Samoa first for NZ schools stars

When Kiwi schoolboy rugby stars Juriah Mua and Siave Togoiu decided to follow their hearts and play for Samoa at a major international sevens tournament in Auckland this weekend, a seismic shift may have taken place.

At least that’s what their coach and former Manu Samoa star Tino (formerly Junior) Poluleuligaga is hoping transpires on the back of the gutsy, and unprecedented, decision by his star duo to turn their back on New Zealand schools selection and instead turn out for their nation of heritage.

It’s a call, Poluleuligaga says, that was inspired by the decision by NRL stars Jason Taumalolo and Andrew Fifita to play for Tonga (ahead of, respectively, New Zealand and Australia) at the recent rugby league World Cup, and one which could have far-reaching implications for the Pacific Island nations at international rugby level.

Here is the background: Mua and Togoiu, two bright stars on the New Zealand rugby horizon, were selected to play for the New Zealand team in Saturday’s world schools sevens tournament being held at Auckland’s Sacred Heart College.

But Poluleuligaga also recruited them for his Samoa Barbarians side which will compete alongside teams from New Zealand, Australia, Japan and Tonga.

And the duo chose Samoa in a decision that does not capture their future eligibility, but sends a clear message around the options available for young rugby players in New Zealand of Pacific heritage.

‘‘They might not ever get the opportunity to play for Samoa, they see the time is right, so why not? It’s a high-profile tournament, and there is no harm in them doing it now,’’ Poluleuligaga, who is director of rugby for the Papatoetoe club, told Stuff.

‘‘A lot of schoolboy players have that dream of playing for the All Blacks and only have one country in their head they want to represent.

‘‘But after what Taumalolo and Fifita have done at the [league] World Cup, it’s opened their minds to really think about their family, their heritage and the opportunity to play for those countries.

‘‘It’s come at a perfect time for these boys, and they now get that opportunity.

‘‘Talking to Juriah, he really wanted to do it to acknowledge his grandma who brought him up but is moving to Samoa at the end of the year.

‘‘He said this was a great opportunity to honour her.’’

These are not run-of-the-mill young footballers we are talking.

Mua, from Top Four champions Hastings Boys High, is a New Zealand schoolboys representative, a national under-20s sevens trialist and has just signed a senior contract with Bay of Plenty.

Togoiu, a speedster and former league standout, was the breakout MVP star of last year’s tournament whose highlight videos went viral on social media.

‘‘Hopefully other schoolboy rugby stars can see the island nations as a pathway as well,’’ Poluleuligaga said.