Latest news with #KyrenTaumoefolau
RNZ News
4 days ago
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific: Moana Pasifika release 15 players from franchise
Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andy Radka/ActionPress Moana Pasifika have dropped a bombshell in the form of 15 players. The franchise announced on social media the mass release of squad members, many of whom have been with the side since its inception. Also leaving is star winger Kyren Taumoefolau, rumoured to be heading to the Chiefs and former skipper Sione Havili-Talitui. The players released include Fine and Lotu Inisi, Neria Fomai, Danny Toala, Michael Curry, Havili-Talitui, Taumoefolau, Pepesana Patafilo, Alamanda Motuga, Sama Malolo, Aisea Halo, Tomasi Maka, Connor Seve, Irie Papuni and Pone Fa'amausili. "Goodbyes are never easy, but they remind us just how meaningful the journey has been. Thank you brothers for everything," Moana posted on their social media channels. Moana enjoyed their strongest season to date in 2025, picking up wins over every Kiwi franchise except the Chiefs, and narrowly missing out on a play-off berth, finishing in seventh. However, the gloss was somewhat removed from a sparking start, conceding 149 points in their final two outings.
ABC News
23-05-2025
- Sport
- ABC News
On the verge of an historic grand slam, but uncertainty still hangs over Moana Pasifika's Super Rugby future
Whether they make the Super Rugby Pacific play-offs or not, Moana Pasifika have already had their best ever season, and were they to topple championship favourites the Chiefs this weekend, the new kids on the block would complete a grand slam over all five New Zealand teams. That's the good news; but behind the scenes there are still very real concerns about how the franchise will survive financially, and whether rising stars like their flying winger Kyren Taumoefolau will leave the club in search of a bigger pay day. But the Super Rugby TV deal will be up for re-negotiation at the end of the year, and those talks could have a big impact on how the Moana model will look in future seasons.
France 24
18-05-2025
- Sport
- France 24
All Black Savea inspires Moana to brink of Super Rugby history
All Blacks back-row forward Savea was in imperious form as Moana notched a stunning maiden win over Auckland Blues on Saturday. The 27-21 upset of the defending champions lifted Savea's side above the Blues into sixth in the 11-team table with two weekends to go in the regular season. The top six advance. Moana's improvement has been a headline-grabber in a campaign dominated by ACT Brumbies, Waikato Chiefs and Canterbury Crusaders who are almost certain to be the three top qualifiers for the playoffs first round in early June. The top three will host teams ranked fourth to sixth -- at the moment Queensland Reds, Wellington Hurricanes and Moana Pasifika -- with the winners and the top-seeded loser going through to the semi-finals. The Reds and Hurricanes square off in Brisbane next week in a match likely to determine who finishes fourth. But most intrigue surrounds the final play-off berth, with Savea driven to help Moana create history. The 96-Test forward was a shock off-season signing for a team set up to provide a professional pathway for players of Pasifika heritage. They won only seven of 35 games in their first three seasons, something Savea said needed to change if they were to inspire young players of Samoan, Tongan and Cook Island descent. "I don't know if you guys have been in that position when you wholeheartedly believe in something, so you give it your all," Savea told reporters after Saturday's home match in Albany, just northwest of Auckland. Brothers in arms "That's me right now, being with this team. And when it's more than a game to me, I run through brick walls with them. "The brothers that you could say have come from nothing, they're certainly showing people that they are something." Wing Kyren Taumoefolau crossed for three tries against the Blues. But that could not overshadow the contribution of the 2023 world player of the year Savea, who made numerous surging runs and snatched a wealth of possession at the breakdown. Moana and the Blues are level on 28 points but the Blues have only one game to play. Savea's side have two, although both are challenging away fixtures at Waikato Chiefs and Wellington Hurricanes. The Brumbies, who had a tense 24-14 win over the Reds in Canberra on Saturday, lead the standings on 43 points but have only one game remaining. The Chiefs and Crusaders, who are both two points behind, play twice more. Brumbies captain and tighthead prop Allan Alaalatoa limped off with a calf problem, a worry for the Wallabies with the three Tests against the British and Irish Lions beginning in July. Western Force and New South Wales Waratahs both lost to drop out of realistic play-off contention while Fijian Drua and Otago Highlanders are already eliminated. An irate Waratahs coach Dan McKellar said there were "systematic" problems after his side lost 48-33 to Canterbury Crusaders in Sydney.
Yahoo
17-05-2025
- Sport
- Yahoo
Moana give Super rivals the blues with historic victory
Defending Super Rugby Pacific champions the Blues have slipped out of the knockout qualification places after suffering their first loss to Moana Pasifika. After making their competition entry in 2022, Moana have placed themselves in line for a first ever finals berth with a 27-21 win over the Blues in Auckland on Saturday. Pasifika are currently sitting in sixth place on 28 points, equal with the Blues. The pair have a six-point buffer over the NSW Waratahs in eighth place. "We worked really hard on our defence ... They're a big group, we knew they were going to get up for the cross-town rivalry," Moana coach Tana Umaga told Sky Sport. "We just had to weather the storm. We talked about it a lot; if we could wear them down, we know we can get into the right parts of the field; we can do some magic with the ball in our hands and you saw that tonight." Simply incredible! 😲Kyren Taumoefolau completes his hat-trick after a sensational move by Moana.#SuperRugbyPacific | #MOAvBLU — Super Rugby Pacific (@SuperRugby) May 17, 2025 The Blues slipped out of the qualification places for the knockout rounds as captain Ardie Savea inspired his side to their breakthrough win over the New Zealanders. Centre Kyren Taumoefolau scored a hat-trick of tries, including two in the second half that swung the game in Pasifika's favour as Umaga's team climbed into the top six with a memorable victory. "I'm proud of the efforts of the boys, for standing up against a quality Blues side and I'm just happy to get the win," Savea added. The Blues have the bye next weekend, with Moana Pasifika set to face the second-placed Chiefs (41 points). Moana finish their year against the fifth-placed Hurricanes (30), while the Blues host the eighth-placed Waratahs (22). With AAP.
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Super Rugby Pacific: Moana beat Blues in thriller
Patrick Pellegrini of Moana Pasifika, Moana Pasifika v Blues, round 14 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition at North Harbour Stadium, Auckland, New Zealand on Saturday 17 May 2025. © Photo: Andrew Cornaga / Photosport Photo: Andrew Cornaga/ A clutch Ardie Savea turnover has seen Moana finally knock off their cross-city brothers the Blues 27-21 in an epic encounter in Albany. Needing a converted try to win it with the siren having sounded, the Blues hammered away at the Moana line until their inspirational skipper sealed the famous victory with one of the more meaningful pilfers of his career. Down by three at halftime, Moana surged home with a hat-trick to winger Kyren Taumoefolau to take much deserved bragging rights and well and truly keep their play off hopes alive. Taumoefolau was electric on the left wing side, and will have catapulted himself into All Black conversation on the back of tonight's performance. There was plenty of drama on the shore, a Moana try scrubbed due to a foot in touch several phases earlier, Blues flanker Anton Segner was carted off after a brutal head clash, and Moana leapfrogging their so called 'big brothers' into the top six. The Blues managed the same number of tries as Moana, but it was the boot of Patrick Pellegrini which ultimately proved the difference in the battle for the 09. An historic night for Moana. Follow all the action with RNZ's live blog: Moana Pasifika: 1. Tito Tuipulotu, 2. Millennium Sanerivi, 3. Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou, 4. Tom Savage, 5. Samuel Slade, 6. Miracle Faiilagi, 7. Ardie Savea (c), 8. Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, 9. Jonathan Taumateine, 10. Patrick Pellegrini, 11. Kyren Taumoefolau, 12. Danny Toala, 13. Lalomilo Lalomilo, 14. Tevita Ofa, 15. William Havili Bench: 16. Samiuela Moli, 17. Abraham Pole, 18. Chris Apoua, 19. Allan Craig, 20. Sione Havili Talitui, 21. Melani Matavao, 22. Jackson Garden-Bachop, 23. Julian Savea Blues: 1. Joshua Fusitu'a, 2. Ricky Riccitelli, 3. Angus Ta'avao, 4. Patrick Tuipulotu, 5. Josh Beehre, 6. Adrian Choat, 7. Dalton Papali'i, 8. Hoskins Sotutu, 9. Taufa Funaki, 10. Beauden Barrett, 11. Caleb Clarke, 12. Xavi Taele, 13. Rieko Ioane, 14. AJ Lam, 15. Corey Evans Bench: 16. Kurt Eklund, 17. Mason Tupaea, 18. Marcel Renata, 19. Laghlan McWhannell, 20. Cam Christie, 21. Finlay Christie, 22. Harry Plummer, 23. Cole Forbes
