Northern Edition

Select Edition

Northern Northern
Southern Southern
Global Global
New Zealand New Zealand
France France

Former Wallaby joins All Blacks star Ardie Savea at Moana Pasifika

(L-R) Rob Leota, Pone Fa'amausili, Suli Vunivalu, Marika Koroibete and Jordan Uelese during the Australia Wallabies Official Rugby World Cup Welcome Ceremony ahead of the Rugby World Cup France 2023, on September 01, 2023 in Saint-Etienne, France. (Photo by Chris Hyde/Getty Images)

Pone Fa’amausili is the latest marquee recruit to sign with Moana Pasifika for next year’s Super Rugby Pacific season. The former Wallabies prop joins All Black Ardie Savea and Wellington Lions playmaker Jackson Garden-Bachop, who have also inked deals with the club.

ADVERTISEMENT

Following a successful stint with the Melbourne Rising in the National Rugby Championship, it didn’t take long for Fa’amausili to capture headlines at the next level. The front rower debuted for the Rebels in 2018 and went on to start four games in the next Super Rugby AU season.

There was one match that is etched into the minds of rugby fans around Australia. Playing at Sydney’s Brookvale Oval during the COVID period, Fa’amausili ran riot during an 18-all draw with the Queensland Reds on July 10, 2020.

Having proven himself a devastating ball-runner with plenty to offer at the set-piece, it wasn’t a surprise to see Fa’amausili called into the Wallabies. The now 27-year-old played seven Tests for the Wallabies, including two appearances at last year’s Rugby World Cup.

“I’m extremely excited at the opportunity ahead with Moana Pasifika, to be able to share my knowledge and experiences and also learn from a talented group of men,” Fa’amausili said in a statement.

“Being able to learn from a coach like Tana (Umaga) is really exciting for myself.

“Joining a team like Moana allows me to connect with my culture and represent my people which is really important and will be special to do so for my family.”

Moana Pasifika are continuing to build a promising squad for next season by signing Fa’amausili. Earlier this year, it was revealed the club had signed reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea through to 2027.

ADVERTISEMENT

More recently, it was announced at the start of last week that Jackson Garden-Bachop had inked a deal with Moana for the 2025 campaign. Garden-Bachop has been solid with the Lions in New Zealand’s NPC this season, with the club only losing one match so far.

But the signing of Fa’amausili might be the most intriguing.

Standing at 6ft 5, there’s no doubt that Fa’amausili can be a force to be reckoned with once again at Super Rugby Pacific level. With All Blacks legend Tana Umaga coaching the side, this seems like an ideal opportunity for Fa’amausili to recapture his old form.

“Pone is a powerful player who brings physicality and experience,” coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga explained. “He further strengthens our pack and we’re excited to have him on our side in 2025.”

ADVERTISEMENT

Watch the highly acclaimed five-part documentary Chasing the Sun 2, chronicling the journey of the Springboks as they strive to successfully defend the Rugby World Cup, free on RugbyPass TV (*unavailable in Africa)

ADVERTISEMENT

Boks Office | Episode 39 | The Investec Champions Cup is back

Argentina v France | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Men's Match Highlights

New Zealand v Australia | HSBC SVNS Hong Kong 2025 | Women's Match Highlights

Tokyo Sungoliath vs Shizuoka BlueRevs | Japan Rugby League One 2024/25 | Full Match Replay

Reds vs Force | Super Rugby W 2025 | Full Match Replay

The Rise of Kenya | The Report

New Zealand in Hong Kong | Brady Rush | Sevens Wonders | Episode 4

The Fixture: How This Rugby Rivalry Has Lasted 59 Years

Trending on RugbyPass

Comments

0 Comments
Be the first to comment...

Join free and tell us what you really think!

Sign up for free
ADVERTISEMENT

Latest Features

Comments on RugbyPass

J
JW 1 hour ago
'Matches between Les Bleus and the All Blacks are rarely for the faint-hearted.'

Well a) poor French results doesn’t seem to effect the situation much. In fact one of the reasons given for this selection policy is that the French don’t tune in for foreign rugby content on the other side of the world, at a time when theyre not having their vino. So who would know the results? And b) this is the crux of the matter, they are legally abided to play them as part of WRs tier 1 reciprocal tours programme. The only real choice for the SH team is to treat it the same, which is fine when teams are happy to do that, but the AB’s have a totally anthesis policy/mentality so would never use the games in the same way.


So alligned with b) the only real option is to complain to those in control. I suspect that’s why weve seen France reneging on the practice, and you can only be left to think that if they hadn’t reneged, WR would have done something more drastic about it. Which of course would mean not just telling them to bugger off when they want to tour, it’s no one playing them (from t1 at least) at all (assuming they have no interest in scheduling match’s outside the windows, like Ireland and NZ are doing).


Then of course that means no involvement of France in the Nations Championship. Which means they are automatically the last ranked team in 6N to qualify, so the actual worst team in 6N gets to compete in it, making a mockery of the promotion and relegation WR wanted to happen between T1 and T2 for qualifying purposes. Yup, b) is just something nobody wants to happen. Well done FFR and LNR for making the tour work instead (how well is yet to be seen).

112 Go to comments
LONG READ
LONG READ Why NZR's Ineos settlement maybe the most important victory they'll enjoy this year Why NZR's Ineos settlement maybe the most important victory they'll enjoy this year
Search