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Moana Pasifika add Niuean player and experienced coach to squad
Moana Pasifika have made three more signings and announced its assistant coach to head coach Aaron Mauger ahead of their debut season in Super Rugby Pacific.
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The expansion franchise announced on Friday that former All Blacks loose forward Filo Tiatia will serve as Moana Pasifika’s assistant coach.
The 50-year-old, who is of Samoan heritage and played two tests for the All Blacks in 2000, brings with him multiple years of coaching experience from all corners of the globe.
Since retiring from his playing career that saw him turn out for the Hurricanes, Wellington, Ospreys, Toyota Verblitz and Travisium, Tiatia has coached professionally in New Zealand, Japan and Wales.
Those experiences saw him coach both Ospreys and Toyota Verblitz before joining the Sunwolves as an assistant coach in 2016 and then as head coach the year after.
During his time in Japan, Tiatia also served two stints as an assistant coach for the Brave Blossoms in 2013 and 2017, while he returned to New Zealand three years ago to sign for Auckland.
Acting as an assistant to head coach and former All Blacks midfielder Alama Ieremia, Tiatia helped guide the province to its first NPC title in over a decade in his first year with the side.
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After leaving his position with Auckland earlier this year after helping steer them to an appearance in last season’s final, Tiatia said he is excited to be part of Moana Pasifika’s inaugural Super Rugby campaign.
“We have a lot of amazing talent out there, and this team is an exciting development in professional rugby,” he said via a statement.
“I’m really motivated to be part of finding and growing future stars of the international game, and I have a strong desire to help our Pasifika players thrive and deliver exciting, and fun rugby to play and watch.
“Having a strong cultural tie to roots was an important part of my role as a player, and it has been a key part of my coaching style.
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“Covid has really changed our landscape and preparation time, but I see that as a great opportunity to be innovative and think differently about how we prepare to hit the ground running.”
Rookie All Blacks star Ethan de Groot has signed a two-year contract extension with the Highlanders in a deal that will keep him in Dunedin until at least 2024. #Highlanders #SuperRugbyPacific https://t.co/BpbI86Frg1
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) November 4, 2021
Mauger is similarly optimistic about the knowledge Tiatia can impart on the Moana Pasifika squad in its first season of existence.
“Filo is a proud Samoan who has been around professional rugby teams for over 30 years. He knows what a good rugby team looks like, he knows the challenges, knows what success looks like and he knows what we need on the field,” Mauger said.
“His knowledge and skills as a coach, and his work ethic are incredible. Like many of the people involved in our programme, his heart is that of a proud Pasifika man who cares deeply about being part of this special team.”
News of Moana Pasifika’s acquisition of Tiatia comes a day after it announced the signing of three more players to its growing playing squad, including the franchise’s first player of Niuean background.
On Thursday, Moana Pasifika confirmed the signings of Counties Manukau trio Ezekiel Lindenmuth, Sam Slade and Alex McRobbie.
A young lock in his first season with Counties Manukau after returning from a stint in Japan, McRobbie becomes the first player of Niuean heritage to sign with Moana Pasifika.
The announcement of McRobbie’s signing comes after he made his debut for Counties Manukau against North Harbour in this year’s NPC before the province was forced to withdraw from the competition due to Auckland’s ongoing Covid-19 lockdown.
The former Chiefs age-grade representative will compete for places in Moana Pasifika’s second row alongside Southland lock Mike McKee, Manawatu rookie Veikoso Poloniati and ‘Ikale Tahi international Don Lolo.
Lindenmuth, meanwhile, is a former Samoa and New Zealand U20 representative who was part of the New Zealand squad that won the World Rugby U20 Championship in Georgia four years ago.
The following year, the 24-year-old made his debut for Auckland, the same season of which the province won the NPC title under Tiatia’s stewardship as assistant coach, before joining Counties Manukau in 2020.
It’s now or never for the All Blacks’ fringe loose forwards. #ITAvNZL #AllBlacks
?? @TomVinicombehttps://t.co/8gtt7csneD
— The XV Rugby (@TheXV) November 4, 2021
The Samoan-born loosehead prop made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues in 2019 and made seven appearances for the franchise before making a solitary appearance for the Chiefs during this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa.
Lindenmuth and McRobbie will be joined at Moana Pasifika by their provincial teammate Slade, who was also Lindenmuth’s teammate in the world champion New Zealand U20 squad of 2017.
The 24-year-old utility forward has extensive NPC experience after having debuted for Auckland four years ago before joining Manawatu in 2018 and then Counties Manukau the year after that, but is yet to play at Super Rugby level.
However, Slade, who can play at either lock or flanker, has international experience to his name after having played in both World Cup qualifying tests for Manu Samoa against Tonga in July.
In the fortnight prior to that, Slade started in both of Samoa’s matches against the Maori All Blacks in Wellington and Auckland.
Confirmed Moana Pasifika signings for 2022 Super Rugby Pacific
Props: Sekope Kepu (Counties Manukau), Tau Koloamatangi (Otago), Ezekiel Lindenmuth (Counties Manukau), Isi Tu’ungafasi (Crusaders)
Hookers: Ray Niuia (Blues), Luteru Tolai (Blues)
Locks: Don Lolo (Taieri), Mike McKee (Southland), Alex McRobbie (Counties Manukau), Veikoso Poloniati (Manawatu)
Loose Forwards: Solomone Funaki (Hawke’s Bay), Lotu Inisi (North Harbour), Jack Lam (Waikato), Alamanda Motuga (Counties Manukau), Sam Slade (Counties Manukau), Henry Time-Stowers (Canterbury), Sione Tu’ipulotu (Auckland)
Halfbacks: Ereatara Enari (Crusaders)
First-Fives: Christian Leali’ifano (NTT Communications Shining Arcs), Lincoln McClutchie (Hawke’s Bay)
Midfielders: Fine Inisi (North Harbour), Henry Taefu (Western Force), Danny Toala (Hurricanes)
Outside Backs: Tomasi Alosio (Wellington), Neria Foma’i (Hawke’s Bay), Solomone Kata (Brumbies), Timoci Tavatavanawai (Tasman), Lolagi Visinia (Hurricanes)
Comments on RugbyPass
Pick Swinton at your peril A liability just like JWH from the Roosters Skelton ??? went missing at RWC
14 Go to commentsLike tennis, who have a ranking system, and I believe rugby too, just measure over each period preceding a world cup event who was the longest number one and that would be it. In tennis the number one player frequently is not the grand slam winner. I love and adore the All Blacks since the days of Ian Kirkpatrick when I was a kid in SA. And still do because they are the masters of running rugby and are gentleman on and off the field - in general. And in my opinion they have been the majority of the time the best rugby team in the world.
15 Go to commentsHaving overseas possessions in 2024 is absurd. These Frenchies should have to give the New Caledonians their freedom.
21 Go to commentsBell injured his foot didn’t he? Bring Tupou in he’ll deliver when it counts. Agree mostly but I would switch in the Reds number 8 Harry Wilson for Swinton and move Rob Valentini to 6 instead. Wilson is a clever player who reads the play, you can’t outmuscle the AB’s and Springboks, if you have any chance it’s by playing clever. Same goes for Paisami, he’s a little guy who doesn’t really trouble the likes of De Allende and Jordie Barrett. I’d rather play Carter Gordon at 12 and put Michael Lynagh’s boy at 10. That way you get a BMT type goalkicker at 10 and a playmaker at 12. Anyways, just my two cents as a Bok supporter.
14 Go to commentsThanks Brett, love your articles which are alway pertinent. It’s a difficult topic trying to have a panel adjudicating consistently penalties for red card issues. Many of the mitigating reasons raised are judged subjectively, hence the different outcomes. How to take away subjective opinions?
4 Go to commentsYes Sir! Surprising, just like Fraser would also have escaped sanction if he was a few inches lower, even if it was by accident that he missed! Has there really been talk about those sanctions or is this just sensational journalism? I stopped reading, so might have missed any notations.
4 Go to commentsAI is only as good as the information put in, the nuances of the sport, what you see out the corner of the eye, how you sum up in a split second the situation, yes the AI is a tool but will not help win games, more likely contribute to a loss, Rugby Players are not robots, all AI can do if offer a solution not the solution. AI will effect many sports, help train better golfers etc.
45 Go to commentsIt couldn’t have been Ryan Crotty. He wasn’t selected in either World Cup side - they chose Money Bill instead. And Money Bill only cared about himself, and that manager he had, not the team.
26 Go to commentsYawn 🥱 nobody would give a hoot about this new trophy. End of the day we just have to beat Ireland and NZ this year then they can finally shut up 🤐
15 Go to commentsTalking bout Ryan Crotty? Heard Crotty say in a interview once that SBW doesen't care about the team . He went on to say that whenever they lost a big game, SBW would be happy as if nothing happened, according to him someone who cares would look down.. Personally I think Crotty is in the wrong, not for feeling gutted but for expecting others 2 be like him… I have been a bad loser forever as it matters so much to me but good on you SBW for being able to see the bigger picture….
26 Go to commentsThis sounds like a WWE idea so Americans can also get excited about rugby, RUGBY NEEDS A INTERNATIONAL CALENDER .. The rugby Championship and Six Nations can be held at same time, top 3 of six nations and top 3 of Rugby championship (6 nations should include Georgia AND another qualifying country while Fiji, Japan and Samoa/Tonga qualifier should make out 6 Southern teams).. Scrap June internationals and year end tours. Have a Elite top six Cup and the Bottom 6 in a secondary comp….
15 Go to commentsThe rugby championship would be even stronger with Fiji in it… I know it doesen’t fit the long term plans of NZ or Aus but you are robbing a whole nation of being able to see their best players play for Fiji…. Every second player in NZ and AUS teams has Fijian surnames… shame on you!!! World rugby won’t step in either as France and England has now also joined in…. I guess where money is involved it will always be the poor countries missing out….
84 Go to commentsNo surprise there. How hard can it be to pick a ball off the ground and chuck it to a mate? 😂
2 Go to commentsSometimes people just like a moan mate!
4 Go to commentsexcellent idea ! rugby needs this 💪
15 Go to comments9 Brumbies! What a joke! The best performing team in Oz! Ditch Skelton for Swain or Neville. Ryan Lonergan ahead of McDermott any day! Best selection bolter is Toole … amazing player
14 Go to commentsI like this, but ultimately rugby already has enough trophies. Trying to make more games “consequential" might prove to be a fools errand, although this is a less bad idea than some others. Minor quibble with the title of the article; it isn’t very meaningful to say the boks are the unofficial world champions when it would be functionally impossible for the Raeburn trophy not to be held by the world champions. There’s a period of a few months every 4 years when there is no “unofficial” world champion, and the Raeburn trophy is held by the actual world champions.
15 Go to commentsIts a great idea but one that I dont think will have a lot of traction. It will depend on the prestige that they each hold but if you can do that it would be great. When Japan beat the Boks (my team) I was absolutely devestated but I wont deny the great game they played that day. We were outclassed and it was one of the best games of rugby I have seen. Using an idea like this you might just give the the underdog teams more of an opportunity to beat the big teams and I can absolutely see it being a brilliant display of rugby. They beat us because they planned for that game. It was a great moment for Japan. This way we can remove the 4 year wait and give teams something to aim for outside of World Cup years.
15 Go to commentsHi, Dave here. Happy to answer questions 🥰
15 Go to commentsDon’t think that headline is accurate. It’s great to see Aus doing better but I’m not sure they’ve shown much threat to the top of the table. They shouldn’t be inflating wins against the lousy Highlanders and Crusaders either.
3 Go to comments