Jacob Umaga Joins Samoa Squad for July Scotland Test, Pacific Nations Cup

Jacob Umaga, the former England fly-half capped in 2021, has been called up to the Samoa national rugby team for the first time under new head coach Tusi Pisi. Umaga qualifies for Samoa through his father, Mike Umaga, a former Manu Samoa player, and the change in World Rugby eligibility rules now allows him to switch nations after a three-year stand-down period. Samoa's 35-man squad, which features 11 uncapped players including Niko Jones, son of All Blacks legend Michael Jones, is preparing for a July test against Scotland and the Pacific Nations Cup, which acts as a qualifier for the 2027 Rugby World Cup. The team is led by captain Theo McFarland and includes players from clubs across seven countries, blending experience with fresh talent. Coach Pisi emphasized the importance of the selection, stating the players understand the significance of representing Samoa and view the upcoming competitions as critical for World Cup qualification. Umaga currently plays for Italy’s Benetton Treviso and is entering the final year of his contract after moving there following Wasps’ collapse in 2022.