Moana Pasifika welcome new beginning with fresh squad and new staff

While Moana Pasifika fans are excited by Ardie Savea's addition, the side’s new-look coaching staff are just as moving.

Accompanying Fa’alogo Tana Umaga in his second season as Moana coach is former Manu Sāmoa coach Vaovasamanaia Seilala Mapusua.

With Mapusua's addition, the Super Rugby team are set to gain a significant advantage. His expertise and leadership promise to elevate the team’s performance and strategies on the field.

Mapusua assumes the Backs and Skills coaching role for the 2025 and 2026 seasons.

The prolific coach reflects on his time as Manu Sāmoa's Head Coach and how that prepared him for this new role.

“The word that comes to mind first is ‘privilege.’ I felt so privileged to have the opportunity to fill the role and serve the country and also me and my family were privileged to go back to Samoa and live there.

“For my kids, they have spent most of their lives in Sāmoa, and they are now connected for the rest of their lives. So it was a huge honour to serve the country, my villages and be able to give the best of me.

“So many emotions, and I think the gratitude and what a privilege it was for me.”

Mapusua said after his shock exit with Manu Sāmoa, there wasn’t a succession plan for the future.

But he credits “relationships” that helped the veteran re-enter rugby.

“When I finished my time in Sāmoa, there wasn’t a lot of succession planning at the time; it was quite a shock. I believe that rugby, like a lot of things in life, is (about) relationships and connections we have.

“Being able to work with Fa’alogo Tana Umaga the last four years, and being able to reconnect with him and having conversations around the potential of joining Moana Pasifika.

“We spoke at length about purpose, and he spoke about the direction he was wanting Moana Pasifika to head in. And it spoke to everything that I value.

“As a Sāmoan, as a Pacific Islander and as a rugby coach, it ticked all the boxes for me. I knew it was an organisation I want to be a part of.”

The former Manu Sāmoa forward reflected on the 2004 Pacific Islanders team, saying they did not expect a team representing the Pacific Islands in Super Rugby to happen in their lifetime.

And in 2025, Mapusua joins Moana Pasifika, playing their fourth Super Rugby season.

“Fast-forward to now, all that great work has been done, and we have a team, and now I have an opportunity to be part of it.

“Something I knew I definitely wanted to be part of and contribute to.”

Moana Pasifika in a huddle at Suncorp Stadium. Photo/Moana Pasifika

A new beginning for Moana Pasifika

After their most successful season in 2024, Moana Pasifika has strengthened its playing pool with 14 new signings.

Seven players have been elevated to full-time contracts, while seven are new faces to the club, including cross-code speedster Solomon Alaimalo.

Moana Pasifika’s new defence coach, Alando Soakai, a former NPC Wellington Lions chief mentor, is excited about the new players.

“I think with Solomon coming back, he’s always had the talent, and it’d be a great opportunity for him with the next couple of years with Moana. With Ardie coming to Moana as well, I think Ardie will set the standard; he’ll set a high standard.

“I think the key for us this year is having experienced players, you’ve got Fini Inisi that have been around now. These guys that have done 2, 3 years of Super (Rugby) that will hopefully set us up for the next couple of years.

“To have those guys new in the team, but also the ones already there, there’s experience now. I’m excited to have that right balance that Tana has created and chosen those players.”

"It's exciting, and we've got a new group of players and a new group of staff coming on board in 2025 for Moana Pasifika. I think the caliber of all these people is going to lift Moana Pasifika from where we've been," Umaga says.

Umaga added: "The likes of Ardie Savea, Pone Fa'amausili, Solomon Alaimalo, Jackson Garden-Bachop. These guys who are experienced in Super Rugby will add to the experience we've already got that took us to where we got to last year.

"We've also got some seasoned campaigners that have been part of our movement for a long time. Like Jonathan Taumateine and Danny Toala, who grew up in the Moana Pasifika environment. They know what it's about and feel a real big part of that."

Find the entire squad here: Moana Pasifika name squad for 2025 – Moana Pasifika