Seawolves' Iona, Noa Receive Manu Samoa Call-Ups

Flyhalf Rodney Iona (Left) and forward Olajuwon “OJ” Noa” (right) have both received call-ups to the Samoa men’s national rugby union team. Credit: Seattle Seawolves.

On June 10, 2025, Samoa men’s national team head coach Tusi Pisi announced the Manu Samoa team roster for the 2025 test window, and it includes two Seattle Seawolves and six total Major League Rugby players. 

Flyhalf Rodney Iona and forward Olajuwon Noa have both made the cut for Samoa this year. The announced roster is valid for both the Scotland-Samoa test on July 18 and the 2025 Pacific Nations Cup in August and September, where Samoa will play Fiji and Tonga in Pool A.

Both Iona and Noa have been on the Samoan international roster before, with Iona receiving his first call-up in 2018 and Noa getting his first in 2021. In addition to test matches, Iona has played in three Pacific Nations Cups – scoring seven penalty goals and eleven conversions in seven appearances – while Noa has been in two Pacific Nations Cups and notched three appearances.

Other MLR players called up on the roster are Utah Warriors prop Aki Seiuli, Houston SaberCats front rower Pita Anae-Ah Sue, NOLA Gold eightman Jonah Mau’u, and Utah Warriors center D’Angelo Leuila.

Because the test window starts after the conclusion of the 2025 Major League Rugby playoffs, these callups will not impact the seasons of the Seawolves or of any other MLR team.