Three All Blacks and an Australia rugby star have switched international allegiance for the Rugby World Cup and joined Samoa.
Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, Lima Sopoaga and former Wallaby fly-half Christian Leali’ifano were named in the Samoan training squad for the tournament on Sunday.
Faumuina played 50 times for the All Blacks between 2012 and 2017 and was part of the 2015 World Cup-winning squad. Sopoaga has 16 New Zealand caps, while Leali’ifano played for Australia at the last World Cup in 2019.
Bristol's Luatua represented New Zealand 15 times and has been one of the most influential players in the English Premiership in recent years.
The strong squad also includes Leinster prop Michael Ala’alatoa, Clermont veteran Fritz Lee, Saracens star Theo McFarland and Lyon's Jordan Taufua.
Samoa are in Pool D at the World Cup, alongside England, Argentina, Japan and Chile, and will be hoping to cause an upset and challenge for a quarter-final spot. They will play Ireland, Fiji, Japan and Tonga in warm-up matches. Samoa beat Georgia, Fiji, Tonga and Australia A last year.
The changes see Samoa follow the likes of Tonga in recruiting some serious talent thanks to a change in the rules that allows players to switch international allegiance after a stand down period of three years as long as they qualify.
Tonga will include the likes of Israel Folau and Charles Piutau in their squad.
Samoa’s Rugby World Cup warm-up squad
Forwards: Michael Ala’alatoa, Brian Alainu’uese, Paul Alo-Emile, Michael Curry, So’otala Fa’aso’o*, Miracle Fai’ilagi*, Charlie Faumuina*, Jack Lam, Seilala Lam, Titi Lamositele*, Jordan Lay, Fritz Lee, Genesis Mamea-Lemalu, Steven Luatua*, Sama Malolo*, Theo McFarland, Alamanda Motuga, Ray Niuia, Taleni Seu, Samuel Slade, Jordan Taufua, Luteru Tolai, Jeffery Toomaga-Allen, Tietie Tuimauga, Chris Vui
Backs: Nigel Ah Wong, Ereatara Enari, Neria Fomai, Stacey Ili, Christian Leali’ifano*, D’angelo Leuila, Tumua Manu, Melani Matavao, Tim Nanai-Williams, Duncan Paia’aua, UJ Seuteni, Lima Sopoaga*, Martini Talapusi*, Jonathan Taumateine, Danny Toala
