Moana Pasifika bring back heavy hitters for opening home game
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Moana Pasifika have recalled the bulk of the squad which secured an historic win over the Fijian Drua in Lautoka a fortnight ago.
After introducing eight debutants against the Hurricanes last week to combat travel and a short turnaround, Head Coach Fa’alogo Tana Umaga has brought back fresh legs and experience to face the Western Force in Friday’s opening home game in Pukekohe.
Umaga said: “We’re going out to South Auckland in Pukekohe where a lot of us have some personal connections, so we’re looking forward to it.
“We love coming home and we love the support of our people, and representing them so we can’t wait to get out there.”
Experienced prop Abraham Pole will run out for 50th Super Rugby game after being named as an impact player. He is on track to become just the second Moana Pasifika player, behind William Havili, to reach 50 caps for the club in a few weeks’ time.
Openside flanker Semisi Paea returns after taking a week off to be at the birth of his first child. He re-joins a heavy hitting loose forward trio alongside captain Miracle Faiilagi and Semisi Tupou Ta’eiloa. Faiilagi is currently fourth in Super Rugby Pacific Player Of The Year votes.
Nifty outside back Glen Vaihu has earned his first start at fullback and is the only change to the run-on side that defeated the Drua – replacing the injured Havili (neck).
Born in Victoria, Vaihu played for the Melbourne Rebels and made the switch to league following the team’s exit from Super Rugby Pacific. He played for the Souths Logan Magpies in the Queensland Cup followed by a stint in Japan. His first two matches for Moana Pasifika as an impact player have been promising.
Tevita Latu (utility back) and Tupou Afungia (flanker) and are set to make their Super Rugby Pacific debuts off the bench.
For Latu, it is another milestone in a journey that has taken him from Auckland club rugby, to NPC gigs in Southland, Northland and Canterbury. Hampered by injuries earlier in his career, the 27-year-old bounced back to win the 2025 NPC title with Canterbury and secured his spot in Moana Pasifika’s squad of 38 players.
Before breaking onto the rugby scene he was a star basketball player in High School and played College hoops in the Philippines.
Afungia has taken a different path. Born in Tonga, he attended Auckland’s Westlake Boys High School but has represented his home country at age grade and Test level. He is a destructive loose forward and played a key role in the San Diego Legion’s run to the Grand Final of America’s Major League Rugby in 2023.
Jackson Garden-Bachop and Ola Tauelangi are also named for their first game of the 2026 season, bringing experience and energy off the bench.
Unavailable due to injury: Augustine Pulu (calf), Israel Leota (ankle), Jimmy Tupou (elbow), Niko Jones (foot – integrating back into team units this week), Paula Latu (knee), Simon Peter Toleafoa (knee), William Havili (neck).
