Samoa Rugby

The World Rugby funded tournament replaces the former Pacific Rugby Challenge and aims to boost the high-performance pathway for tier-two nations.

Samoa A have been drawn in Pool A, alongside the Argentina XV and USA Selects, with Fiji Warriors, Canada A and Uruguay A in Pool B.

Teams will play each side in their opposite pool once, with the placing determined on total points after the three rounds.

World Rugby Vice-Chairm Agustín Pichot said the tournament is part of the governing body's strategy to boost tier-two teams in a World Cup cycle.

"It’s exciting to see the many teams visiting Samoa and especially the teams from Fiji, who are here to compete in our SII sevens this year," he said.

"I have been informed by the director of the tournament that this would be the most exciting tournament in the history of the SII sevens."

The Samoan-born England international, who is out of action with a long-term groin injury, agreed to a deal that will earn the 24-year-old more than £425,000-a-year with the East Midlands club.

The contract puts him among the world's richest players, and Tigers director of rugby Richard Cockerill praised Tuilagi's loyalty after he knocked back lucrative offers from Wasps, Worcester, Saracens and Toulouse.

"Manu is in the prime of his rugby life," Cockerill told the Daily Mail.