• • Facebook
  • Digg
  • Del.icio.us
  • Technorati
  • Reddit
  • Stumble Upon
  • Furl

IRB Sevens Player of the Year Mikaele Pesamino has been confirmed in Samoa’s squad for next month’s Commonwealth Games in New Delhi (11-12 October).

The flying winger scored 56 tries last season, playing a crucial part in Samoa’s maiden overall triumph on the IRB Sevens World Series.

Peasamino signed professional terms with English Premiership club Sale Sharks in the summer but his original visa application was declined as he had not sat an English exam. 

He is now set to join up with the Cheshire-based club after Delhi, with Sharks Head Coach Mike Brewer giving him clearance to play in the Games last week.

One major blow for the islanders will be the loss of influential half-back Uale Mai who has joined Spanish side El Salvador and is unavailable for his country.

The vastly experienced Mai has scored 1174 IRB Sevens points and played an integral role in Samoa’s recent success.

10 of the squad that clinched the Series at the Edinburgh Sevens in May return with the side again captained by kicking machine Lolo Lui.

Dynamic forwards Alafoti Fa'osiliva and Simaika Mikaele were in red-hot form last season and will look to fuel Samoa to a first-ever gold medal.

Scrum-half Paul Chan Tung and Apelu Fa’aigua have also been drafted in by coach Stephen Betham. 

Samoa squad for Commonwealth Games:
Ofisa Trevaranius, Simaika Mikaele, Alafoti Faosiliva, Afa Aiono, Pale Toelupe, Apelu Fa'aiuga, Lolo Lui, Alatasi Tupou, Reupena Levasa, Mikaele Pesamino, Paul Chan Tung, Fautua Otto.

--- 

Thomson out for NZ

New Zealand will be without All-Black Adam Thomson for India after the 28-year-old flanker injured a knee playing for Otago in a domestic ITM Cup match.

Standby replacement Solomon King is expected to replace Thomson, although he is also a doubt as he battles to recover from a leg problem.

It is the latest in a series of concerns for coach Gordon Tietjens with captain DJ Forbes hit by a groin injury and playmaker Tomasi Cama fracturing a cheek last month playing for Manawatu.

Tietjens will need special clearance from the NZRU if he is to pluck replacements from their ITM Cup teams.