Moana Pasifika announce signings of three Manu Samoa internationals
Moana Pasifika have continued their spending spree in the lead-up to their debut Super Rugby Pacific campaign by announcing the signings of three Manu Samoa internationals.
Nine-test midfielder Henry Taefu and two-test utility backs Neria Foma’i and Tomasi Alosio have all signed for the new expansion franchise ahead of the 2022 season.
Taefu provides the most experience of the trio after having made his Manu Samoa debut against Tonga in Nuku’alofa four years ago.
Since then, the 28-year-old has featured regularly for Samoa at test level, starting in all four of his nation’s matches at the 2019 World Cup in Japan.
A former Australia U20 representative, Taefu has strong experience at the lower levels of the game, beginning his professional career in the now-defunct National Rugby Championship with the Greater Sydney Rams in 2014.
He then moved to Brisbane City the following year and was handed his first taste of Super Rugby experience with the Reds in 2016 before jetting abroad to join French club Colomiers in the second-tier Pro D2.
Taefu then returned to Australia in 2018 to link up with the Western Force in Global Rapid Rugby, and remained onboard with the Perth-based franchise through until this year.
He became a mainstay in the Force’s starting lineup, even after their induction back into Super Rugby last year, and went on to make his NPC debut in August, but has been limited to just two outings for North Harbour due to Covid-19.
By comparison, Alosio, a veteran sevens star for Samoa who has played more than 200 times for his country in the abbreviated form of the game, has enjoyed a lengthier spell in New Zealand’s premier provincial competition this year.
The 29-year-old has played seven times and scored one try as a wing for Wellington this year, six years after he scored three tries in nine outings as a midfielder in his debut campaign for the Lions.
In between his two spells in the Kiwi capital, Alosio made more than 200 appearances for Samoa on the World Sevens Series circuit.
Alosio was joined in making his first appearances for Samoa earlier this year by Foma’i, another veteran sevens star featured on the World Sevens Series circuit for Samoa over a five-year span between 2013 and 2018.
MANU SAMOA TALENT LOCKED IN! ???
Manu Samoa midfielder Henry Taefu (@HarbourRugby) joins dual Manu Samoa 7s & 15s internationals Neria Fomai (@hbmagpies) & Tomasi Alosio (@WgtnRugby) to ignite the Moana Pasifika backline for 2022 ? #TokoUso2022 https://t.co/Xuz3nJ3isb pic.twitter.com/ZCU2nIkXK0
— Moana Pasifika Rugby (@MoanaPasifika_) October 18, 2021
The same can’t be said for Foma’i, who has flourished for Hawke’s Bay this season as the Magpies sit atop the Premiership standings.
A regular for Hawke’s Bay since 2019, Foma’i has played in six of his side’s seven matches so far this year and has scored three tries from the right wing.
The 29-year-old has previous playing experience with Southland, having played for the Stags in 2017, and made his first two test appearances for Samoa in their World Cup qualifiers against Tonga in July.
Foma’i, who also played twice for Samoa against the Maori All Blacks leading into the Tonga tests, will be joined by provincial teammates Ere Enari and Solomone Funaki in the Moana Pasifika set-up.
Both players were announced as two of four player signings over the past week, with the other new additions being former Wallabies playmaker Christian Leali’ifano and ‘Ikale Tahi utility forward Sione Tu’ipulotu.
Comments on RugbyPass
I do not really get why put Ollivon at 6 when he’s a 7, while Cros was the best Frenchman of the tournament, playing at…6. His only game replacing Aldritt at 8 doesn’t change much in terms of his impact. Lamaro was also outstanding in that brilliant Italian side, probably better than Reffell. So putting 2 Welsh players from the wooden spoon holders, and none of the 4th nation (Scotland) is also strange. Is it about showing that in this harsh transition Wales is, there were some standouts…?
6 Go to commentsThe events at this year’s six nations should undermine many of the arguments made against promotion and relegation between the six nations and the REC. If Italy had been allowed to yo-yo between divisions it conceivably could have really hurt their development, but if Italy, Wales, and Scotland are all at risk of relegation, with none of them being relegated more often than once every 3 or 4 years, you’d have to back all of them to muddle on through it, especially when you factor in the likelihood they’ll still be guaranteed world league matches against tier 1 opponents. Another way of looking at italys resurgence would be to say that the development model of adding an extra team to the six nations has worked, and now must be done again. Georgia could join to make it a 7 team round robin, and if and when Georgia demonstrate an ability to consistently win games, Portugal can also be added to make it an 8 team 2 conference competition. Frankly at this point I think it falls to world rugby to demand that the 6N act in the interests of the game. If the 6N won’t commit to expansion then the 6N teams should be handicapped in world cup draws (i.e. world cup seedings would not be based on their ranking points, but on their ranking points minus a 5 point penalty).
4 Go to commentsSteve Borthwick deserves credit for releasing the shackles on his England side and letting them play in a manner that somewhat resembles the top sides in the Gallagher Premiership. Will they revert to type in New Zealand in July.?
27 Go to commentsJames Lowe wouldn't get in any other 6N team. He's a great example of Farrell’s brilliance, and the Irish system. He is slow. His footwork is poor. But he fits perfectly in that Irish system, and has a superb impact. But put him in another team, and he'll look bang average.
6 Go to commentsCrusaders reached their heights through recruitment of North Island players, often leaving those NI teams bereft of key players. Example: Scott Barrett and Sam Whitelock robbed the Canes of their lineout and AB locks. For years the Canes have struggled at lock. This rabid recruitment was iniated by rule changes by a Crusader dominated NZR Head Office. Now this aggressive recruitment has back-fired, going after young inside back Hamilton Boys stars. They now have 4 Chiefs region 10s and not one with the requisite experience at Super level. Problems of their own making!
2 Go to commentsOver rated for a long time…exposed at scrum time too.
3 Go to comments“Firing me” should have been Gatland’s answer.
2 Go to commentsFinn Russell logic: “World” = 4 countries. Ireland may be at or near the top. FR’s bigger concern should be he and his fellow Scots (incl. the Bloemfontein ones) sliding back down to below top 10
42 Go to commentsMind games have begun. Ireland learned their lesson after saying they could beat England with 13 players or whatever. Still, if they win at Loftus, that would be impressive - final frontier etc.
58 Go to comments$950k for a Prop that isn’t fit enough to play 10 mins of rugby? Surely there is someone better to replace Big Mike with
3 Go to commentsFour Kiwis in that backline. A solid statement on the lack of invention, risk-taking and joy in the NH game; game of attrition and head- banging tedium. Longterm medical problems aplenty in the future!
6 Go to commentsGood article, I learnt quite a lot. A big sliding door moment was in the mid 00s when they rejected Steve Anderson's long term transformation and he wrote Ireland's strategy instead.
2 Go to commentsHi Dr Nick! I'm worried that I've started to enjoy watching England and have actually wanted them to win their last two games. What would you prescribe? On a more serious note, I've noticed that the standard of play in March is often better than early February. Do you think this is because of the weather or because the players have been together for longer?
27 Go to commentsMy question in all this brett is who is going to wear the consequences of these actions? Surely just getting the sack isn’t sufficient? A teenager working the till at woolies would probably get taken to court if they took $20 out of the till. You mean to tell me that someone can spend $2.6 million and get away with it? Where was it spent? What companies/people were the beneficiaries etc? How is it just being talked about as an ‘oopsie’ and we all just move on and not a matter of the court for gross negligence, fraud, take your pick…
20 Go to commentslove Manu too but England have relied on him coming back from injury for far too long and not sorted the position with someone else long term . It will be a blessing he has gone . Huge shame he was so injury prone . God speed Manu .
3 Go to commentsI agree with Ben Smith about Brett Cameron. The No. 6 position has to be a monster and a genuine lineout option, like Ollivon, Lawes (now Chessum), Du Toit, etc. The only player who fits that bill right now is Scott Barrett. A fit and fizzing Tuipolotu together with one of the young towers, Sam Darry or Josh Lord, would give Razor the freedom to play Barret at 6.
16 Go to commentsOutstanding article, Graham. Agree with all of it. And enjoy the style of writing too (particularly Grand Slap!).
3 Go to commentsI wouldn't pay a cent for that loafer. He just stands around, waiting for play to come his way. He won't make the Wallabies.
3 Go to commentsGood bit of te reo maori Nic. Or is that Niko or Nikora? On the theme of trees the Oaks v Totara. Game plan would be key. I have one but it would cost you.
27 Go to comments> Shaun Edwards’ You should not have to score 30 points to win a game, as exciting as it is. This statement was surprising to me. It is nonsensical .I guess it is a defence coach speaking. But head coach, defence and attacking coaches all work together. They are inseparable. You score more than the opposition to win. It only needs to be one score. You score whatever the game demands, whatever the opposition demand. You defend whatever it takes. The attack coach needs to be able to clock up 30pts if need be.
27 Go to comments