FIJI-BORN and Japanese international rugby union rep, Samuela Anise is set to face one of the highlights of his rugby career.
The Rotuma man, who was brought in by Japan coach Jamie Joseph with some much-needed height to the lineout against Wales where they lost 33-30 last week, might face his countrymen when the Vodafone Flying Fijians play the Brave Blossom this weekend.
Anise played his last game for Naitasiri in June 20, 2008.
In a fitting farewell from his teammates, the hillmen defeated Nadi 9-3 in a game they dedicated to him before moving on with his rugby career to Japan. The team was coached by the late schoolteacher Eroni Vereivalu. The same year he played for the Warriors in the PNC against Tonga.
The former Warrior locks is set to go head to head with Api Ratuniyarawa, who played along side Anise in the Naitasiri outfit.
Anise is playing for Top League side the Canon Eagles ahead of the 2016-17 season and instantly established himself as a regular starter with his new side.
Meanwhile, Japan’s new head coach Jamie Joseph, who made four changes from the side that gave him his first win in Tiblisi last weekend, a 28-22 victory over Georgia, named the versatile second rower Anise alongside veteran prop Kensuke Hatakeyama, and wings Akihito Yamada and Kenki Fukuoka all re-called to bolster a grossly inexperienced Japan side that includes five forwards with two caps or less.
Joseph is yet to name his side to take on Fiji this weekend.
