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
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.
