Published on Matangi Tonga (https://matangitonga.to)

Home > Tongans to start in Moana Pasifika team to face Maori All Blacks

Tongans to start in Moana Pasifika team to face Maori All Blacks [1]

Nuku'alofa, Tonga

Friday, December 4, 2020 - 17:17.  Updated on Friday, December 4, 2020 - 17:18.

Moana Pasifika halfback, Folau Fakatava, in training at Manukau Rovers Rugby Club. 1 December 2020. Photo: Moana Pasifika facebook

Three Tongans have been named to start in the first ever Moana Pasifika rugby team taking on the Maori All Blacks tomorrow Saturday 5 December, at FMG Stadium Waikato, Hamilton, New Zealand.

Folau Fakatava will play halfback (9), while Fetuli Paea is named at inside centre (12) and Leicester Fainga’anuku on the wing (14).

Another four Tongans have been named in the reserves, including Samisoni Taukeiaho, Sione Mafileo, Samipeni Finau, and Nasi Manu.

Moana Pasifika is made up of current and former international players of Pasifika heritage and many are contracted Super Rugby players.

The team will be led by captain, Michael Ala’alatoa, who is of Samoan heritage.

Head coach is former All Blacks, Tana Umanga.

Meanwhile, there has been support for the Moana Pasifika team to be included in Super Rugby in 2022. 

Moana Pasifika squad

Forwards:

  1. Daniel Lienert-Brown (Canterbury, Highlanders, Samoa)
  2. Leni Apisai (Auckland, Samoa/Tuvalu)
  3. Michael Alaalatoa (Manawatu, Crusaders, Samoa) - Captain
  4. Gerard Cowley-Tuioti (North Harbour, Blues, Samoa)
  5. Naitoa Ah Kuoi (Wellington, Chiefs, Samoa)
  6. Marino Mikaele-Tu'u (Hawkes Bay, Highlanders, Samoa)
  7. Alamanda Motuga (Counties Manukau, Samoa)
  8. Pita Gus Sowakula (Taranaki, Chiefs, Fiji)

Backs:

  1. Folau Fakatava (Hawke's Bay, Highlanders, Tonga) - Ma’ufanga
  2. Josh Ioane (Otago, Highlanders, NZ/Samoa)
  3. Vince Aso (Wellington, Hurricanes, Samoa)
  4. Fetuli Paea (Tasman, Highlanders Tonga) - Ha’asini
  5. Salesi Rayasi (Auckland, Hurricanes, Fiji/Samoa)
  6. Leicester Fainga'anuku (Tasman, Crusaders, Tonga) - Ha’apai, ‘Eua
  7. Stephen Perofeta (Taranaki, Blues, Samoa)

Reserves:

  1. Samisoni Taukieaho (Waikato, Chiefs, Tonga) - Fahefa, Ofa
  2. Jordan Lay (Bay of Plenty, Bristol, Samoa)
  3. Sione Mafile'o (North Harbour, Blues, Tonga) - Hofoa, Longomapu
  4. Samipeni Finau (Waikato, Tonga) – Ha’ateiho, Fatumu
  5. Nasi Manu (Otago, Tonga) - Vaini, Ha’ateiho
  6. Dwyane Polataivao (Tasman, Utah Warriors, Samoa)
  7. Asaeli Tikoirotuma (North Harbour, Fiji)
  8. Etene Nanai-Seturo (Counties Manukau, Chiefs, Samoa)

Head coach: Tana Umaga (former All Black)

Moana Pasifika team. Photo: Moana Pasifika fb
Moana Pasifika [2]
Rugby Union [3]
Tonga [4]
Pasifika heritage [5]
Tonga Rugby Union [6]
Sports [7]

This content contains images that have not been displayed in print view.

Source URL:https://matangitonga.to/2020/12/04/tongans-start-moana-pasifika-team-face-maori-all-blacks

Links
[1] https://matangitonga.to/2020/12/04/tongans-start-moana-pasifika-team-face-maori-all-blacks [2] https://matangitonga.to/tag/moana-pasifika?page=1 [3] https://matangitonga.to/tag/rugby-union?page=1 [4] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga?page=1 [5] https://matangitonga.to/tag/pasifika-heritage?page=1 [6] https://matangitonga.to/tag/tonga-rugby-union?page=1 [7] https://matangitonga.to/topic/sports?page=1