Samoan and New Zealand based rugby player, Kelly Meafua has been called to join the Samoa Sevens team to the IRB World Sevens Series Round 6 and 7 in Japan and Hong Kong.
The last minute change is to replace Captain Reupena Levasa who is suspected of illness. “At this stage we are awaiting Levasa’s medical report which will also gives us an indication on how long he’s expected to be away from rugby,” Chief Executive Officer for the Union, Fred Amoa says.
Kelly Meafua according to the selectors is a powerful forward with experience in the HSBC- he was selected in the team during the Las Vegas and Wellington legs. He is on the non travelling reserve list. Meafua who is in currently in Auckland, New Zealand is expected to travel to Japan on Thursday this week.
Meanwhile SRU has negotiated with HSBC management, the utilization of the plane ticket allocation, initially allocated for Levasa, to be assigned to Meafua.
SRU says in order for HSBC to grant this allocation, a full medical report on Levasa’s health condition is required. The SRU medical commission doctors are providing this medical report to support the travel replacement as per HSBC Sevens Tournament policies.
APIA, ( TALAMUA ONLINE)
