Moana Pasifika star eyes Super Rugby redemption following weight battle
It’s been three years since Levi Aumua last played Super Rugby, but the new Moana Pasifika recruit is ready to have another crack at it after overcoming a long-standing battle with his weight.
Formerly a member of the Chiefs and Blues, Aumua racked up a grand total of just four appearances between 2018 and 2019, with all of those matches coming while he played for the Auckland-based side three years ago.
That figure that doesn’t reflect the promise and talent he has shown while plying his trade at domestic level with Tasman across two stints since 2017.
A barnstorming midfielder capable of playing at either second-five or centre, Aumua has made a name for himself in New Zealand’s NPC as a damaging ball-carrier whose imposing physical stature has left opposition defences reeling in his wake.
Those traits have also enabled him to play all over the world for clubs in France, Australia and Japan, but it’s in Super Rugby where he wants to be.
Having been afforded few opportunities by the Chiefs and Blues to stamp his authority over proceedings at that level, Aumua is eager to make better use of his time at Moana Pasifika in their debut Super Rugby Pacific campaign.
He is confident of doing so after registering for pre-season training in career-best condition following a lengthy struggle with his weight, which he said prevented him from reaching his best during his time at the Chiefs and Blues.
“Obviously, I’ve always had a bit of an issue with my ongoing fight with my weight,” he told RugbyPass when asked about how his experiences with the Blues and Chiefs have helped prepare him to embark on his debut campaign with Moana Pasifika.
“This is probably the best shape or weight I’ve ever been at. Even though I’ve been through those teams, they brought me to this point where I’m feeling good, I’m feeling myself, and I’m helping other boys do the same thing, so I’m looking forward to the season.
“This is the best I’ve ever felt in my shape.”
Perhaps his newly-trimmed physique is a testament to Moana Pasifika’s pre-season training regime, but Aumua said it took some time for him to address his weight, which – at its peak – had been listed as 118kg at previous stages in his career.
It wasn’t until he trekked abroad to play for the Hino Red Dolphins and Toyota Shuttles Industries in Japan that he realised he needed to take action in a bid to revive his Super Rugby career.
“I would definitely say it was one of the big issues [that held him back at the Chiefs and Blues],” Aumua told RugbyPass.
“It took me a while to find my way with it, but going to Japan, playing over there, did a bit of reflecting, and I still had the hunger to play Super Rugby.
“Coming into this environment, it was still there, so something just clicked and I’m back here and giving it another go.”
Now ingrained in the Moana Pasifika set-up, Aumua has set his sights on gaining redemption over the two teams that released him earlier in his career.
“Definitely, the Blues especially,” Aumua said of his eagerness to beat the Chiefs and Moana Pasifika’s cross-town rivals.
“I’ve got a lot of mates still there [at the Blues], but I’d say the Crusaders would be one [team he’d like to beat]. Most of my Tasman mates are back at the Crusaders. Everyone wants to beat them.”
Aumua may well get the chance to knock off one of those teams as early as February 18 when Moana Pasifika host the Blues in the Super Rugby Pacific season-opener at Mt Smart Stadium.
A strong performance in that match could pave the way for regular starting honours in the Moana Pasifika backline, where he will likely compete for starting honours with Solomone Kata, Danny Toala, Henry Taefu and Fine Inisi.
If he manages to keep those players at bay and hold his place in Moana Pasifika’s starting lineup, it wouldn’t surprise to see Aumua’s chances of an international call-up for either Samoa or Fiji receive a significant boost.
Eligible for both countries, Aumua said that, with next year’s World Cup broadening on the horizon, this is the year he will seriously begin to push for test rugby, although which country he would opt to play for remains up in the air.
“I haven’t given it that much thought. I wouldn’t say no, though, to either team. Definitely this is the year that I would consider [playing for Samoa or Fiji]. I just don’t know who I’d rather upset out of mum or dad. I’ll leave it up to them.”
Before then, though, Aumua is intent on helping guide Moana Pasifika to a successful maiden season in Super Rugby Pacific, one of which he hopes the new expansion franchise will be a source of pride for their Pacific Island supporters.
“For us, we just play for the love of sport, we play for the Pacific, for our families, for our ancestors, and all the people of Pacific rugby that’s been before us, so making them proud – whether we win or lose – would be the biggest thing,” he told RugbyPass.
“Also, for us, we’ve got our own system of rugby, play how we want to play and play to our strengths. If that works for us, I guess we’ll take that as a win.”
Comments on RugbyPass
Super rugby is struggling but that has little to do with sabbaticals. 1. Too many teams from Aust and NZ - should be 3 and 4 respectively, add in 2 from Japan, 1 possibly 2 from Argentina. 2. Inconsistent and poor refereeing, admittedly not restricted to Super rugby. Only one team was reffed at the breakdown in Reds v H’Landers match. Scrum penalty awarded in Canes v Drua when No 8 had the ball in the open with little defence nearby - ideal opportunity to play advantage. Coming back to Reds match - same scrum situation but ref played advantage - Landers made 10 yards and were penalised at the breakdown when the ref should have returned to scrum penalty. 3. Marketing is weak and losing ground to AFL and NRL. Playing 2 days compared with 4. 4. Scheduling is unattractive to family attendance. Have any franchises heard of Sundays 2pm?
7 Go to commentsAbsolutely..all they need is a chance in yhe playoffs and I bet all the other teams will be nervous…THEY KNOW HOW TO WIN IM THE PLAYOFFS..
2 Go to commentsI really hope he comes back and helps out with some coaching.
1 Go to commentsI think we are all just hoping that the Olympic 7s doesn’t suffer the same sad fate as the last RWC with the officials ruining the spectacle.
1 Go to commentsPersonally, I’ve lost the will to even be bothered about the RFU, the structure, the participants. It’s all a sham. I now simply enjoy getting a group of friends together to go and watch a few games a year in different locations (including Europe, the championship, etc). I feel extremely sorry for the real fans of these clubs who are constantly ignored by the RFU and other administrators. I feel especially sorry for the fans of clubs in the Championship who have had considerable central funding stripped away and are then expected to just take whatever the RFU put to them. Its all a sham, especially if the failed clubs are allowed to return.
9 Go to commentsI’m guessing Carl Hayman would have preferred to have stayed in NZ with benefit of hindsight. Up north there is the expectation to play twice as many games with far less ‘player management’ protocols that Paul is now criticising. Less playing through concussions means longer, healthier, careers. Carter used as the eg here by Paul, his sabbatical allowed him to play until age 37. OK its not an exact science but there is far more expectations on players who sign for Top 14 or Engl Prem clubs to get value for the huge salaries. NZR get alot wrong but keeping their best players in NZ rugby is not one of them. SA clubs are virtually devoid of their top players now, no thanks. They cant threaten the big teams in the Champions Cup, the squads have little depth. Cant see Canes/Chiefs struggling. Super has been great this year, fantastic high skill matches. Drua a fantastic addition and Jaguares will add another quality team eventually. Aus teams performing strongly and no doubt will benefit with the incentive of a Lions tour and a home RWC. Let Jordie enjoy his time with Leinster, it will allow the opportunity for another player to emerge at Canes in his absence.
7 Go to commentsLove that man, his way to despise angry little men is so funny ! 😂
4 Go to comments“South African franchises would be powerhouses if we had all our overseas based players back in situ. We would have the same unbeatable aura the Toulouses, Leinsters or Saracens of this world have had over the last decade or so.” Proof that Jake white does not understand the economics of the game in SA. Players earning abroad are not going to simply come back and represent the bulls. But they might if they have a springbok contract.
22 Go to commentsA lot of fans just joined in for the fun of it! We all admire O'Gara and what he has done for La Rochelle
4 Go to commentsThe RFU will find a way to mess this up as usual. My bet is there will be no promotion into the the Premiership, only relegation into National League One. Hopefully they won’t parachute failed clubs into the league at the expense of clubs who have battled for promotion.
9 Go to commentsWell that’s the contracts for RG and Jordie bought and paid for. Now, what are the chances we can persuade Antoine to hop over with all the extra dosh we’ll have from living at the Aviva & Croke next season…??? 🤑🤑🤑
14 Go to commentsWow, that’s incredible. Great for rugby.
14 Go to commentsYou probably read that parling is going to coach the wallaby lineout but if not before now you have.
14 Go to commentsIf someone like Leo Cullen was in O’Gara’s place I don’t hear Boo-ing. It’s not just that La Rochelle has hurt Leinster and O’Gara is their Irish boss. It’s the needle that he brings and the pantomime activity before the game around pretending that Munster were supporting LaRochelle just because O’Gara is from Cork. That’s dividing Irish provinces just to get an advantage for his French Team. He can F*ck right off with that. BOOOOO! (but not while someone is lying injured)
4 Go to commentsDid the highlanders party too hard before the game? They were the pits.
1 Go to commentsWhat a player! Not long until he’s in the England side, surely?
5 Go to commentsHe seems to have the same aura as Marcus Smith - by which I mean he’s consistently judged as if he’s several years younger than he actually is. Mngomezulu has played 24 times for the Stormers. When Pollard was his age he had played 24 times for South Africa! He has more time to develop, but he has also had time to do some developing already, and he hasn’t demonstrated nearly as much talent in that time as one would expect. If he is a generational talent, then it must be a pretty poor generation.
6 Go to commentsThe greatest Springbok coach of all time is entirely on the money. Rassie and Jacques have given the south african public a great few years, but the success of the springbok selection policy will need to be judged in light of what comes next. The poor condition that the provincial system is currently in doesn’t bode well for the next few years of international rugby, and the insane 2026 schedule that the Boks have lined up could also really harm both provincial and international consistency.
22 Go to commentsJake White is a brilliant coach and a master in the press. This is another masterclass in media relations and PR but its also a very narrow view with arguments that dont always hold water. White wants his team to win, he wants the best players in SA and wants his team competitive. You however have to face up to the reality of a poor exchange rate and big clubs with big budgets. SA Rugby cant compete and unless it can find more money SA players will keep leaving regardless of Springbok eligibility and this happened in 2015 - 2017. Also rugby is not cricket. Cricket has 3 formats and T20 cricket is where the money is at. When it comes to club vs country the IPL is king but that wont happen because the international calendar does not clash with the club calendar in rugby. So the argument about rugby going down the same path as cricket is really a non-starter
22 Go to commentsNZ rugby seem not to have learnt anything from professional rugby. Super rugby was dying and SA left before they died with the competition. SA rugby did a u turn on their approach to international players playing overseas and such players are now selected for Bok teams. As much as each country would love to retain their players playing in local competitions, this is the way the world is evolving my friends. Move with it or stay 20 years behind the times. One more thing. NZ rugby hierarchy think they are the big cheese. Take a more humble approach guys. You do not seem to have your players best interests at heart.
7 Go to comments