The Highlanders number 8 Liukanasi Manu was one of six new faces included in the ‘Ikale Tahi squad for June’s Pacific Cup, alongside prop David Fe’ao (France), prop David Lolohea (Australia), prop Vunipola Fifita (Australia), winger Sione Fifita (New Zealand) and winger Viliami Lolohea (New Zealand).
Head coach Toutai Kefu has announced his Ikale Tahi 30 man squad on Monday.
TRU said this tournament is a key preparation step towards the World Cup in 2019.
This year the pre-tour training Camp will be held in Auckland, New Zealand on the May 24 -June 3, 2018. With the June Test Match schedule as follows:
- June 9th: vs Georgia, Suva, Fiji
- June 16th: vs Samoa, Suva, Fiji
- June 23rd: vs Fiji, Nadi, Fiji
Siale Piutau will captain the side with the six uncapped players selected for the campaign.
Four new staff also join the team, among them former All Black Pita Alatini joins as Assistant Coach and former ‘Ikale Tahi captain ‘Inoke Afeaki joins the staff as Team Manager for the tour and will be assisted by Tony Alatini.
The team
| Position | Name | Last Name | Village | CLUB |
| Prop | Siegfried | Fisi’ihoi | Falaleu & ‘Utui (Vv) | Stade Francais |
| Prop | David | Lolohea | Ha’asini (Tt) | West Harbour Pirates |
| Prop | David | Feao | Kolovai (Tt) | Narbonne |
| Hooker | Sione | Lea | Vaimalo (Vv) | Taranaki |
| Hooker | Paula | Ngauamo | Vaini, Kolomotu’a, Fasi & Kolofo’ou (Tt) | Agen |
| Hooker | Sefo | Sakalia | Ma’ufanga (Tt) & Nomuka (Hp) | Rugby Steaua |
| Prop | Siua | Halanukonuka | Hoi (Tt) | Glasgow |
| Prop | Vunipola | Fifita | Kala’au and Malapo (Tt) | Souths Magpies |
| Prop | Paea | Fa’anunu | Leimatu’a (Vv) | Castres |
| Lock | Sitiveni | Mafi | ‘Ahau (Tt) & Kolovai (Tt) | Castres |
| Lock | Leva | Fifita | Neiafu (Vv) | Waikato |
| Lock | Joe | Tu’ineau | Fasi Moe Afi (Tt) | DAX |
| Lock | Dan | Faleafa | Kolomotu’a & Kolovai (Tt) | US Colomiers |
| Backrow | Mike | Faleafa | Kolomotu’a & Kolovai (Tt) | Perpignan |
| Backrow | Valentino | Mapapalangi | Holonga & Ha’alalo (Tt) | Leicester Tigers |
| Backrow | Fotu | Lokotui | Longoteme (Tt) | Counties Manukau |
| Backrow | Maama | Vaipulu | Folaha (Tt) | Castres |
| Backrow | Nasi | Manu | Vaini & Ha’ateiho (Tt) | Treviso |
| Halfback | Sonatane | Takulua | Lapaha, Ma’ufanga (Tt) & Niuatoputapu | Newcastle Falcons |
| Halfback | Suke | Tuumotooa | Houma (Tt) | NEC Green Rockets |
| Flyhalf | Kurt | Morath | Leimatu’a (Vv) | Utah Warriors |
| Flyhalf | Latiume | Fosita | Haveluloto (Tt) & Felemea (Hp) | Counties Manukau |
| Flyhalf | George | Taina | Vaini (Tt) | Tonga A |
| Centre | Siale | Piutau | Kolofo’ou & Folaha (Tt) | Bristol Bears |
| Centre | Nafi | Tu’itavake | Kolomotu’a (Tt) & Malapo (Tt) | Northampton Saints |
| Wing | Sione | Fifita | Hihifo (Hp) | Counties Manukau |
| Wing | Penikolo | Latu | Mataika (Vv) | University of Waikato |
| Wing | Cooper | Vuna | Houma (Tt) | Bath |
| Wing | Viliami | Lolohea | Navutoka (Tt) & Niuatoputapu | Tasman |
| Fullback | David | Halaifonua | Fatumu & Tukulalo, Houma (Vv) | Gloucester |
