Prop Aki Seiuli will be bidding to burn off some international frustration when he comes face-to-face with his old club today.
A summer recruit from Glasgow who has made five appearances to date for Dragons, Seiuli will start against his former team-mates this evening at Scotstoun Stadium (kick-off 7.35pm).
The 28-year-old will be pulling on his boots for the first time in over a month after his latest bid to make his Samoa debut was cancelled in cruel fashion in London last weekend.
Loosehead Seiuli was released by Dragons to make his international debut and named to start at Twickenham against the Barbarians.
However, Covid cases in the opposite camp saw the game called off in dramatic fashion 90 minutes before the start.
“It was unfortunate. There were a lot of players who came from all over the world, and we were looking forward to playing for the jersey and our families,” said Seiuli.
“To get it cancelled last minute was very frustrating. We enjoyed our week together, got through some work, so we were fizzing for it. “It was 90 minutes before the game that we were told. We were getting ready for the warm-up when the management came in, put us in a huddle and broke the news to us.
“We thought it would be good if we still chucked our rugby kit on and went out to sing the national anthem and do the Siva Tau for the fans that had come out and our families that had come from around Europe.
“I’m still waiting to get the first game, but it was emotional for the old fellas like Joe Tekori and the other boys who were going to play their last game.
“They only just got released by their clubs because they wanted to play their last game and leave the jersey with a good performance and in a good place. That was tough for them.”
It was the latest disappointment for Seiuli who, after opting against playing in the last World Cup as he moved to Scotland, also saw a summer call-up hit by Covid restrictions.
He added: “I had to make a decision before the last World Cup with Samoa because I was coming off an ACL injury and I was moving to Glasgow.
“Moving over, going to the World Cup and sorting everything back home, I just felt my heart and my soul wouldn’t have been all into it.
“I would have had my mind in two places so that decision was on me. I decided to not go through with that.
“In June I got called up, but I couldn’t get the travel back to New Zealand, I just couldn’t get there and missed out on that.
“Last weekend I was so close to running out on the field. It was unfortunate, but it could be worse.
“It’s a case of third time lucky now and playing at the next World Cup is the goal.”
Seiuli will look to remove any frustration against a Glasgow team he knows well after two seasons in Scotland before his move to Rodney Parade.
And he is expecting a fired-up Warriors side after the defeat to Benetton last weekend.
“When you consider last week’s performance, I think they will come out firing and I guess they always do against the Dragons,” he added.
“We’re expecting big things, we know what is coming, but we’re prepared, and the boys will go out and do a job.
“It’s been a while since I played, over a month now since I’ve been on the field, and we have got a big period with nine games on the trot.
“I’m very excited to face them,” he added. “I enjoyed my time up there and the two seasons I had with them; I made some good friendships.
“I was meant to playing against Ryan (Wilson) the skipper last week in the Barbarians game, but the game was cancelled. It will be good to come up against him too.”
We thought it would be good if we still chucked our rugby kit on and went out to sing the national anthem and do the Siva Tau for the fans that had come out and our families that had come from around Europe...
