Castleford Tigers trialist and Wakefield Trinity winger playing for rugby union side

The Army Rugby side are set to play against Cambridge tonight – and there are two familiar names in the side that rugby league fans will recognise.

Castleford Tigers and Wakefield Trinity supporters will know two of the names included in the Army squad tonight with Junior Vasuitoga and John Davetanivalu starting at 13 and 14 – outside centre and winger – for the 15-a-side code.

Whilst Vasuitoga is on a trial at the Jungle, Davetanivalu recently signed a deal at Belle Vue.

“During 2020 I went to the Falklands for six months as a supplier, when I came back, I returned to sevens to play. Then there was an opportunity if I wanted to grab it with rugby league after my footage was seen by Lee (Radford),” Vasuitoga had previously told the Castleford website.

“I said, ‘If its rugby league or rugby union, it doesn’t matter as long as it had that oval shape, I’d be happy with it!’

“It’s been new, for me personally I am still trying to sink in that emotion that I am here. When I’ve got onto the pitch with the lads I was like ‘So this is how the professionals train,’ it is another level.

“I find it really good, the lads have been very helpful, there is a lot to take in, but they are really helpful with everything. The coaching staff too, any coaching drills I didn’t get right they’ve taught me how to do it, showing video.”

Meanwhile, Davetanivalu will wear the number 14 for the Army tonight and head Coach Willie Poching had previously said on the signing of Davetanivalu: “I’m really excited to have both on-board and, more importantly, so are their teammates.

“John is with the army but has played a lot of Rugby League as a junior, having grown up in this country. He was after an opportunity to try his hand at the professional game, and we gave him a trial, in which he has excelled to the point where he has earned a contract.

“He knows his position in the squad and knows he has a lot of learning to do but I’ll give a lot of credit to Tom Johnstone who has taken him under his wing and helped him learn a lot about the game. We look forward to seeing John picking more up and flourishing in the next little while.”

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