Fiji will be part of a historic event tomorrow in rugby as the newly formed Moana Pacific team meets the Maori All Blacks in a one-off match at the FMG Stadium in Hamilton, New Zealand.
A host of Fijian players will be part of the event.
The Moana team has announced Chiefs’ Super Rugby anchor Pita Gus Sowakula in the forwards, former Flying Fijians utility backline, Asaeli Tikoroituma, former Red Rock 7s team member and former Crusaders winger Jone Macilai, and New Zealand 7s rep Salesi Rayasi, the son of former Flying Fijians fullback Filipe Rayasi named in the backline.
Isaia Walker-Leawere is the only player of Fijian descent in the New Zealand Maori side.
He is the son of former Flying Fijians lock and captain Kele Leawere of Nadroga. Stuff.co.nz reported that former New Zealand 7s and All Blacks Liam Messam will start at No.8 for the MAB team.
“Ni sa bula vinaka na dauveitokoni vakarakavi. Sa kerei mo ni gole yani vaka lewe levu mo ni la’ki veitokoni e na matatimi ni Moana Pasifika. (Bula to all our rugby fans. We are calling for your support for the Moana Pasifika team,” Macilai, Sowakula and Tikoirotuma said during the trio’s presentation on the Moana Pasifika facebook page.
Maori All Blacks coach Clayton McMillan’s team features several old hands such as Messam and loosehead prop Josh Hohneck. “It’s a really proud opportunity for those young men,” McMillan said.
The match will start at 7.05pm.
