Moana Pasifika sign Hurricanes duo to add experience to squad
Moana Pasifika added talent and experience to their inaugural playing squad by signing two Hurricanes stars ahead of next year’s Super Rugby Pacific.
In the 10th wave of player announcements released by the new expansion franchise, Hawke’s Bay duo Danny Toala and Lolagi Visinia have been unveiled as the team’s newest arrivals.
Both players arrive from the Hurricanes, the Wellington-based franchise they played for in this year’s Super Rugby Aotearoa and Super Rugby Trans-Tasman.
In the case of Toala, the move brings an end to his three-season spell with the Hurricanes, who he signed with as a teenager ahead of the 2019 Super Rugby season.
During his time at Sky Stadium, the 22-year-old utility back – who is of Samoan heritage and can play second-five or fullback – has had limited chances to showcase his talents that made him a schoolboy sensation at Hastings Boys’ High School.
In total, Toala played just four times for the Hurricanes, including a solitary appearance off the bench in the team’s final match of the season against the Reds in June.
However, the highly-touted former New Zealand Schools and New Zealand U20 representative has featured regularly for Hawke’s Bay since his Magpies debut in his first year out of school in 2018.
All in all, Toala has represented Hawke’s Bay 28 times, mostly starting at second-five, and has played a key role in the side’s success in recent years.
That includes retaining and defending the Ranfurly Shield since last year, winning the 2020 NPC Championship division and sitting atop the current NPC Premiership table.
Toala has shared his success at Hawke’s Bay with Visinia, who joined the province and the Hurricanes after returning to New Zealand from overseas last year.
In his 10th year as a professional player, Visinia – of Samoan descent – will provide Moana Pasifika with plenty of experience from two separate Super Rugby stints, a spell in France and a campaign in Japan.
Like Toala, Visinia is an ex-New Zealand Schools and New Zealand U20 representative who began his career with Auckland in his first year out of Kelston Boys’ High School in 2012.
David Havili may have started at No 12 in most All Blacks tests this year, but Quinn Tupaea offers something that Havili cannot. #AllBlacks
?? Campbell Burneshttps://t.co/WGkxelx8Ee
— RugbyPass (@RugbyPass) October 25, 2021
Formerly regarded as one of the top schoolboy players in the country, the 28-year-old made his Super Rugby debut for the Blues the following year, but left for greener pastures at the end of 2016 after struggling to impose himself in New Zealand.
With 33 Blues caps and 40 Auckland appearances to his name, Visinia signed with French club Grenoble, who he helped win promotion from the second-tier Pro D2 to the Top 14 during his two-year stay.
The winger then moved to Japan to join the NEC Green Rockets ahead of the 2020 Top League season, but was confined to just five appearances for the club due the outbreak of Covid-19.
That resulted in a move back to New Zealand last year as he signed with Hawke’s Bay, helping the Magpies win the Ranfurly Shield and the NPC Championship with five tries in 11 matches.
Visinia’s efforts earned him a contract with the Hurricanes for this year’s Super Rugby campaign, but, similarly to Toala, opportunities were hard to come by as his only appearance for the franchise came off the bench against the Melbourne Rebels.
Toala and Visinia will be joined at Moana Pasifika by a number of their Hawke’s Bay teammates, including first-five Lincoln McClutchie, halfback Ere Enari, flanker Solomone Funaki and wing Neria Foma’i.
Confirmed Moana Pasifika signings for 2022 Super Rugby Pacific
Props: Sekope Kepu (Counties Manukau)
Hookers: N/A
Locks: Don Lolo (Taieri), Mike McKee (Southland), Veikoso Poloniati (Manawatu)
Loose Forwards: Solomone Funaki (Hawke’s Bay), Lotu Inisi (North Harbour), Jack Lam (Waikato), Alamanda Motuga (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), Lolagi Visinia (Hurricanes)
Comments on RugbyPass
$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
2 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!
1 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?
10 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…
18 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!).
2 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.
2 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.
10 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.
10 Go to commentsWho’d have thought, not having Farrell & Youngs kicking the ball at every possible opportunity and playing flat and allowing your centres to run and pass would pay off? No one could possibly have seen this coming. FML. It took a LONG time coming but at least that time has finally come. England need to find a backup to Lawrence. Freeman is the best candidate for me, I see no reason why he can't play 12. He's big, strong, fast and has great hands.
10 Go to commentsLove Manu but he's not the player he was and I imagine Bayonne have paid too much money for him.
3 Go to commentsNew Zealand have not beaten England since 2018 and even that was a pretty close shave.
1 Go to comments“a renewed focus on Scottish-qualified players” Scottish-qualified is another way of saying English. England has development more players for the Scotland national Rugby team in the last 4 years, than Scotland has.
2 Go to commentsThis sounds a lot like the old Welsh rugby proverb “Wales never lose. Other teams just score more points.”
5 Go to commentsFinally,at last, Borthwick has done what the whole of England have been crying out for. Ditch the kick chase and let the players have freedom to attack and run with the ball. It was great to see. Ford played really well and for the first time in ages was 5 yards closer to the gainline which then allowed a more attacking position . Pity it has taken 90 odd caps to do so. However, this has to continue and not be a false dawn . One issue. Marcus. With Ford having one really good game in 5 ,is he the answer long term . Smith puts bums on seats and is terrific to watch . How can you leave him out before he departs for France in disillusion . England are in danger of Simmons , Alex Goode , Cipriani , Mercer and now Smith being unable to get a selection ahead of “favourites” of the management regardless of form . Great to see England play so well .
2 Go to commentsCockerill was an abrasive player in the mould of a Georgian front rower who will have the respect of that pack. Looking forward to seeing what he can do with this exciting team, hopefully they can send a message to unions like Wales that money alone doesn't buy you wins.
2 Go to commentsI like the look of those July matches. Hopefully they'll get some good tests in November too.
2 Go to commentsThis is a poor article, essentially just trolling six nations teams
22 Go to comments