The final three squads to contest the 2017 Brisbane Global Rugby Tens have been named, with the Blue Bulls, Panasonic Wild Knights and Tama Samoa confirming their line-ups.
Former Wallabies playmaker Berrick Barnes and emerging talent Ben Gunter have been confirmed in Panasonic Wild Knights squad, while the Robbie Deans-coached side also features Jack Cornelsen, the highly rated son of former Queensland and Wallabies great Greg Cornelson.
Try-scoring machine Akihito Yamada headlines a swag of Japanese stars that will be intent on showcasing their country’s continued emergence as rugby power. Japan famously defeated the Springboks in the 2015 World Cup and will host the next event in 2019.
Veteran prop Census Johnson will be leading the charge for Tama Samoa at the February 11 and 12 tournament. At a whopping 137kg, the 56-test cap Stade Toulousian prop will quite literally be the biggest attraction at the tournament.
The Tama Samoa squad features eight Manu Samoa players and two from the Manu Samoa Sevens, including Sevens captain Tila Mealoi and try scoring machine Samoa Toloa.
Captained by Falemiga Selesele, the selection is dominated by locally based players with Johnston providing the bulk of the experience.
“We are looking forward to playing against some of the top professional sides in the world,” coach Alama Ieremia said.
Springbok flanker Jacques Potgeiter headlines a raw but talented Blue Bulls line-up.
Wild Knights
Asaeli Ai Valu, Atsushi Sakate, Naoki Kawamata, Kotaro Yatabe, Daniel Heenan, Masaki Tani, Ryota Hasegawa, Yoichi Iijima, Yuta Takagi, Taiki Koyama, Ben Gunter, Ryu Koliniasi Holani, Jack Cornelsen, Emerson Tamura, Takuya Yamasawa, Berrick Barnes, Rikiya Matsuda, Akihito Yamada, Yasuki Hayashi, Yuga Hyakutake, Keisuke Moriya, Tomoki Kitagawa, Iori Kaji, Yoshikazu Fujita, Kentaro Kodama, Tadahiro Miwa
Blue Bulls
Francolis Brummer, Dries Swanepoel, Tian Schoeman, Cornelius Els, Edgar Marutlulle, Renaldo Bothma, Ruben Van Heerden, Ruan Steenkamp, Rudy Paige, Shaun Adendorff, Travis Ismaiel, Jacques Potgieter, Hanro Liebenberg, Ivan Van Zyl, Conrad Van Vuuren, Jade Stighling, Jamba Ulengo, John Kotze, JT Jackson, John-Roy Jenkinson, Lizo Gqoboka, Luther Obi, Burger Odendaal, Nicholas De Jager, Piet Van Zyl, Warrick Gelant
Tama Samoa
Census Johnston, Tietie Tuimauga, Ausetalia Vaiomanu, Jarred Adams, Bronson Fotualii Tauakipulu, Ripine Fualau, Oneone Faafou, Faalemiga Selesele, Mikaele Tapili, Liahona Vaegaau, Jeff Lepa, Greg Foe, Lucky Schuster Palamo, Danny Tusitala, Dangelo Leuila, Patrick Faapale, Opetera Peleseuma, Faafou Amate, Meki Magele, Tila Mealoi, Johnny Samuelu, Faletoa Moli, Samoa Toloa