Fuimaono-Sapolu joined Gloucester in 2009, playing 30 games so far

Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu thinks Samoa's clash against the Combined Services at Kingsholm is vital for his country.

The 30-year-old Gloucester centre has won 17 caps and feels the match can bring on younger players in the squad.

"The Combined Services is an awesome concept and it's good for Samoa not just playing internationals," Fuimaono-Sapolu told BBC Radio Gloucestershire.

"It gives experience to those who are not in the Test match side to play against foreign players - it's great."

The game on Wednesday is Samoa's warm-up match before taking on England at Twickenham.

We don't have an army, we don't have a navy, or an air force - the Manu Samoa is our armed forces Eliota Fuimaono-Sapolu

The Combined Services may not be regarded as first class opposition, but Fuimaono-Sapolu believes his countrymen will relish the chance to test themselves against a team of people trained to fight for their country.

"We don't have an army, we don't have a navy, or an air force - the Manu Samoa is our armed forces," he said.

"Manu Samoa comes from the warrior Manu so we send our warriors, these warriors, around the world to try and win in foreign countries.

"This is our modern-day warfare, our hand-to-hand combat, so I think the whole concept is a great one."

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