Julian Savea finds a new home in Moana Pasifika's 2024 squad
It’s been a trying two years for Moana Pasifika, but the team look to turn that around in 2024 with the help of some big additions.
Perhaps the most significant changes come in the coaching box, as Tana Umaga assumes the reins as head coach, joined by Tom Coventry and Stephen Jones as assistants. The experienced trio have selected an exciting team for the upcoming season.
Umaga teased during the Rugby World Cup that he was quietly gauging the interest of players in the Samoa national team, with a few notable names expressing a keenness to join the Moana ranks at some point.
“The talent in our Pasifika community is aplenty and it certainly was a tough task selecting this team,” Umaga said. “But I am confident that we have a strong mix of youth and experience to complement the brand of rugby we want to play.
“The development of the team in a highly competitive Super Rugby Pacific competition will be testing, but I look forward to the hard work ahead of us.”
Umaga and co have named 20 new players for the 2024 campaign, a huge number of fresh faces for the squad.
The team promises more exciting young talent and even more physicality, with recruits from NPC and Europe. Former All Black star Julian Savea headlines the list of new faces, and time will tell whether the joint all-time Super Rugby leading try-scorer will throw his name in the hat for Manu Samoa honours.
A total of 19 Moana Pasifika players represented their countries at the recent Rugby World Cup.
Moana Pasifika squad for Super Rugby Pacific 2024
James Lay* – Sasina & Safotu (Samoa)
Abraham Pole – Lapaha, Fua’amotu (Tongatapu). Funga Fonua (‘Eua) & Ha’apai (Tonga)
Sateki Latu* – Tongoleleka (Ha’apai) & Falevai, Kolofo’ou (Tonga)
Samiuela Moli – Te’ekiu (Tongatapu) & Leimatu’a (Vava’u) (Tonga)
Sama Malolo* – Siusega & Salelologa (Samoa)
Tomasi Maka* – Longoteme & Holopeka (Ha’apai) (Tonga)
Donald Brighthouse* – Falelatai, Saleimoa (Samoa)
Sekope Kepu – Leimatu’a (Vava’u) & Niuafo’ou (Tonga)
Suetena Asomua – Lufilufi, Nofoali’i, & Falelatai (Samoa)
Samuel Slade – Sapunaoa, Vailoa & Palauli (Samoa)
Tom Savage*- Havering (England)
Ofa Tauetavalu*- Pangaimotu (Vava’u) (Tonga)
Irie Papuni* – Tonga
Viliame Napa’a*- Tonga
Miracle Faiilagi – Vailele & Uafato (Samoa)
Ola Tauelangi*- Vaini (Tonga)
Alamanda Motuga – Sataoa & Sa’anapu (Samoa)
Solomone Funaki – Fanga-‘o-Pilolevu (Tongatapu) & Pangai (Ha’apai) (Tonga)
Semisi Paea*- Falaleu (Vava’u), Houmakelikao (Tongatapu) (Tonga)
Sione Havili Talitui* – Pangai, Nomuka (Ha’apai) Tofoa (Tongatapu) Niuafo’ou (Tonga)
Lotu Inisi – Longoteme (Tongatapu) & Fangale’ounga (Ha’apai) (Tonga). Falelatai (Samoa)
Jonathan Taumateine – Nofoali’i & Satapuala (Samoa)
Ereatara Enari – Nofoali’i & Vaiala (Samoa) & Rongowhakaata & Te Aitanga A M?haka (Aotearoa)
Aisea Halo*- Puke, Lakepa (Tonga Tapu), Leimatua, Ta’anea (Vava’u), Fatai, Koulo, Holopeka (Ha’apai) (Tonga)
William Havili – Sopu, Kolomatu’a (Tonga)
Christian Lealiifano – Magiagi, Letogo & Le’auva’a (Samoa)
Lalomilo Lalomilo*- Falefa, Sinamoga, Safotu, Salailua (Samoa)
Henry Taefu – Samatau & Falelatai (Samoa)
D’angelo Leuila – Gataivai & Fagali’i (Samoa)
Pepesana Patafilo* – Magiagi & Vailima (Samoa)
Fine Inisi – Longoteme (Tongatapu) & Fangale’ounga (Ha’apai) (Tonga). Falelatai (Samoa)
Neria Fomai – Lepuia’i Manono Tai & Magiagi (Samoa)
Anzelo Tuitavuki – Angaha (‘Eua) Kolomotu’a, Falaleu (Vava’u) & Niuafo’ou (Tongatapu) (Tonga)
Viliame Fine*- Fua’amotu, Pelehake (Tongatapu), Noapapu (Vava’u), Faleloa (Ha’apai)
Nigel Ah Wong – Alafua & Vaiusu (Samoa)
Julian Savea* – Siumu, Luatuanu’u & Falesiu Uta (Samoa)
Danny Toala – Faleasi’u & Lotofaga (Samoa)
Otumaka Mausia*- Ha’ateiho (Tongatapu) Longomapu (Vava’u) (Tonga)
*Denotes New Player
Comments on RugbyPass
Yes, Fiji can win the World Cup! With that belief plus their christian faith🙏 and hard work it is achievable. Great article. Ian Duncan Fiji resident 1981-84
2 Go to commentsInteresting comments about Touch. England’s hosting the Touch World Cup this year and the numbers have exploded since their last World Cup in 2019, something like 70% more teams and 40 nations taking part. And England Touch have made a big thing about how many universities are in their BUCS University Touch Championship as well as Sport England membership. Can only see this growing even more domestically as more people become aware of it
10 Go to comments“Cortez Ratima is light years ahead of anyone on current form, while TJ Perenara has also skyrocketed into contention following the unfortunate injury to the talented Cam Roigard.” At last some sanity. Hitherto so many pundits have been wittering on about Finlay Christie to the point one wondered if they were observing a FC in a parallel universe where the FC they saw wasnt just the mediocre Shayne Philpott project of Fosters hapless AB reign in the real world. Ratima, Perenara and Fakatava are the ONLY logical 9s for Razor now Roigard is crocked.
2 Go to commentsThis game was just as painful as the Hurricanes game. It was real fork-in-the-eye stuff.
2 Go to commentsNow if they could just fire the Crusaders ground PA guy who likes to play his dance music and just loves the sound of his own voice the entire game, even when play is going on. And I thought their brass band thing of a few years ago was bad.
5 Go to commentsUnfortunately when you lose by far the two form players this season in Roigard and Aumua, you're left replacing two game changing Tanks with a couple of pea-shooters. Which is also about the speed of TJs pass.
2 Go to commentsBit rich coming from the guy with zero loyalty to anyone or any team, including happily taking a players place in a league world cup squad because well, SBW wanted to play in it and thus an already named player got told he was no longer going. And airing stuff like this, which may or may not be true, doesn't exactly say you're a stand up guy either SBW. Just looking to keep his name in lights as usual.
38 Go to commentsTamati Tua. …the Taniwha NPC midfielder. Ollie Sapsford, Hawkes Bay NPC midfielder…doing well
2 Go to commentsFiji deserve to be in the rugby championship, fans love seeing the Fijian national team play, the Fijian Drua is a wonderful idea but the players can still be stolen to play for NZ and AUS…
2 Go to commentsThe first concern for this afternoon are wheather forecast…
1 Go to commentsWhy cant I watch Rugby games please?
1 Go to commentsBeautiful shot from Finau, end of story. Gutted for Shaun Stevenson though.
4 Go to commentsThe Chiefs definitely didn’t win ugly. They had the superior scrum, a dominant lineout, and their defence was excellent once the Waratahs scored their two tries (thanks to some lucky refereeing calls mind you). They put pressure on the Waratahs lineout throughout the game, and the mind boggles as to why the referee did not award a yellow card or a penalty try against the Waratahs for repeated scrum infringements on their own try line before Narawa’s first try. And the Chiefs were slick with their passing and running angles on attack. It was a dominant performance all round, even with many questionable refereeing decisions.
1 Go to commentsWasnt late. Ref 2 assistants andTMO all saw it so who are you to say it was?
4 Go to commentsAre the Brumbies playing the Blues twice in a row?
4 Go to commentsBig difference from the Saders. Forwards really muscled up and laid a solid platform. Scooter brought some steel and I liked the loosie combination. Newell has been rather disappointing this season but stepped up big time - happy also to see Franks dot down. He should do that more often! Reihana had a good game and there seems to be more flair and invention with him in the saddle. McNicoll plays well from the back and is reliable plus inventive when he joins the line. Keep it up chaps!
5 Go to comments🤦♂️🤣 who cares who’s the best . All I know is the All Blacks have the star coach but have few star players now …
34 Go to commentsJe suis sûr que Farrell est impatient de jouer avec Lopez et Machenaud et d’être entraîné par Collazo… 🤭
1 Go to commentsAn on field red (aka a full red) in SRP must surely carry a bigger suspension than a red card given by the bunker as that carries a 20 minute team punishment. Had Damon Murphy abdicated his responsibility as a ref and issued both Drua players a yellow, which would have been upgraded to a 20 minute red by the bunker, that would have killed Australia and New Zealand’s push for the 20 minute red to be trialled globally from July this year.
11 Go to commentsEver so often you all post a Danny Care story that isn’t the announcement that he has finally re-signed for one more, victory tour season at Quins and I’m just like, “well you fooled me again!” My absolute favorite player ever, we need to make his final year at the Stoop (and Twickers) official already. I know he supposedly snubbed France but I won’t feel better until he signs.
1 Go to comments