Moana Pasifika unveil supercharged 2025 squad

Moana Pasifika are set for a big 2025 season, with star power injected into the mix in the form of reigning World Rugby Player of the Year Ardie Savea among others.

Stars of the recent Pacific Nations Cup like Tonga’s Patrick Pellegrini and Samoa’s Tuna Tuitama and Melani Matavao are also new inclusions to the club, along with former Wallaby Pone Fa’amausili.

Moana Pasifika head coach Tana Umaga is looking to build on an improved 2024 season and “bust the door open” in 2025.

“It’s exciting, 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 calibre of all these people is going to lift Moana Pasifika from where we’ve been,” Umaga said.

“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 had some close games last year where we could compete for long minutes. I think if we had some more experience in certain areas then we might’ve been able to turn those games into wins.

“We’ve got a lot of young players coming through too. Tito Tuipulotu is coming through and some of these guys who had a season with injury like Miracle Faiilagi who didn’t play as much as he wanted 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 have grown up in the Moana Pasifika environment. They know what it’s about and feel a real big part of that.”

Young budding stars like Kyren Taumoefolau and Miracle Faiilagi are also back to inject some youthful energy into the team.

“We want to play a style that suits us and represents who we are and where we come from. As a byproduct of that, we want to develop our young people to live good lives,” Umaga says.

“We know we’re in a competitive market here and we want to be competitive. We’ll enjoy it with our Pacific way and making sure that culture is at the forefront of that.”

Moana Pasifika 2025 squad

Abraham Pole – Lapaha, Fua’amotu (Tongatapu). Funga Fonua (‘Eua) & Ha’apai (Tonga)

Alamanda Motuga – Sataoa & Sa’anapu (Samoa)

Allan Craig* – Ahipara, New Zealand

Ardie Savea* – Siumu, Luatuanu’u, Falesiu-uta (Samoa)

Chris Apoua* – Salamumu & Fasito’o Uta (Samoa)

Irie Papuni – Kolomotu’a & Ha’ateiho (Tongatapu) (Tonga)

James Lay – Sasina & Safotu (Samoa)

Lotu Inisi – Longoteme (Tongatapu) & Fangale’ounga (Ha’apai) (Tonga). Falelatai (Samoa)

Michael Curry* –  Faatoia & Taufusi (Samoa)

Miracle Faiilagi – Vailele & Uafato (Samoa)

Ofa Tauatevalu – Pangaimotu (Vava’u) (Tonga)

Ola Tauelangi – Vaini (Tongatapu) (Tonga)

Pone Fa’amausili* -Malie & Vailoa Palauli (Samoa)

Samiuela Moli – Te’ekiu (Tongatapu) & Leimatu’a (Vava’u) (Tonga)

Samuel Slade – Sapunaoa, Vailoa & Palauli (Samoa)

Sama Malolo – Siusega & Salelologa (Samoa)

Semisi Paea – Falaleu (Vava’u), Houmakelikao (Tongatapu) (Tonga)

Sione Havili Talitui – Pangai, Nomuka (Ha’apai) Tofoa (Tongatapu) Niuafo’ou (Tonga)

Sione Mafileo* – Hofoa (Tongatapu) & Longomapu (Tonga)

Tomasi Maka – Longoteme & Holopeka (Ha’apai) (Tonga)

Tito Tuipulotu* – Togafuafua, Manono, Vaiee, Apolima, Satufia, Satupa?itea (Samoa)

Tom Savage – Havering (England)

Aisea Halo – Puke, Lakepa (Tonga Tapu), Leimatua, Ta’anea (Vava’u), Fatai, Koulo, Holopeka (Ha’apai) (Tonga)

Danny Toala – Faleasi’u & Lotofaga (Samoa)

Fine Inisi – Longoteme (Tongatapu) & Fangale’ounga (Ha’apai) (Tonga). Falelatai (Samoa)

Jackson Garden-Bachop* – Ng?ti Awa, Moerai (Rurutu, French Polynesia), Turangi, Titikaveka and Ngatangiia (Rarotonga), Lalomanu (Samoa)

Jonathan Taumateine – Nofoali’i & Satapuala (Samoa)

Julian Savea – Siumu, Luatuanu’u & Falesiu Uta (Samoa)

Kyren Taumoefolau* – Tu`anekivale (Vava`u) & Ha’afeva  (Ha’apai) (Tonga)

Lalomilo Lalomilo – Falefa, Sinamoga, Safotu, Salailua (Samoa)

Losi Filipo* – Salemoa (Samoa)

Melani Matavao* – Fasito’o-Uta & Lauli’i (Samoa)

Neria Fomai – Lepuia’i Manono Tai & Magiagi (Samoa)

Patrick Pellegrini* – Tatakamotonga (Tonga)

Pepesana Patafilo – Magiagi & Vailima (Samoa)

Solomon Alaimalo* – Vaigaga, Apolima, Sa’anapu, Saasaai (Samoa)

Tuna Tuitama* – Mulifanua & Faleasiu (Samoa)

William Havili – Sopu, Kolomatu’a (Tonga)

*Denotes new player