
However the side is with some notable omissions from their line-up.
Miracle Faiʻilagi, Ereatara Enari, Danny Toala, Jonathan Taumateine, Lalomilo Lalomilo and Neria Fomai have all made themselves unavailable for the test, opting to focus on club commitments with the NPC kicking off on 31 July.
With NPC contracts worth more than what Samoa can offer, players are forced to choose club over country.
Former England international Jacob Umaga will make his debut for the country his father, Mike, represented 13 times, including at RWC 1995.
Umaga, who won his only England cap under Eddie Jones against the USA four years ago, starts at fly-half for the Eden Park Test, and is joined in the starting line-up by two other debutants in hooker Pita Anae-Ah Sue and full-back Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong.
Meanwhile, Niko Jones, the son of All Blacks great Michael, has made the bench, along with two other potential debutants, loose-head Kaynan Siteine-Tua and scrum-half Connor Tupai, whose father Paul played at the highest level in England with Northampton.
The Manu Samoa squad is captained by Saracens loose forward Theo McFarland.
It is the team’s only hit-out before they take part in the Pacific Nations Cup in August and September, which will decide the three direct qualifiers from the region.
Manu Samoa team vs Scotland
1. Akpi Seiuli
2. Pita Anae-Ah Sue*
3. Michael Ala’alatoa
4. Benjamin Petaia Nee-Nee
5. Samuel Slade
6. Theo McFarland (capt)
7. Jonah Mau’u
8. Taleni Seu
9. Melani Matavao
10. Jacob Umaga*
11. Tomasi Alosio
12. Henry Taefu
13. Duncan Paia’aua
14. Tuna Tuitama
15. Latrell Ah Kiong*
Replacements
16. Luteru Tolai
17. Kaynan Sitiene-Tua*
18. Marco Fepuleai
19. Michael Curry
20. Niko Jones*
21. Iakopo Mapu
22. Connor Tupai*
23. Rodney Iona
(*denotes uncapped Manu Samoa player)
