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RNZ News
5 days ago
- Entertainment
- RNZ News
By the numbers: Moana Pasifika's 2025
Moana Pasifika fans, crowd and supporters, Hurricanes v Moana Pasifika, round 16 of the Super Rugby Pacific competition. Photo: Photosport / Elias Rodriguez Moana Pasifika has achieved good numbers in 2025 in attendance, digital reach and individual accolades. Their season came to an end without a playoff spot, but the North Harbour-based franchise said in a statement on Tuesday their season has been what fans have labelled memorable. More than 48,000 people attended Moana Pasifika games, five played at North Harbour Stadium and two at Navigation Homes Stadium in Pukekohe. Chief executive officer Debbie Sorenson said the "season has been phenomenal and I'm so proud of our players, staff and sponsors for all of their hard work that went into making it a success". "A massive thank you has to go to our people for showing their support wherever our team was playing," she stated. "You brought the energy and atmosphere to our games, which is uniquely Pacific. We are so lucky to be able to use our platform to share this with the world." The franchise said they saw an average increase of 369 percent in scanned attendance at each of their home games, compared to the previous season. Over 680 of those fans were members who attended all five of the matches at Albany. 2024 World Rugby Player of the Year, Ardie Savea, led the team to six wins, the best they have recorded in their four-year history. Four of those wins were against New Zealand franchise clubs - the Blues, Crusaders, Highlanders and the Hurricanes. Moana Pasifika. Photo: Andy Radka/ActionPress The club finished the regular season in seventh on the standings, just one step away from having qualified for the play-offs . Savea was voted the inaugural Super Rugby Pacific Player of the Year, as voted by opposition coaches and captains, and also named as the best number seven in the competition, his name appearing in the honorary Super Rugby Team of the Year . Super Rugby fans acknowledged the individual efforts of players too, voting for Moana Pasifika standouts as the Player of the Week for five of the 14 rounds that the team played in. That saw Miracle Faiilagi (round 4), Patrick Pellegrini (round 7), Feleti Sae-Ta'ufo'ou (round 8), and Ardie Savea (round 12 and 14) named as the best player of those rounds. The club said a key part of building fan connection to the team this season was through the social media channels and the authentic, unbarred, fun content produced. Moana Pasifika have added over 150,000 new followers across social platforms in 2025 year to date - more than the five New Zealand clubs combined. The club said the introduction of Moana Pasifika vlogs gave fans access to engaging, behind-the-scenes, player-led content of the team, driving YouTube subscriptions up by 462 percent. Interestingly, the United States, South Africa and the United Kingdom are some of the top countries that make up Moana Pasifika's audience - alongside New Zealand, Australia and Pacific Island nations.
RNZ News
17-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
Rugby: Savea, Umaga applaud team and fans as Blues fall to Moana Pasifika
Ardie Savea in a previous match. Photo: Pat Hoelscher/ActionPress Moana Pasifika achieved what was previously impossible, defeating the Blues 27-21 in a Super Rugby Pacific round 14 game in North Harbour on Saturday evening. It was a victory that meant a lot more than just the result on the field for the club as a whole, after head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga revealed there were some flak thrown at the team from their across-the-bridge opponents, following the team's earlier clash at Eden Park . And captain Ardie Savea told the media a Biblical verse - which made the comparison of being the light in the darkness of life - was the inspiration the team needed to psyche them up for the historic win. In the end, the physical and brutal battle ended in victory for the home side, which Savea said were in uncharted waters. Victories over New Zealand premier teams the Crusaders, Hurricanes and Highlanders had preceded Saturday's win. Facing the media at the post-match conference, both Umaga and Savea fought hard to contain their emotions as they described what the victory meant to them as a club and their family of fans. "We heard a lot of things after the last game and we had a talk about it, how we motivate ourselves," Umaga revealed. "We heard some of the narratives coming out of their camp around things. Ardie talked to me and said we look to the light and be the light, and I think tonight we shone bright." Savea said he used the Bible scripture from John chapter one, verse five to be their motivation. "Me and [Umaga] talked about it, and I said, 'Let's be the light in the darkness.' Obviously the game, there's a lot of back and forth with both teams. If we shine our light, and we do it in our own way without degrading anyone or any team and just go about our business. "We talk about our faith and our way and we just need to walk it." Umaga said the players have built a lot of self-belief and faith, trusting their processes and each other, which helped them get the win. The former All Black captain said he was excited because he knew the team would keep growing. "For us, I think we just stuck to the plan," he said. "We had a lot of belief. This week we prepared really well and we've just been building throughout the season. "We knew these three games are gonna be tough for us. Our guys are really growing and I know they will grow again." The win pushed Moana Pasifika into sixth spot on the competition table and dropped the Blues down to seventh. While the Blues have one more game to go, Moana Pasifika have two more - against the Chiefs in Hamilton next weekend and then the Hurricanes in Wellington the weekend after. A win out of the two clashes could cement Moana's berth in the top six. The Blues will also have to win against the Waratahs on 31 May and hope other results work in their favour to claim a top six spot. Blue head coach Vern Cotter was disappointed with his team's missed opportunities and mistakes committed that saw possession lost and their advantage reduced. "Frustrating when you scrum five metres from the line and you have an opportunity to take the win, and I thought it was going to be our night where we get a one-point win - and as it turned out we just weren't efficient enough in and around that, five metres from the line and yeah, that was disappointing," Cotter, who coached the side to the title 12 months ago in his first season with the club, explained. Savea was the Blues' cause of misery, winning a turnover in a tackle after the hooter had sounded and the champion side pushing towards the line. But as the ball went to ground in a tackle, Savea was on hand, positioned himself and as he had done so many times before, won the tussle and claimed a penalty. It was an area the Cotter pointed to as a major weakness for his side, who had dominated the same just a few weeks earlier at Eden Park. "In and around the collisions… they had more horsepower in there," Cotter said. "So I think we had the opportunities, they were there. We have to ask some serious questions on our intent to action. "In saying that, I would say congratulations to Moana. They played well and had us under pressure." Cotter also applauded Savea, and said the All Black loosie was on fire. He said the captain inspired the side and he had not seen Savea play that well. On fire would be an understatement after the former Hurricanes player, who started the game with his older brother Julian, won turnovers, made the hard tackles, chipped and chased and even got a 50-metre touchfinder that relieved the pressure of the Moana line as the Blues were on attack in the second spell. Savea said he had learned so much from the players in the club, who have managed to show an island lifestyle of being 'easy go free' and professional rugby players with a focus. "That's been an eye opener for me," he said. "Many teams I have been a part, you know, there's too much laughter and we don't play well - it's because of the laughter. "This team thrives on that. I am slowly learning. It is the happiest I have been in my career. At peace, clear purpose and got family to do it with." Umaga said the players have also learned from Savea, something that was evident on Saturday, as the players lifted and followed their captain's lead on the field. He made special mention of Savea's loose trio partners of Miracle Failangi and Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, who held the upper hand against the more experienced Dalton Papalii and Hoskins Sotutu for the Blues. Winger Kyren Taumoefolau and flyhalf Patrick Pellegrini also received mentions, both playing well in their positions and assisted in the win. Taumoefolau scored three tries and Pellegrini commanded the flow of the game, varying his tactics with speed balls for the backs to run and the chip kicks over the defence or touch finders to relieve pressure. Both Umaga and Savea heaped praise on their fans, who had backed them since they moved into North Harbour as their base. Moana Pasifika announced in the week that all seats around the grandstand were sold out. They opened up more seats at the open-air grandstand and the embankment. At game time 12,000 fans who turned up, majority of them with the Moana Pasifika tee shirts. jersies and flags. Umaga said it has been an emotional experience, walking into the stadium atmosphere, seeing the flags being waved and the cheers going up. "It's awesome, unbelievable," he said. "Who would have thought coming across here on the North Shore when the Blues are playing and a full crowd? That's what motivates our guys to do the things they do out there." He said the team does not take the support for granted and they know they have to do the work on the field. Savea acknowledged the crowd after the final whistle, raising them to cheer and celebrate with the players. Other results from the weekend: Hurricanes 24 Highlanders 20, Crusaders 48 Waratahs 33, Fijian Drua 38 Western Force 7, Brumbies 24 Reds 14. The Brumbies now lead the points table with 43 points, while the Chiefs, who were on a bye this weekend, and the Crusaders are tied with 41 points each. The Reds are at fifth spot, Hurricanes at fifth and Moana Pasifika sixth. 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RNZ News
16-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
'Just another game': Blues play down Moana rivalry
Photo: RNZ Blues vs Moana 7.05pm Saturday May 17 North Harbour Stadium Live blog updates on RNZ They may be in a more comfortable position on the table, but Blues coach Vern Cotter is far from relaxed. "I'm sleeping worse!" His side resumes their cross-city rivalry with Moana Pasifika this Saturday, albeit with the added factor of Albany. It's been a short, and one sided rivalry between the two Auckland franchises, the Blues having won all five previous games, most recently a pretty comfortable 36-17 win at Eden Park. While Moana have shown they grow another leg in front of their North Shore faithful, Cotter remains unfazed. "We're on the bus and just over the bridge, so that's another field, it's a rectangle and we're just talking about how we can play the best we can against a good team." As well as the venue, Cotter is also continuing to play down the rivalry. "It's just another game. It's just business as usual, whether it's a travel week or home week, but it's getting towards the end of the season and it's an important game for us. Whether it's Moana or any other team, it's an important game and we want to perform well. We want to be able to string things together and be better than we were last week." A threat the Blues are unable to ignore, however, is that of Moana skipper Ardie Savea, Cotter noting they will need to shut him down at ruck time. "That's where he is active and that's where he gets turnovers, so just make sure that we shut him down and other players. But it's not just one thing. They have got good players all over and they've had a bye, so we're very conscious of the fact that the game will probably start hard and fast and we may have to weather a storm and stay focused and locked in. Discipline will be key in this game. Absolutely key." Coming in off back to back wins for the first time in 2025, Cotter feels his side has finally rediscovered its winning formula, shrugging off criticism that it's a very un-fan-friendly style. "I think the Blue's way is coming back and I think there's a bit of confidence with that as well. When the Chief's do it, everyone says it's powerful and direct and when we do it, it's boring. So it's just a narrative, isn't it?" As uncomplicated as their on field tactics may be, Cotter's plan for the remainder of the season is even less so. "Just winning, winning first and foremost. Winning." 2022 March 29 Go Media Stadium Blues 32-19 Moana Pasifika April 2 Eden Park Blues 46-16 Moana Pasifika 2023 May 6 Eden Park Blues 31-30 Moana Pasifika 2024 March 30 Eden Park Blues 47-8 Moana Pasifika 2025 April 12 Eden Park Blues 36-17 Moana Pasifika Sign up for Ngā Pitopito Kōrero , a daily newsletter curated by our editors and delivered straight to your inbox every weekday.
RNZ News
15-05-2025
- Sport
- RNZ News
‘Haven't decided that yet' - Savea leaves door open for 2026 return to Moana
Moana Pasifika v Blues Kick-off: 7:05pm Saturday 17 May North Harbour Stadium, Albany Live blog updates on RNZ Sport Ardie Savea is mulling a return to Moana Pasifika colours next season, despite his original deal with the Super Rugby Pacific expansion side stipulating the option for a lucrative sabbatical in 2026. Savea spent last season playing for the Kobelco Kobe Steelers in the Japan Rugby League One, before returning and making the shock decision to move from the Hurricanes to Moana last July. "I still haven't decided that yet," said Savea at Moana training. "It's something that my (management) team is talking about. I love it here…also, you know, like, obviously looking after the family as well and whatnot. So it's a decision still to be made." While the reigning World Rugby Player of the Year would likely pick up a massive pay day returning to Japan, the impact he's had on Moana this year is astronomical. Despite a move to the unfashionable North Harbour Stadium, his presence has ensured decent crowds after three seasons of struggling to attract any attention at all. On the field, Savea's form has been outstanding, to the point that Moana is now challenging for an unlikely play-off spot. That may well be decided this Saturday when they take on cross-town rivals the Blues, a side they lost to back in round nine. "I think we probably got bullied, our forward pack" Savea sad about the 36-17 result at Eden Park . Blues captain Patrick Tuipulotu celebrates his try in the first half during the Super Rugby Pacific - Blues v Moana Pasifika at Eden Park. Photo: Brett Phibbs / "It starts there, like, if you're not winning up front, set piece ball, then that's going to be a long day for our backs. We know how physical, how big our Blues brothers are and how they play the game. And I thought we didn't deal to that too well last time. So we've got to front up and turn up, first and foremost. I think if we do that, it gives us the best chance to put ourselves in a position to win." Coach Tana Umaga said that the key to shutting down Beauden Barrett, who had his best performance of the season when the teams last met, was to simply "go forward". "Every team can play well on the back of go forward (ball) and we know what their forward pack are going to bring. They're big and brutal and the backline is big and brutal, as they included obviously Caleb Clarke. So even bigger and more brutal," said Umaga. "So you know for us we've got to make sure that we can contain and get them going backwards in that contact area, because that's what they're very good at doing to other teams. And as they've shown, if you can't keep can't stop that that go forward then it becomes a hard day." Umaga has once again rotated his all-important first fives, this time favouring Patrick Pellegrini over Jackson Garden-Bachop. "I just flip a coin most days and just see how it goes," joked Umaga. "We're really fortunate that we've got two 10s that are playing really well. We kind of have a look at how we want to start the game, we look at how we want to finish the game. We know that they're going to be very physical. They're going to come at us, we just want to make sure that we've got opportunities to play whenever we want, knowing that when teams get tired, we can inject some experience."
