Respect, attitude and belonging: Brad Mika’s rugby values endure

A lifelong commitment to respect, attitude and giving back to communities drives former All Black Brad Mika’s journey from lock to community coach.

Auckland-born Sāmoan Bradley Moni Mika, rose through the Ōtāhuhu club and St Peter’s College before making his All Blacks debut in 2002 at just 21 years old. He played three tests that year, including a starting role against France, but injuries and fierce competition limited further appearances.

Mika would go on to amass 148 first-class matches across Auckland, the Crusaders, Blues and Hurricanes before retiring in 2012. Today, the 44-year-old sporting icon is making his mark on grassroots rugby, having joined One Tree Hill College as Director of Rugby earlier this year.

He oversees academies and the 1st XV, while also serving as a community liaison to keep students engaged in both sport and education. Mika’s next move is to the Papatoetoe Rugby Football Club, which recently announced him as its Director of Rugby and Premier Head Coach for 2026.

Speaking with Pacific Huddle host Tuilagi William Leolahi, Mika says he worries that young players are losing community connection. He says people coming to games or parent volunteers or coaches are dwindling more nowadays.

“It's quite hard and sad to see. You only get the opportunity in schools, but that's the other hard thing: if you're not in a 1A school, but some 1B schools that have a lot of talent don't run academies or run rugby as a subject,” Mika says.

“It's more the clubs in your own region, their [rugby development officers]or their director of rugby doing their part and going in their catchment around their club to reach out to those schools, trying to get more numbers or more kids playing the game.”

Mika says his coaching philosophy has been shaped by his decade overseas, particularly in Malaysia. He says the most important value he learned while there was embracing Malaysian culture first.

“Once the locals, the board and the union saw that, the response was better. Once I got that, I slowly introduced the Pacific culture and the New Zealand way of playing. When you mix all of them together, you get a mixture of Malaysia, Pacific, and New Zealand,” Mika says.

“It made my coaching that much easier. The boys got to know me a bit more, I got to know them a bit more. When we speak about culture being the pinnacle for any successful team, I used that to the best I could.”

Reflecting on his All Blacks experience, Mika stresses how fleeting the opportunity can be. He says the most crucial thing he learned was trying to remain on the field. Mika says when he made the team he was still trying to “find [his] feet”.

These lessons came at a personal cost. Mika battled long layoffs through serious knee and Achilles injuries, which he recalls as “a dark place”. He now teaches players to expect setbacks, plan for recovery, and surround themselves with good people.

“As long as you're putting in the hard work, your time will come. I encourage kids just to buy your time. Because when your time does come you've got all that foundation behind you.”

For Mika, the highlight of coaching is not trophies but watching players grow. He says the most rewarding thing about coaching is “when kids realise their potential”.

“It's that light switch moment where you've been coaching them and then they get it. Or they realise, ‘I can do this’, and then they carry on and get better. That’s the biggest thing.

“I've been coaching for the last 14 years here in New Zealand, Australia, and Malaysia. I'm fortunate to win a few championships on my way. But I think that feeling of seeing your players succeed in the little things is bigger than any medal or cup.”