AJ Alatimu set to play for Manu Samoa against Barbarians

Seattle Seawolves flyhalf AJ Alatimu has been named in the Manu Samoa squad to prepare for their match against the Barbarians to be played on November 27 at Twickenham in London. It is the only match for Samoa on the end-of-year fixture list after proposed matches against Georgia and Spain were cancelled.

Alatimu’s most recent appearance for Samoa was at the 2019 World Cup. He was named in the July test squad but did not make an appearance. The 28-year-old has won six caps for Samoa since making his test debut against Scotland in 2017.

No caps will be awarded for the match against the Barbarians, and in fact some players who would have otherwise been ineligible to play for Samoa are included. Former Australia ‘A’ hooker John Ulugia, Australia Sevens international Tala Gray, and New Zealand Sevens star Nigel Hunt are all named.

Ulugia and Hunt are among several players being handed a farewell match at international rugby. Toulouse stalwart Joe Tekori, Bordeaux lock Salo Tutaia, and former Newcastle winger Sinoti Sinoti are others. Former Rugby United New York and Colorado Raptors prop Zak Taulafo will also wear the Samoan shirt for the final time.

There is one further Major League Rugby connection with NOLA Gold player-coach Kane Thompson named as an assistant to lead coaches Tusi Pisi and Census Johnston. Terry Fanolua is also on the staff with all four former World Cup representatives for Samoa.

Curiously the group includes only one specialist hooker in Ulugia and one scrumhalf in uncapped Western Force academy prospect Reece Anapu. It’s not clear which prop in the squad would provide emergency cover at hooker. Hunt began his professional career as a scrumhalf though played primarily in the midfield during his time in France.

PROP
Viliamu Afatia (Albi, FR)
Michael Ala’alatoa (Leinster, IR)
Paul Alo-Emile (capt., Stade Français, FR)
Aki Seiuli (Dragons, UK)
Zak Taulafo (Graulhet, FR)

HOOKER
John Ulugia (Bayonne, FR)

LOCK
Ben Nee-Nee (Kamaishi Seawaves, JP)
Joe Tekori (Toulouse, FR)
Senio Toleafoa (North Harbour, NZ)
Salo Tutaia (Bordeaux Bègles, FR)

BACK ROW
Afa Amosa (Bayonne, FR)
Tala Gray (Stade Français, FR)
Mathew Luamanu (Bayonne, FR)
Mikaele Tapili (Périgueux, FR)

SCRUMHALF
Reece Anapu (Western Force, AU)

FLYHALF
AJ Alatimu (Seattle Seawolves, US)
Aviata Silago (Nevers, FR)

CENTER
Nigel Hunt (SC Royannais, FR)
Alex Luatua (Rouen Normandie, FR)
Ope Peleseuma (Rouen Normandie (FR)
Taiso Silafai-Lea’ana (Albi, FR)

OUTSIDE BACKS
Elijah Niko (Aurillac, FR)
Sinoti Sinoti (unattached)
JJ Taulagi (Narbonne, FR)