See all the late mail, official team news and updates for Week 1 of the 2025 Pacific Championships Men's and Women's tournaments.
The Pacific Bowl kicks off with two games in Port Moresby on Saturday before we head to Auckland on Sunday for a Kiwis-Samoa double-header.
Ben Gardiner's Samoan team will feature no fewer than nine State of Origin players - Brian To'o, Murray Taulagi, Jarome Luai, Josh Papalii, Payne Haas, Jeremiah Nanai, Jaydn Su'A, Junior Paulo and Francis Molo.
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Pacific Championships Team Lists: Week 1 - Men's
Kiwis v Toa Samoa, Sunday 4.05pm (AEDT) at Go Media Stadium, Auckland
Match: Kiwis v Toa Samoa
Round 1 -
home Team
Kiwis
away Team
Toa Samoa
Team Lists
Backs
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Fullback for Kiwis is number 1 Charnze Nicoll-KlokstadFullback for Toa Samoa is number 1 Roger Tuivasa-Sheck
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Winger for Kiwis is number 2 Jamayne IsaakoWinger for Toa Samoa is number 2 Brian To'o
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Centre for Kiwis is number 3 Matthew TimokoCentre for Toa Samoa is number 3 Izack Tago
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Centre for Kiwis is number 4 Casey McLeanCentre for Toa Samoa is number 4 Deine Mariner
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Winger for Kiwis is number 5 Ronaldo MulitaloWinger for Toa Samoa is number 5 Murray Taulagi
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Five-Eighth for Kiwis is number 6 Dylan BrownFive-Eighth for Toa Samoa is number 6 Blaize Talagi
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Halfback for Kiwis is number 7 Kieran ForanHalfback for Toa Samoa is number 7 Jarome Luai
Forwards
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Prop for Kiwis is number 8 James Fisher-HarrisProp for Toa Samoa is number 8 Josh Papalii
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Hooker for Kiwis is number 9 Jeremy Marshall-KingHooker for Toa Samoa is number 9 Jazz Tevaga
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Prop for Kiwis is number 10 Moses LeotaProp for Toa Samoa is number 10 Payne Haas
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2nd Row for Kiwis is number 11 Briton Nikora2nd Row for Toa Samoa is number 11 Jeremiah Nanai
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2nd Row for Kiwis is number 12 Isaiah Papali'i2nd Row for Toa Samoa is number 12 Jaydn Su'A
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Lock for Kiwis is number 13 Joseph TapineLock for Toa Samoa is number 13 Junior Paulo
Interchange
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Interchange for Kiwis is number 14 Phoenix CrosslandInterchange for Toa Samoa is number 14 Chanel Harris-Tavita
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Interchange for Kiwis is number 15 Naufahu WhyteInterchange for Toa Samoa is number 15 Simi Sasagi
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Interchange for Kiwis is number 16 Erin ClarkInterchange for Toa Samoa is number 17 Francis Molo
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Interchange for Kiwis is number 17 Nelson Asofa-SolomonaInterchange for Toa Samoa is number 19 Ata Mariota
Reserves
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Replacement for Kiwis is number 19 Keano KiniReplacement for Toa Samoa is number 18 Benaiah Ioelu
Match Officials
- Referee: Peter Gough
- Touch Judge: Wyatt Raymond
- Touch Judge: Drew Oultram
- Senior Review Official: Chris Butler
Last updated:
Kiwis: Warhorse James Fisher-Harris captains a vastly experienced side that includes 31-Test veteran Kieran Foran at halfback in his first international appearance since the 2023 Pac Champs Final. At 35 years and 98 days, Foran will become the oldest man to play a Test for the Kiwis, surpassing Benji Marshall (34 years, 257 days) against Great Britain in 2019. Roosters enforcer Naufahu Whyte averaged 148m per game in 2025 and could be a late call-up to the starting side. Dolphins star Jeremy Marshall-King lines up at hooker in his first Test match since the 2022 World Cup and Nelson Asofa-Solomona makes his 16th appearance in Kiwi colours having served a three-game ban for a careless high tackle in Round 27 against the Broncos. Keano Kini is the 18th man.
Toa Samoa: A late change an hour before kick-off with Ata Mariota joining the bench in jersey No.19 after Terrell May was ruled out of the contest in Saturday's 24-hour update. May's withdrawal comes after brother Taylan was ruled out of the tournament with a torn quad. The 24-year-old was named in Ben Gardiner's initial squad along but now faces six weeks out to rehab the injury before joining Wests Tigers for pre-season training. Raiders veteran Josh Papalii returns on a two-year mission to lead his country to a historic World Cup victory. The 33-year-old will play his first Test match since the 2022 World Cup final against Australia at Old Trafford. Young gun Blaize Talagi joins Luai in the halves while Izack Tago and Deine Mariner form a dynamic centre pairing. Benaiah Ioelu is 18th man.
