Rabbitohs NRL squad members, Michael Oldfield (Tonga) and Kirisome Auva’a (Samoa), will face off against each other on Saturday, May 7, at Pirtek Stadium when the two Pacific nations meet.
Auva’a will make his Test debut in the clash, playing in the centres, while Oldfield will play his second match for Tonga playing on the wing.
In addition, North Sydney Bears players, Sitiveni Moceidreke and Samisoni Langi have also been selected for Fiji and Tonga respectively.
Fans can look forward to two blockbuster matches between four Pacific nations, with Fiji taking on PNG in the first match, before Samoa takes on Tonga to round out the Pacific double header.
The Junior Kangaroos will also play at Pirtek Stadium on Saturday against the Junior Kiwis, with the match in honour of the ANZACs.
All four Pacific Test teams will spend the week in Western Sydney, with the city of Parramatta and Destination New South Wales ensuring plenty of excitement and activities leading into the Test matches.
Pacific ambassadors including former Rabbitohs; Roy Asotasi, Joe Galuvao, and Nigel Vagana, will visit a series of schools on Monday and teams will host fan days later on Thursday throughout western Sydney.
Westfield Parramatta will host a Pacific showcase, also on Thursday, with cultural activities on display from all four competing Pacific nations.
In further activity, a number of Pacific youth from western Sydney will take part in a Youth Summit on Friday and Saturday, celebrating cultural diversity and developing leadership amongst Pacific communities.
On game day, a ‘Big Island Festival’ will take over Centenary Square in Parramatta, with plenty of food, fun and festivities for all, before the Junior Kangaroos and Kiwis kick off the first of three matches.
NRL CEO Todd Greenberg said the week-long celebrations – and matches on Saturday – would be well supported by Pacific players and fans.
“Many of our players in the NRL come from Pacific heritage and our Pacific fans make up a huge supporter base for Rugby League, so we are very much looking forward to some exciting and passionate football on Saturday,” said Mr Greenberg.
Tickets are still available, starting from $20 for a single pass, with family passes for as little as $60 to see all three matches.
Congratulations to Michael, Kirisome, Sitiveni and Samisoni on their selections.
Fiji Bati
Sisa Waqa (Canberra Raiders)
Tyrone Phillips (Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs)
Junior Roqica (Cronulla Sharks)
James Storer (Illawarra – Port Kembla)
Fabian Goodall (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Brayden Wiliame (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
Benjamin Nakubuwai (Melbourne Storm)
Maurice Kennedy (Mounties)
Sitiveni Moceidreke (North Sydney Bears)
Akuila Uate (Newcastle Knights)
Korbin Sims (Newcastle Knights)
Daniel Saifiti (Newcastle Knights)
Kane Evans (Sydney Roosters)
Eloni Vunakece (Sydney Roosters)
Kevin Naiqama (West Tigers)
Tui Kamikamica
Tuimasi Pio Moceiwaiyevo Seci
Ratu Jowasa Tubailagi Drodrolagi
Etuate Tamanikaitai Qionimacawa
Iliavi Chris Ravu
Coach: Mick Potter
Mate Ma’a Tonga
1 David Fusitu’a (New Zealand Warriors)
2 Mosese Pangai (Townsville Blackhawks)
3 Solomone Kata (New Zealand Warriors)
4 Vai Toutai (Parramatta Eels)
5 Michael Oldfield (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
6 Feleti Mateo (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
7 Samisoni Langi (North Sydney Bears)
8 Penni Terepo (Parramatta Eels)
9 Sione Katoa (Penrith Panthers)
10 Felise Kaufusi (Melbourne Storm)
11 Sika Manu (Hull FC)
12 Tony Williams (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
13 Joe Ofahengaue (Brisbane Broncos)
14 Nafe Seluini (Sunshine Coast Falcons)
15 David Fifita (Cronulla Sharks)
16 Patrick Kaufusi (North Queensland Cowboys)
17 Siosala Vave (Manly Sea Eagles)
18 Mickey Paea (Newcastle Knights)
Coach: Kristian Woolf
Toa Samoa
1 Tim Simona (Wests Tigers)
2 Antonio Winterstein (North Queensland Cowboys)
3 Kirisome Auva’a (South Sydney Rabbitohs)
4 Ricky Leutele (Cronulla Sharks)
5 Matthew Wright (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
6 Fa’amanu Brown (Cronulla Sharks)
7 Pita Godinet (Manly Warringah Sea Eagles)
8 Sam Kasiano (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
9 Kaysa Pritchard (Parramatta Eels)
10 Junior Paulo (Parramatta Eels)
11 Leeson Ah Mau (St George Illawarra Dragons)
12 Frank Pritchard (Hull FC)
13 Sauaso Sue (Wests Tigers)
14 Erin Clark (New Zealand Warriors)
15 John Asiata (North Queensland Cowboys)
16 Raymond Faitala-Mariner (Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs)
17 Sam Tagataese (Cronulla Sharks)
18 Mason Lino (New Zealand Warriors)
Coach: Matt Parish
