28 Apr 2014

Sport: Fiji, Samoa name squads for Pacific rugby league Test

12:50 pm on 28 April 2014

Fiji and Samoa will both be missing key individuals for this Saturday's Pacific rugby league Test in Sydney.

13 of coach Rick Stone's 19-strong Bati squad were involved in last year's World Cup where Fiji made it to the semi finals.

North Queensland Cowboys' forward Ashton Sims has been named captain, following the retirement of Petero Civoniceva, while Akuila Uate, Sisa Waqa, Apisai Koroisau and Wes Naiqama were all unavailable.

The bulk of the team plays in the NRL although Fiji-based players Atunaisa Turagaiviu and Osea Sadrau have also been included.

There is also a call-up for South Sydney wing Lote Tuqiri, who last played for the Bati at the 2000 World Cup.

Toa Samoa coach Matt Parish has been able to call on just seven players from the squad that made it to the World Cup quarter finals, with a hefty list of UK based players unavailable for selection.

Among the new faces are Bulldogs centre Krisnan Inu, who turned out for the Kiwis at the World Cup and wing Dominique Peyroux, who represented the Cook Islands.

Canberra flyer Anthony Milford is another notable omission, with the Queensland State of Origin hopeful having chosen to sit out the test.

The winning team will qualify for the Four Nations tournament at the end of the year.

Toa Samoa squad:

Leeson Ah Mau

Fa'amanu Brown

David Fa'alogo

Krisnan Inu

Ricky Leutele

Isaac Liu

Dunamis Lui

Reni Maitua

Penani Manumaleali'i

Suaia Matagi

David Nofoaluma

Junior Paulo

Dominique Peyroux

Jesse Sene-Lefao

Tim Simona

Michael Sio

Kyle Stanley

Sam Tagataese

Daniel Vidot

Fiji Bati squad:

Waqa Blake

Peni Botiki

Jason Bukuya

Regan Cambell-Gillard

Kane Evans

Aaron Groom

Marika Koroibete

Eto Nabuli

Kevin Naiqama

Taqele Naiyaravoro

Semi Radradra

Vitale Jr Roqica

Osea Sadrau

Ashton Sims (c)

Korbin Sims

James Storer

Alipate Tani

Atunaisa Turagaiviu

Lote Tuqiri