Ngani Laumape signs with Moana Pasifika
Hurricanes Ngani Laumape, centre, celebrates scoring a try with team mates Ricky Riccitelli, left, and Jeff Toomaga-Allen.
Photo:
Photosport
Moana Pasifika have secured the services of former All Black midfielder Ngani Laumape for the next two years.
Laumape played 15 tests for New Zealand between 2017 and 2020, though opted to move to France after falling out of favour with selectors.
The 32-year-old is fresh off three seasons with the Kobe Steelers in Japan League One, where he played alongside Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea.
The announcement comes days after Moana culled its squad with the mass release of 176 players, six of whom had been with the side since it's inception.
Despite the cleanout, the 2026 Moana Pasifika squad now has 30 of its 38 roster spots locked in.
However, Laumape isn't heading to the North Shore to make up the numbers.
"One of the reasons I came back was to be part of the first Moana Pasifika team to win the competition. Obviously there has to be a lot of hard work and a lot of things behind the scenes that we'll have to do but why can't our culture and our people do something great in this competition That's pretty inspiring and definitely motivating," he said.
Head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga said Laumape has proven himself on the international stage.
"From his experience in league, the All Blacks, as well as in France and in Japan, he has an open and mature outlook on the game. Ngani is also a great person who has done well for himself and his family, and I know he'll be able to integrate smoothly into our team environment."
Ngani Laumape.
Photo:
PHOTOSPORT
A proud Tongan from the villages of Nukuhetulu and Folaha, Laumape was born and raised in Palmerston North.
He played for the Palmerston North Boys' High School First XV and for the New Zealand Schools alongside Savea and another 2025 Moana Pasifika squad member - Sione Mafile'o.
In 2013 he made the switch to rugby league, debuting for the New Zealand Warriors who he made 30 appearances for across two seasons, scoring 11 tries.
After his stint in league, Laumape signed with the Hurricanes for the 2016 Super Rugby season, going on to win the team's first ever Super Rugby title.
In 2017 season, he finished as the competition's most prolific try-scorer with 15 to his name, and ending his stint in the capital with 49 tries across six seasons.
Laumape's campaign caught the eye of All Blacks selectors, earning him his international debut in the 2017 British and Irish Lions series, stepping in to start for the suspended Sonny Bill Williams in the series decider.
He will also return to play for the Manawatū Turbos in the National Provincial Championship.
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