Sao keen on Samoa call-up ahead of Rugby League World Cup

LIGI Sao would be keen to represent Samoa at next year’s Rugby League World Cup should he get the call.

Samoa will be confident of providing a shock result or two as they prepare to head to the UK next autumn with a talented 24-man squad of players.

NRL players will make up the majority of the travelling group, but Matt Parish will be keeping an eye on a few eligible faces in the Super League, no doubt, too.

Sao has been included in

Samoa squads before, earning a cap in a 2018 defeat to Tonga and representing the nation at the World Cup Nines event before making the move over to East Yorkshire.

The Samoans haven’t played a game since 2019 due to the pandemic, but the forward will be hoping his performances in a black and white shirt have not gone unnoticed.

Of course, the World Cup will be played over the domestic off-season, when overseas players usually have the chance to head home and see loved ones, but if the opportunity arises, Sao would like to be involved.

“Yeah,” Sao said when asked whether he’d put his hand up for the Samoa squad. “Obviously the main focus for me is always Hull FC, the rewards will come after. If it comes up, it comes up.

“I haven’t thought about it heavily, it’s the time of the year when you want to see your family back home. I don’t know, but if I do get that phone call I’ll put my hand up.

“There’s a lot of NRL players in there.”

Samoa have been drawn to face England in the opening game of the competition at St James’ Park, before taking on Greece and France in Doncaster and Warrington respectively.

Sao is not the only Hull player eligible to play for them, with Carlos Tuimavave picking up three caps in the past, while Andre Savelio is of Samoan descent.