Moana Pasifika is a rugby union team made up of players from various Pacific Island nations as well as New Zealand or Australian born players of Pasifika heritage, including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands who play in the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Many of its players represent Tonga and Samoa at the international level, while it also includes current and former All Blacks such as Ardie Savea and Julian Savea.
 | ||
| Union | New Zealand Rugby | |
|---|---|---|
| Founded | 2020 | |
| Ground(s) | North Harbour Stadium (Capacity: 14,000) | |
| Coach(es) | Tana Umaga | |
| Captain(s) | James Lay | |
| League(s) | Super Rugby Pacific | |
| 2024 | 11th overall | |
| ||
| Official website | ||
| moanapasifika | ||
The team was originally created for a one-off match against the Māori All Blacks in December 2020, with the future intention of trying to join the Super Rugby competition.
On 14 April 2021, New Zealand Rugby confirmed the side had been granted a conditional licence to join the Super Rugby competition.[1]
On 12 July 2021, the team was granted an unconditional licence, confirming them for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.[2]
The team played its inaugural Super Rugby match on 4 March 2022.
History
editOn 24 November 2020, Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga named a 26-man squad for the match against the Māori All Blacks on 5 December 2020.[3][4] The team was made up of New Zealand-based players who were international or sevens capped by a Pacific team or identified with a Pacific region. On 5 December 2020, the team played their first match, against the Māori All Blacks at Waikato Stadium. Captained by Sydney born Samoan international Michael Alaalatoa the side lost to the Māori 28–21.
Super Rugby
editFollowing the conclusion of the 2020 Super Rugby season, the licences for the South African Super Rugby sides (the Bulls, the Lions, the Sharks and the Stormers), the Argentine Jaguares and the Japanese Sunwolves all expired.[5] The 2021 Super Rugby season, still affected by the COVID-19 pandemic, was played in two regionalised tournaments featuring the five New Zealand Super Rugby sides and the four Australian Super Rugby sides, plus the Western Force who had returned to the tournament having lost their licence at the end of the 2017 Super Rugby season. However, from 2022 onwards a new 12-team tournament had been mooted, and on 13 November 2020, the New Zealand Rugby Union announced Moana Pasifika, along with the Fijian Drua as its preferred partners to join the competition.[6] Further steps were made in March 2021, when the New Zealand Rugby Union agreed to a sharing of broadcast revenue with both Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua,[7] and this was followed later in the same month by World Rugby announcing financial, high performance and administrative support for both potential new sides, in order to boost the performances of Pacific Islands at international level, while also being able to stay local instead of heading overseas.[8]
On 14 April 2021, both sides were granted conditional licenses to join Super Rugby in 2022 by the New Zealand Rugby Union.[9]
On 12 July 2021, the team were granted an unconditional licence, confirming them for the 2022 Super Rugby season.[2]
On 30 August 2021, the side was confirmed in Super Rugby for the 2022 and 2023 seasons, beginning with the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season.[10]
In September it was announced that Moana Pasifika would be based in South Auckland, Auckland Region, and would play their fixtures at Mt Smart Stadium until 2028.[11] Dynasty Sport was announced as the supplier for the team's on-field kit.[12] Aaron Mauger was then announced as the first coach of the team on 30 September 2021.[13]
On 15 November 2021, the schedule for the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season was announced, with Moana Pasifika's inaugural match against the Brumbies in Auckland.[14]
On 2 February 2022, Sekope Kepu was named as the inaugural captain of the Moana Pasifika franchise.[15]
Moana Pasifika played its inaugural Super Rugby game on 4 March 2022, a 12–33 loss to the Crusaders. In that historic game, loose forward Solomone Funaki scored the franchise's first ever try.[16] Three weeks later, Moana Pasifika won its first Super Rugby game against the Hurricanes at Mt Smart Stadium, winning 24–19.[17]
On 21 July 2024, Moana Pasifika announced the signing of All Blacks forward Ardie Savea, which was considered by many to be the most significant player transfer in Super Rugby history. [18]
In September 2024, it was announced that Moana Pasifika would make North Harbour Stadium its fulltime home, with home games to be hosted at the venue in 2025. [19]
Current squad
editThe squad for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season is:[20]
| Moana Pasifika Super Rugby squad | ||
|---|---|---|
|
Props Hookers Locks |
Loose forwards
Halfbacks (scrum-halves) First five-eighths (fly-halves) |
Midfielders (centres) Outside backs |
|
Coaching staff
editThe following coaching team was appointed for the 2025 Super Rugby Pacific season:[21]
| Name | Title |
|---|---|
 Tana Umaga |
Head coach |
| Tom Coventry |
Assistant coach |
 Stephen Jones |
Backs coach |
 Pauliasi Manu |
Scrum coach |
| Alando Soakai |
Defence coach |
 Seilala Mapusua |
Skills coach |
Past players
editSee also
editReferences
edit- ^ "Next steps in Pacific Island professional teams journey confirmed by NZ Rugby" (Press release). All Blacks. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ a b "Moana Pasifika granted unconditional licence". Super Rugby NZ. 12 July 2021. Retrieved 12 July 2021.
- ^ a b "Tana Umaga names experienced Moana Pasifika squad". rnz.co.nz. 24 November 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ a b "Moana Pasifika names side to face Māori All Blacks". allblacks.com. 3 December 2020. Retrieved 3 December 2020.
- ^ "Reports: Super Rugby set for 12 from 2022". SA Rugby Magazine. 4 November 2020. Retrieved 11 November 2020.
- ^ "New Zealand Rugby confirms Fiji Rugby & Moana Pasifika as preferred partners". New Zealand Rugby. 13 November 2020. Retrieved 13 November 2020.
- ^ "Super Rugby: Moana Pasifika, Fiji poised for 2022 inclusion as NZ Rugby shares broadcast revenue". Stuff.co.nz. 9 March 2021. Retrieved 9 March 2021.
- ^ "World Rugby to support Pacific Islands Super Rugby ambitions". World Rugby. 24 March 2021. Retrieved 24 March 2021.
- ^ "Next steps in Pacific Island professional teams journey confirmed by NZ Rugby". All Blacks. 14 April 2021. Retrieved 14 April 2021.
- ^ "Super Rugby Pacific format confirmed". Super Rugby NZ. 30 August 2021. Retrieved 3 September 2021.
- ^ "Super Rugby: Moana Pasifika lays down roots at Mt Smart Stadium". Stuff.co.nz. 28 September 2021. Retrieved 28 September 2021.
- ^ Zealand, Dynasty Sport | New (29 September 2021). "Dynasty Sport Partners with Moana Pasifika to Make Rugby History". Dynasty Sport | New Zealand. Retrieved 29 September 2021.
- ^ "New Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger signals intent to sign best young talent before NZ teams". Stuff.co.nz. 30 September 2021. Retrieved 30 September 2021.
- ^ "Match schedule for Super Rugby Pacific revealed". SANZAAR. 15 November 2021. Retrieved 15 November 2021.
- ^ "Sekope Kepu named Moana Pasifika Captain". Moana Pasifika. 2 February 2022. Retrieved 2 February 2022.
- ^ "Moana Pasifika make Crusaders fight for win in historic Super Rugby debut". Stuff NZ. 4 March 2022. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
- ^ "Moana Pasifika beat Hurricanes for 1st Super Rugby win". AP. 26 March 2022. Retrieved 11 October 2023.
- ^ https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/sport/522750/ardie-savea-to-moana-pasifika-the-most-significant-transfer-in-super-rugby-history
- ^ https://www.aucklandstadiums.co.nz/news/north-harbour-stadium-to-host-2025-moana-pasifika-home-games
- ^ "Moana Pasifika name squad for 2025". Moana Pasifika (Press release). 11 November 2024. Retrieved 11 November 2024.
- ^ "Toaigaotumua Tom Coventry & Stephen Jones Complete Moana Pasifika Coaching Staff" (Press release). Moana Pasifika. 7 November 2023. Retrieved 9 November 2023.