From South Auckland to Christchurch, the Crusaders' emerging hooker

Ioane Moananu’s determined and industrious approach to rugby reflects his humble upbringing in Otara, South Auckland. His parents, Tauanuufiga and Uni, install pipes and clean.

In Super Rugby Pacific, Moananu has often helped the Crusaders mop up messes when Codie Taylor has been rested or absent.

The hooker has won games for the 14-time champions with his combination of accuracy and dynamism.

Moananu was man-of-the-match in the Crusaders’ 31-24 victory over the Hurricanes in Wellington on April 11. He scored two tries and presided over a 17 of 17 lineout.

He has played 484 minutes in 2025. The Crusaders are third with an 9-3 record. Last year, he played less than 80 minutes for a side that finished ninth and missed the playoffs for the first time since 2015. The Crusaders had the tenth-worst lineout in 2024. This year, they have the third-best.

“Getting my lineouts and core roles down pat has been a major focus this season,” Moananu told RugbyPass.

“I’ve always enjoyed contact, running with the ball, and putting heat on defensively. Doing the little things right and consistently is the difference at this level.”

Moananu is similar in size and style to Asafo Aumua. He grew up admiring double Rugby World Cup winner and South Auckland All Black Keven Mealamu (132 Tests, 114 wins).

While at De La Salle College, Moananu helped his school win the Under 15 Auckland championship with one of the strongest age group teams ever assembled.

All Blacks and World Rugby Breakthrough Player of the Year Wallace Sititi, All Blacks Sevens representatives Kitioni Vai and Sofai Maka, and Vaolini Ekuasi (Western Force) were all members of the team.

“That was a gun team. It’s unreal that those boys have kicked on. We smoked everyone that season. In the final against St Kent’s, they scored the first try. We were shocked. We didn’t know how to react,” Moananu laughed.

Moananu captained De La Salle’s First XV and was integrated into the Counties Manukau Academy. He has played 22 games in the NPC for the Steelers and scored nine tries.

His most important game was from the bench on September 17, 2022. His impact in a 44-39 loss to Canterbury in Pukekohe was devastating. He was offered a position with the Crusaders.

“Far, Christchurch was way different from Otaru. I didn’t know anyone. There aren’t a lot of Pacific Islanders down here, but the people of Canterbury have been really supportive. They love their rugby here,” Moananu said.

Moananu scored a try on his Crusaders debut in a 24-25 loss to Fijian Drua in Suva in 2023. He scored another try the following week to help the Crusaders avoid an embarrassing defeat to the Melbourne Rebels. From 24-12 down the Crusaders won 36-27.

“That was crazy. Codie Taylor withdrew at the last minute. I was told to get on the next flight, which I nearly missed,” Moananu recalled.

“I had one meeting with Sam Whitelock. ‘Stay calm. I’ll make it easy and deal with the lineout calls,’ he said. There was one run-through on match day. That was it.

“Coming off the bench, you try to add impact or something different. Having Sam there made me claim and took away most of the pressure in that moment.”

Moananu was only seen once more in that championship-winning season, and that was in a routine 41-7 win against Moana Pasifika.

“Winning it all was a buzzy time. I only had a couple of games, so I didn’t feel like I played a big role. What was awesome to see was the way it affected other people, especially how happy it made the older players.”

The Crusaders weren’t a happy camp in 2024. This season has seen a more steely resolve.

“There’s been a lot more focus on set pieces, really nailing that and other basics. A strong set piece is part of the Crusaders DNA. We lost our way a bit there,” Moananu said.

“Another focus is controlling what we can control. Last year, we overplayed our hand at times or let things we couldn’t influence get away from us.”