Rugby league-Samoa coach says Tuivasa-Sheck eyeing 2026 World Cup

(Reuters) – Roger Tuivasa-Sheck’s switch to Samoa from New Zealand comes with aspirations of winning a rugby league World Cup in 2026, the Pacific nation’s coach Ben Gardiner said.

Tuivasa-Sheck’s latest move in his remarkable sporting career was confirmed on Thursday when New Zealand boss Stacey Jones revealed the dual code international wanted to play for his birth nation instead of the Kiwis.

Two years ago, Samoa embarked on a fairytale run at the COVID-delayed 2021 World Cup in England, finishing runners-up behind Australia.

With Tuivasa-Sheck on board, the Samoans will hope to go one better at the 2026 showpiece in Australia and Papua New Guinea.

Gardiner said Tuivasa-Sheck, who played 20 tests for New Zealand and three for the All Blacks in rugby union, was “very complimentary” about playing for Samoa.

“He has said if his form merits it he would like to make himself available,” he told Australian Associated Press.

“When I’ve talked to Roger it’s always been about building to the World Cup.

“We’re trying to build a team so that when Samoa goes to the World Cup in 2026, everyone has played together and knows the styles and systems we have.

“It gives us an opportunity to take Samoa one better the next time around.”

Samoa’s barnstorming run at the last World Cup was helped by talent from Australia’s National Rugby League competition, including Stephen Crichton and Brian To’o.

Gardiner hopes 31-year-old New Zealand Warriors centre Tuivasa-Sheck might inspire more players to defect from top rugby league nations like Australia and New Zealand.

“The biggest thing that talks around footballers is footballers,” he said.

“(If they’re saying to each other) ‘it’s very professional, it’s going to be similar or better in that manner to being in New Zealand or the Australian camp,’ then I think we have a point of difference in our ability to connect the heritage.”

(Reporting by Ian Ransom in Melbourne; Editing by Peter Rutherford)