Pacific pride: 8 players named in Super Rugby Team of the Year

Eight players from Pacific backgrounds have been selected for the 2025 Super Rugby Team of the Year.

Ardie Savea, the Moana Pasifika captain and recently named the Player of the Year for Super Rugby Pacific, leads this special team, which was announced after the last games of the regular season.

This marks the first time an official Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year has been recognised and will be celebrated next year.

The team consists of the top players in each position, chosen based on votes from players across the league.

Savea received the most votes of any player and earned the title of Player of Super Rugby Pacific 2025.

According to Super Rugby Pacific, if a player can play in more than one position, they are assigned to the position where they played the most games during the season for this team.

The side is dominated by Pasifika players, including Savea (Back row, Moana Pasifika - Sāmoa), Tevita Ikanivere (Hooker, Fijian Drua), Allan Alaalatoa (Prop, Brumbies - Sāmoa), Patrick Tuipulotu (Lock/captain, Blues - Sāmoa), Timoci Tavatavanawai (Centre, Highlanders - Fiji), AJ Lam (Centre, Blues - Sāmoa), Kini Naholo (Wing, Hurricanes - Fiji), and Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (Fullback, Waratahs - Sāmoa).

For the third back row position, there was a tie between three players: Carlo Tizzano (Force), Fraser McReight (Reds), and Langi Gleeson, the Sydney-born Fijian Waratahs forward. They all received the same number of votes (29).

But the selectors chose Tizzano and McReight for the final team. The tie-breaker was based on how many 'three votes' they received, and Gleeson, with four such votes, was surpassed by Tizzano and McReight, who both received five.

Interestingly, both Tizzano and McReight received the same number of points in all categories throughout the season, which led to a shared selection for the final back row selection.

From left, Fijian Drua captain Tevita Ikanivere, Hurricanes' flyer Kini Naholo, and Highlanders' centre Timoci Tavatavanawai bring the Fijian flair to the Super Rugby Team of the Year. Photo/Alan Lee/Aaron Gillions - Photosport/AAP Image, James Ross - Photosport

From left, Waratahs' Joseph Sua'ali'i, Brumbies' captain Allan Alaalatoa, and Blues' centre AJ Lam, have all been named in the Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year. Photo/Masanori Udagawa/Alan Lee/John Davidson/Photosport

2025 Super Rugby Pacific Team of the Year

Props

Allan Alaalatoa (ACT Brumbies, 20 votes), Angus Bell (NSW Waratahs, 14 votes)

Hooker

Tevita Ikanivere (Captain Fijian Drua, 19 votes)

Second row

Jeremy Williams (Captain Western Force, 21 votes), Patrick Tuipulotu (Captain Blues, 20 votes)

Back row

Ardie Savea (Captain Moana Pasifika, 46 votes), Tom Hooper (ACT Brumbies, 31 votes), Carlo Tizzano (Western Force, 29 votes)/Fraser McReight (Queensland Reds, 29 votes)

Halfback

Cam Roigard (Hurricanes, 28 votes)

First-five

Damian McKenzie (Chiefs, 36 votes)

Centres

Timoci Tavatavanawai (Highlanders, 32 votes), AJ Lam (Blues, 14 votes)

Wingers

Harry Potter (Western Force, 18 votes), Kini Naholo (Hurricanes, 18 votes)

Fullback

Joseph-Aukuso Sua'ali'i (NSW Waratahs, 20 votes).