Our Central Stags and BLACKCAPS legend ROSS TAYLOR is coming out of international retirement.

Taylor is one of a trio of Stags Alumni involved in an exciting bid to get Samoa to the ICC T20 World Cup for the first time.

Taylor has been named in a squad coached by fellow Alumnus TARUN NETHULA (Head Coach) while another former Stag in current Northern Districts captain JEET RAVAL is one of Nethula's Assistant Coaches.

Samoa is getting ready to head to Oman for the ICC Asia/East Asia Pacific Qualifier next month (October 2026).

The next World Cup is coming up in February 2026 and Nethula has shoulder-tapped Auckland Aces captain Sean Solia and former Wellington Firebirds rep Ili Tugaga (now 35) as well, together with the athletic son of Dion Nash and former Silver Ferns captain Bernice Mene, Solomon Nash.

That's quite the line-up as the likes of Taylor and Nethula link arms with Samoan-raised cricketers to embark on a dream adventure, looking to share their knowledge and elevate Samoan cricket further. 

The surprise has been under wraps for a while but at 41, Taylor initially thought he would be returning to just help out with coaching, as he has done previously.

But with the requisite three years having passed since his BLACKCAPS retirement, he's eligible to play for another country now - and so we may well indeed see him in action again soon, in Oman.

Next year's men's T20 World Cup is in India and Sri Lanka, and to get there Samoa needs to first of all see off Oman, Japan, Nepal, Kuwait, Malaysia, Qatar, UAE and Papua New Guinea - the latter a team Taylor has helped out on the coaching front in the past.

"We have Oman and Papua New Guinea in our pool and then two teams go out of that into the next round," says Taylor.

They are stiff competition but if Samoa secure a top-three finish overall, they advance to the next qualification stage for next year’s World Cup in India and Sri Lanka - where Taylor could line up against his former BLACKCAPS teammates.

Taylor is eligible for Samoa through his late mother, Lote and has been to his familial homeland before to assist with local cricket development and inspiration for the Samoan association.

"This is more than just a return to the game I love - it's the huge honour to represent my heritage, culture, villages and family," Taylor said on Instagram.

"I'm excited for the opportunity to give back to the game, join the squad, and share my experience on and off the field."

But he adds that he never thought he'd be giving back in a playing capacity.

Taylor has been enjoying playing Legends cricket since his retirement, but admitted he had to spruce himself up on the training front in anticipation of his selection for Samoa. 

Pre-Taylor, Samoa had already unexpectedly trumped the likes of Vanuatu, Cook Islands and Fiji to claim their spot at the new, hybrid Asia/East Asia-Pacific Qualifier next month.

The Asia-East Asia-Pacific T20 World Cup 2026 Qualifier begins on October 8 2025 with the action streamed free on ICC TV.

Samoa's men have never made it to the T20 World Cup before.

Samoa T20 Squad:

Caleb Jasmat (c)

Luteru Ross Taylor

Darius Visser

Sean Solia

Daniel Burgess

Douglas Finau

Sam French

Kurtis Hynam-Nyberg

Ben Mailata

Noah Mead

Solomon Nash

Samson Sola

Fereti Sululoto

Saumani Tiai

Ili Tugaga

Article added: Friday 5 September 2025