The Wanganui Rugby Football Union has never had more adult players involved across multiple representative teams in the post-club season with the announcement of the new Wanganui Samoa squad.
Previously known as the Marton Samoans team, which was introduced two years ago, the side has been formally added into the WRFU fold and will compete in the 2018 High Commissioners Cup against Samoan representative teams from Horowhenua Kapiti, Manawatu and Hawke's Bay.
The Cup kicked off last Saturday with Manawatu Samoa defeated Horowhenua Kapiti Samoa 44-27 in Levin.
As well as the regionals tournaments of the past two seasons, last year the Marton Samoan team played local representative squads, drawing 19-19 with the Wanganui Toyota Development XV in horrible wet conditions in Bulls, then being beaten 33-5 by the Whanganui Maori side in a Cooks Gardens curtainraiser before a Steelform Wanganui match.
There have been 36 players named initially for the new squad under Wanganui legend Ace Malo, although there will be some alterations such as Desmond Tyrell currently having commitments to the Heartland Hurricanes Under 20's squad.
