Samoa have for years craved the opportunity for regular competition against tier one rugby sides and the nation's wish has been answered with its inclusion in a tournament featuring the Springboks, Scotland and Italy.
The quadrangular tournament will be played in South Africa in June and Samoa's inclusion comes asa result of its position as the highest-ranked tier two nation last year.
Samoa will not defend their Pacific Nations Cup title this year, the International Rugby Board confirming that Canada and USA will join Fiji, Japan and Tonga on a permanent basis after competing for the first time in the tournament to be held in May and June. In a statement, the IRB said Samoa was taking a "sabbatical'' from the Pacific Nations Cup to play in South Africa.
Samoa last year beat Six Nations champions Wales in Cardiff 26-19, outscoring them three tries to two, and pushed France close a week later, losing 22-14.
