Samoa name Titi Lamositele in World Cup longlist

Samoa have named long-time USA prop Titi Lamositele in their 40-man World Cup training squad. The 28-year-old Montpellier prop has not appeared for the Eagles since the 2019 World Cup in Japan and while born and raised in Washington state, he qualifies for Samoa through ancestry.

Lamositele is not the only USA-captured players in the squad. Rugby ATL utility back Martini Talapasi has been named having previously played for the Selects in the 2017 Americas Pacific Challenge. There are other Major League Rugby links in current San Diego Legion hooker Sama Malolo and former Colorado Raptors forwards Michael Curry and Sam Slade.

The selection also includes four ex-All Blacks including new selections Charlie Faumuina, Steven Luatua, and Lima Sopoaga, Former Wallabies flyhalf Christian Leali’ifano is another who will use the Union Transfer regulation controversially approved by World Rugby in November of 2021. Faumina, Leali’ifano, and Lamositele have each represented their previous nations at World Cups.

The full list of union transfers is as follows: Charlie Faumuina (New Zealand 50 caps), Titi Lamositele (USA 32 caps), Jeffery To’omaga-Allen (New Zealand 1 cap), Steven Luatua (New Zealand 15 caps), Fritz Lee (New Zealand 7s), Christian Leali’ifano (Australia 26 caps), Lima Sopoaga (New Zealand 16 caps), Martini Talapusi (USA Selects), Tim Nanai-Williams (New Zealand 7s).

While the likes of Luatua and Leali’ifano were largely expected, the selection of Lamositele is a disappointment to the Eagles after he turned down selection to the recent World Cup Qualifiers which were ultimately unsuccessful. With Roman Salanoa now opting to pursue Ireland honors, the USA has now lost two homegrown athletes to other nations.

Changes to player eligibility have seen significant winners and losers. Samoa are clear benefactors while their World Cup opponents Argentina and Chile are expected to be comprised entirely of products from their own development systems.

To date the only player to switch to the USA using the Union Transfer regulation is Women’s Eagles winger Lotte Clapp. American Samoa 7s winger Joe Mano was recently included in the Men’s Eagles training squad, while MLR players Jonas Petrakopoulos (Netherlands u20), Christopher Hilsenbeck (Germany flyhalf), James Vaifale (American Samoa 7s), and Matías Freyre (Argentina 7s) are also now US-eligible after observing the three-year stand-down period.

 

PROP
Michael Ala’alatoa (Leinster, IR) 12 caps
Paul Alo-Emile (Stade Français, FR) 17 caps
Charlie Faumuina (Toulouse, FR) uncapped
Titi Lamositele (Montpellier, FR) uncapped
Jordan Lay (Blues, NZ) 23 caps
Jeffery To’omaga-Allen (Ulster, UK) 3 caps
Tietie Tuimauga (Montauban, FR) 2 caps

HOOKER
Seilala Lam (Perpignan, FR) 22 caps
Sama Malolo (San Diego Legion, US) uncapped
Ray Niuia (Moana Pasifika) 12 caps
Luteru Tolai (Moana Pasifika) 1 cap

SECOND ROW
Brian Alainu’uese (Toulon, FR) 2 caps
Michael Curry (Moana Pasifika) 2 caps
Theo McFarland (Saracens, UK) 5 caps
Sam Slade (Moana Pasifika) 3 caps
Chris Vui (Bristol Bears, UK) 23 caps

BACK ROW
So’otala Fa’aso’o (London Irish, UK) uncapped
Miracle Fai’ilagi (Moana Pasifika) uncapped
Jack Lam (Moana Pasifika) 41 caps
Fritz Lee (Clermont Auvergne, FR) 4 caps
Steven Luatua (Bristol Bears, UK) uncapped
Genesis Mamea (Perpignan, FR) 3 caps
Alamanda Motuga (Moana Pasifika) 3 caps
Talenu Seu (Waratahs, AU) 3 caps
Jordan Taufua (Lyon, FR) 5 caps

SCRUMHALF
Ere Enari (Moana Pasifika) 3 caps
Melani Matavao (Samoa Sevens) 11 caps
Jonathan Taumateine (Moana Pasifika) 7 caps

FLYHALF
Christian Leali’ifano (Moana Pasifika) uncapped
UJ Seuteni (La Rochelle, FR) 9 caps
Lima Sopoaga (Lyon, FR) uncapped

MIDFIELD
Stacey Ili (Melbourne Rebels) 3 caps
D’Angelo Leuila (Moana Pasifika) 19 caps
Tumua Manu (Pau, FR) 4 caps
Duncan Paia’aua (Toulon, FR) 2 caps

OUTSIDE BACKS
Nigel Ah Wong (Blues, NZ) 5 caps
Neria Foma’i (Moana Pasifika) 4 caps
Tim Nanai-Williams (Toulouse, FR) 16 caps
Martini Talapusi (Rugby ATL, US) uncapped
Danny Toala (Moana Pasifika) 5 caps