Samoa tempt Roger Tuivasa-Sheck to switch allegiance
New Zealand captain Roger Tuivasa-Sheck could represent Samoa at the Nines World Cup this autumn.
Samoa, Tonga, Fiji and the Cook Islands have been drawn in the same group for the World Cup held at Parramatta’s Bankwest Stadium on October 18-19.
Officials from Toa Samoa have reached out to Kiwis skipper Tuivasa-Sheck about switching allegiances for the tournament, according to NRL.com. He was born in Apia, Samoa – but moved to New Zealand at a young age.
Samoa are also confident of securing Brisbane Broncos prop Payne Haas if he is overlooked for Australia duty, while they are confident Anthony Milford and Jamayne Isaako will represent the island.
Milford told NRL.com: “I actually think one of the Pacific teams will win the competition.
“I think it’s the kind of tournament where we might see a few more guys coming back to play for Tonga or Samoa or those second-tier nations.
“I wouldn’t mind trying to sneak Rog [Tuivasa-Sheck] across the line. I haven’t reached out to him yet so we’ll have to see what happens.”
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