Moana Pasifika’s new captain on his roots and story behind his name

When Ardie Savea announced he would miss the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season with Moana Pasifika for a sabbatical in Japan at the Kobelco Kobe Steelers, Tana Umaga was in search of a new inspirational leader.

Look no further than Hawke’s Bay’s Miracle Faiilagi, who has played 30 times for Moana Pasifika and four Tests for Manu Samoa.

Faiilagi was brought up in Vailele and Uafato in Samoa, before playing for Vailele Rugby Club, Samoa Sevens and the Taula Eels in the lead up to being scouted by Moana Pasifika coaches at the now defunct World Rugby Pacific Combine in Suva in 2022.

Being named captain for the same franchise that gave him his Super Rugby Pacific debut is a massive moment for the 26-year-old, following on from Savea, who captained the team proudly in 2025.

For the barnstorming loose-forward, he told media in Auckland on Tuesday afternoon that it’s a huge moment for him and his family.

“It’s a huge step up for me, it’s really a special moment for me and my family,” Faiilagi said.

The 26-year-old was born in Samoa, and his parents named him Miracle because of the family situation during birth, where his father was in surgery at the same time.

“Long story short, it’s kind of a miracle in my family. My mum was giving birth at the same time my dad had a surgery, so when I was born, my dad finished his surgery as well,” the new captain said to media in Auckland on Tuesday.

“So it was kind of a miracle that they both lived with my mother giving birth to me, and my father getting out of surgery.”

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The Manu Samoa international believes one of the key things going forward for him as a leader is learning how to implement some of Savea’s leadership attributes into his own game.

“The most important thing is connection, and with Ardie coming in with us, that played a huge part for me to step into this role. It’s an opportunity for me to learn from the best in the game. so I saw that opportunity to learn many things from him.

Faiilagi talked about how he still keeps in touch with the All Black centurion and former Moana Pasifika captain, even in different countries playing for different teams.

“I spoke to him four weeks ago, just about some leadership stuff. There’s a goal of mine this season, to step into that leadership group.”