Former Australia international Scott Sio is set to debut for Samoa in the upcoming World Cup Repechage tournament in Dubai. The 34-year-old Exeter Chiefs prop won the last of his 74 Wallabies caps against New Zealand in September of 2022, and has now served his three-year stand-down period to switch allegiance under the union transfer regulation. His father David Sio played two tests for Samoa and was part of their 1991 World Cup squad.
Sio is one of 11 names included in the 30-man squad who did not feature in the Pacific Nations Cup campaign that saw the Manu finishing at the bottom of the table. Another three players – Niko Jones, Jacob Umaga, and Duncan Paia’aua – featured against Scotland in July but missed out on the PNC. There is also a return for captain Theo McFarland, who injured a shoulder playing against Tonga in August.
Three others could make their test bows for the Manu in the coming weeks. Moana Pasifika hooker Mills Sanerivi, Southland center Faletoi Peni, and Samoa Sevens star Va’a Apelu-Maliko have been called up for the first time. Sanerivi and Peni have previously suited up for the New England Free Jacks of Major League Rugby, with six others in the squad current or former players in the American competition.
The Samoans will enter the round-robin as favorites to claim the final qualification spot for Australia 2027. Currently ranked 16th in the world, they open the series against Brazil (32nd) on November 8, followed by Namibia (27th) on November 13 and finally Belgium (22nd) on November 18.
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LOOSEHEAD PROP
Jarred Adams (NOLA Gold, US) 5 caps
Titi Lamositele (Harlequins, UK) 1 cap
Scott Sio (Exeter Chiefs, UK) uncapped
HOOKER
Sama Malolo (Perpignan, FR) 13 caps
Mills Sanerivi (Moana Pasifika) uncapped
Luteru Tolai (Biarritz, FR) 10 caps
TIGHTHEAD PROP
Michael Ala’alatoa (Clermont Auvergne, FR) 23 caps
Tietie Tuimauga (Saracens, UK) 8 caps
SECOND ROW
Michael Curry (Moana Pasifika) 14 caps
Theo McFarland (capt., Saracens, UK) 19 caps
Ben Nee-Nee (Kamaishi Seawaves, JP) 15 caps
BACK ROW
Miracle Fai’ilagi (Moana Pasifika) 4 caps
Niko Jones (Waitemata, NZ) 1 cap
Iakopo Mapu (Stade Français, FR) 12 caps
Alamanda Motuga (Moana Pasifika) 10 caps
Abraham Papali’i (Castres, FR) 3 caps
Taleni Seu (Toyota Shuttles, JP) 12 caps
SCRUMHALF
Joel Lam (Burnside, NZ) 3 caps
Jonathan Taumateine (Moana Pasifika) 15 caps
Connor Tupai (San Diego Legion, US) 5 caps
FLYHALF
Rodney Iona (Seattle Seawolves, US) 14 caps
Jacob Umaga (Benetton Treviso, IT) 1 cap
MIDFIELD
Lalomilo Lalomilo (Moana Pasifika) 4 caps
Tumua Manu (Pau, FR) 11 caps
Melani Nanai (Capilano, CA) 7 caps
Faletoi Peni (Southland, NZ) uncapped
OUTSIDE BACKS
Va’a Apelu-Maliko (Suresnes, FR) uncapped
Duncan Paia’aua (Perpignan, FR) 13 caps
Latrell Smiler-Ah Kiong (Western Sydney Two Blues, AU) 3 caps
Tuna Tuitama (Moana Pasifika) 8 caps
