Rugby: Eligibility loophole offers Samoa hope for robust side to meet ABs

NZ Rugby chairman Brent Impey and Samoa Rugby Union chairman Tuilaepa Sailele Malielegaoi have locked in the Samoa test. Picture / Getty Images

Samoan assistant coach Alama Ieremia says the union will know in the next few weeks whether they will be able to call upon a group of new players through the International Rugby Board's eligibility loophole.

Following confirmation yesterday of an historic test between Samoa and New Zealand that is set down for Apia on Wednesday, July 8 next year, attention has turned to what players the Pacific Island nation can select.

The loophole was introduced following the inclusion of sevens at the Olympics, which allows capped players, who have not represented their nation for 18 months but hold a passport for another country, to change their allegiance.

They can then play in the 2014-2015 IRB Sevens World Series, which would make them eligible to attend next year's 15s World Cup and play sevens at the Olympics in 2016.

Players such as former All Blacks Isaia Toeava, Rudi Wulf and Lelia Masaga are some of the names that have been mentioned and Ieremia said they had recently applied on behalf of six to nine players.

"We'll probably know in the next couple of weeks because the processes have just gone through," Ieremia said. "Obviously I can't name any of the players at this stage ... but we are certainly looking at that and the balance of making sure we look after our own as well."

The loophole has created an international lifeline for some players who thought their careers on the biggest stage were over.

"I'm absolutely rapt about it," Ieremia said. "For me, it's about making sure we get the best players playing at the highest level and there's a lot of Samoans that are playing around [the world] that have obviously been capped [by other countries] but still have the potential to play for our country."

Ieremia was confident Samoa would also be able to call upon their existing frontline players, many of whom are contracted to French and English clubs.

Next year's test between the All Blacks and Samoa will take place at Apia Park, which seats around 20,000, at 3pm local time (2pm NZT).

The match will begin New Zealand's preparation for the defence of their World Cup crown with the Rugby Championship to follow.

There's one catch around the test in Samoa though. The game will be played in the week after next season's Super Rugby final and any player who is involved in the tournament's showpiece fixture won't be considered for selection against Samoa.

That could create the possibility of an understrength All Black side if two Kiwi teams were to make the Super Rugby final but coach Steve Hansen said they would still select a strong outfit. "There's no such thing as an All Black B team."