Overview

• Rugby League Samoa officially confirmed Haas’s eligibility change on August 16, clearing him for the post-season Pacific Championships.
• International Rugby League rules bar players from representing both tier-one and tier-two nations in the same calendar year, making Haas unavailable for Australia’s Ashes tour.
• Haas cited a defining moment hearing the Samoa anthem and his mother’s blessing as the key reasons for his switch in allegiance.
• He is scheduled to make his Samoan debut against Tonga at Brisbane’s Suncorp Stadium on October 26 in the Pacific Cup.
• Several other Australian-based players of Samoan heritage are reportedly considering similar allegiance changes ahead of the 2026 World Cup.