Gear, Schwalger headline Dragons
The Asia Pacific Dragons have named six international players in their 24-man squad to take on the Western Force in their pre-season fixture in Perth on Saturday.
The Dragons, coached by legendary All Black centre Tana Umaga, is an invitational team comprised of experienced and up-and-coming players from Asia and the Pacific Islands that have played at a standard of NPC, Super Rugby or Tests.
The squad is headlined by All Black outside back Rico Gear (19 Tests), along with former Chiefs hooker and Samoan captain Mahonri Schwalger (40 Tests).
The team features Test internationals Taniela Koroi (Fiji), Michael Little (Fiji), Junior Poluleuligaga (Samoa) and Hale T-Pole (Tonga), as well as Maori All Black fullback Willy Walker and New Zealand Sevens representative Onosai Auva'a.
Asia Pacific Dragons: 15 Willy Walker, 14 Shannon Chase, 13 Rico Gear, 12 Karl Ropati, 11 Afa Fa'atau, 10 Michael Little, 9 Junior Poluleuligaga, 8 Matt Vaai, 7 Tony Lamborn, 6 Peter Samu, 5 Gerard Tuloti-Mariner, 4 Michael Stolberg, 3 Taniela Koroi, 2 Mahonri Schwalger, 1 Aki Seiuli.
Replacements – from: Seilala Lam, Sam Aiono, Solomona Sakalia, Hale T-Pole, Onosai Auva'a, Kurt Davies, James Faiva, Tu Umaga Marshall, Fa'autu Tuaimalo.
Date: Saturday, January 31
Venue: McGillivray Oval, Perth
Kick-off: 17.00 (09.00 GMT)
Referee: Angus Gardner
Assistant referees: Rob Kellam, Pat Davis
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