Moana Pasifika

The Pacific team finished bottom of the table in their debut season in 2022 with two wins - against the Hurricanes (24-19) and the Brumbies (32-22) against 12 defeats. Many of their earlier matches were postponed due to covid-19, both within their own squad and their opponents'.

As part of the build-up to the new campaign, they played a pre-season match at the weekend against the Chiefs, going down 48-7.

They have one more pre-season game, against the Highlanders in Queenstown on Friday, before beginning the competition proper.

It comes after New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia signed a new joint-venture agreement in Sydney.

NZR Chief Executive Mark Robinson and RA Chief Executive Andy Marinos each welcomed the new partnership, which will extend the existing joint venture from 2024 to 2030, as a significant moment for professional club rugby in the Pacific region.

Robinson said the agreement represented a unified commitment to the Super Rugby Pacific format.

He said the long-term agreement provides certainty for players, coaches, fans, sponsors and broadcast partners.

With the objective of increasing the competitiveness of the international game, World Rugby has part-funded the franchises to provide an impactful environment and pathway that will ultimately benefit Fiji, Samoa and Tonga on the biggest stage – Rugby World Cup.

The selection of 43 players for the Pacific Nations Cup from Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua is an important step in that journey, providing each union with the benefit of access to a group of players performing in an environment geared towards achieving success at international level.

In a physical and high-scoring match-up, the Force proved too strong and clinical for the home side scoring seven tries to four.

Run-on captain Ian Prior praised the character and resilience of the squad. "It's no secret that it's been a tough couple of weeks, but I'm immensely proud of the group," Prior explained.

"This one is for the fans. They've stuck with us through the years, and we wanted to make our family and friends proud, which I hope we did today."

Over the 2022 DHL Super Rugby Pacific season, Moana Pasifika has had to play 4 midweek matches to cater for the postponement of matches due to Covid-19.

This has seen an incredible 46 players capped by Moana Pasifika this year to ensure player welfare is adhered to and the workload is spread evenly throughout the squad.

Manu Samoa stalwart and 40-test international Jack Lam will Captain the side from the back of the scrum in the number eight position.

Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Luteru Tolai and Chris Apoua will combine in the front row for the first time this season.

The match, which was originally part of Super Round Melbourne, will now be played at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland as part of the Round 15 week.

Super Rugby Pacific has also confirmed that the Round 15 match between Fijian Drua and the Chiefs, originally set to be played on the Gold Coast, Australia on Friday May 27, will now be played at Churchill Park, Lautoka, Fiji on Saturday, May 28.

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"Whos got your back? I got your back!" The teams chants echo through Mt Smart stadium signalling the up-coming battle against the NSW Waratahs in round 12 of the DHL Super Rugby Pacific this afternoon.

 Chairman Sir La’auli Michael Jones says welcoming the first membership holders to Mt Smart Stadium is a milestone.

“The original members are here today who believe in this vision. Its been a long time coming.”

The round 12 Super Rugby Pacific match at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland is significant for Sekope Kepu as he will play against the team he served for 141 games.

It could also be a milestone game for Christian Leali'ifano who is just nine points away from reaching 1,000 Super Rugby points.

There are three changes to the team that narrowly lost to the Melbourne Rebels 26-22 last weekend.

Covid-19 disruptions have led to the postponement of four Moana Pasifika games this season, with the team's last six games coming across a 23-day period to make-up for lost time.

Tuifa'asisina Sir Bryan Williams says it's tested the resilience of players and coaches. 

"They haven't been able to play the same team every game because of the short turnaround, so it's meant that they've been able to blood around about 40 odd players in Super Rugby. 

The game will be Moana Pasifika's first meeting with an Australian team.

They were originally set to make their Australian debut against the Western Force last week in Perth, but the game was cancelled due to Covid concerns.

Moana Pasifika are at the very bottom of the Super Rugby table, having only won one out of their eight games so far.

Their only win came against the Wellington Hurricanes (24 - 19) in round 6.

Head Coach Aaron Mauger said the team is determined to break their losing streak.