NZ Heartland

The Pasifika Challenge II will see an international doubleheader, with the New Zealand Heartland XV taking on Manu Samoa (kick off 2pm) followed by Tonga v Fiji.

The New Zealand Heartland XV is;

The current Mid Canterbury looseman says he is grateful to be selected again in this season’s line-up.

“I feel honoured and thankful for the opportunity.”

Koroitamana adds the upcoming game against Samoa will a chance to better his performance.

“First, I am so privileged to be playing against my Samoa brothers and for what I hope to achieve is that it’s a good platform for me to springboard my future in for more opportunities in my rugby career,” he said.

Koroitamana will play among four other Fijian players for the team.

Former NZ Heartland Player of the Year Lindsay Horrocks (2015-2016) returns, fellow national Heartland old hands Campbell Hart (2018) and Craig Clare (2017-2018) are named, while Peni Nabainivalu (2018 and in 2016 for Buller) and newcomer Timoci Serawalu also join the fray.

All are Wanganui union players, although Serawalu is currently on loan to Horwhenua-Kapiti.

The match against Samoa is the opening game of the Pasifika Challenge II, the double header also features Tonga v Fiji as part of their Rugby World Cup preparation.

An announcement was made at the venue of the games on Wednesday morning, which will be warm up fixtures for the Rugby World Cup in Japan.

Auckland Tourism Events and Economic Development (Ateed), which is an arm of Auckland Council, is involved with putting on the games and there is hope that fans will come out in a similar way to how they've done for the Tongan rugby league team in recent years.