Gunner in Samoan rugby side

Lance Bombardier Leif Schwencke is hoping he can end his professional rugby career (for the third time) on a high after being selected for the Manu Samoa rugby team for the first time.

The gunner only found out he’d made the squad when he returned from exercising with 16th Field Regiment at Waiouru to a mass of phone messages.

He feared that someone had died but instead it was people congratulating him for being named in the squad that will face Scotland at Eden Park next month and then compete in the Pacific Nations Cup.

The 29-year-old, who plays hooker and whose father is Samoan and also ex-Army (a tankie), was one of 11 debutants named in the 35-man squad.

He believed he’d been in the selection mix earlier in his career but wasn’t chosen as he had prioritised Army deployments over playing.

LBDR Schwencke has played for Samoa under-20s and Auckland.

The big city was getting too expensive and his decision to enlist in 2021 played a small part in revitalising his first-class rugby career after a handful of appearances for Auckland.

LBDR Schwencke moved to Linton Army Camp, where the Manawatū rugby coach spotted him out running and told him to put on 10kg.

That led to appearances for Manawatū and inclusion in the Hurricanes training squad in 2023.

LBDR Schwencke said Army hierarchy had been very supportive of his rugby career and he was granted leave to join the Manu Samoa squad from 9 July.

He admitted he would have a lot of work to do in the next month to get fit for international rugby.

He had contacted NZDF physical trainer Kyle Foster, who has spent time as the strength and conditioning coach for Manu Samoa, for a training programme.

Having already “retired” twice from professional rugby, he was excited to get another chance at international rugby.

“I hope I can get a few games to end my career on a high.”

Manu Samoa play Scotland at Eden Park on 18 July, followed by Tonga in Nuku’alofa on 23 August and Fiji in Rotorua on 6 September.