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 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.