By Tupou Vaipulu Jr.

A Moana Pasifika marketing team is in Nuku'alofa for a couple of days to begin preparations for launching their first match in Tonga, set to be held at Teufaiva Stadium, on 4 May.

On this trip the marketing team aims to “get an idea” of what they're dealing with before the big game.

After inspecting the stadium and the area, their focus now is to plan promotions for the game and to mobilize local entertaining talent, including dancers and a DJ. They will hire locals where ever they can.

“We want to engage with the local talents so we don’t have to bring anyone in from New Zealand” said the Moana Pasifika Head of Commercial and Marketing, Taylah Johnson.

She said that the main issue with hosting big games like these in the Pacific region is the high cost, especially if it includes flying in heavy equipment at a high cost.

Oceania Rugby Competition Manager, Wayne Schuster agreed and said that the Pacific Region is the "most costliest" region to travel around.

However, it'll also be a very big home advantage for Moana Pasifika when they play in a home country for most of the team as the Highlanders are from one of the coldest parts of New Zealand.

The marketing team arrived yesterday and will return to New Zealand tomorrow, Wednesday. They will make another two trips to Tonga before the match.

Moana Pasifika is a rugby union team made up of players from various Pacific Island nations as well as New Zealand or Australian born players of Pasifika heritage, including Fiji, Samoa, Tonga and the Cook Islands. The team played its inaugural Super Rugby match on 4 March 2022. Moana Pasifika played its inaugural Super Rugby game on 4 March 2022, a 12–33 loss to the Crusaders. Later, Moana Pasifika won its first Super Rugby game against the Hurricanes at Mt Smart Stadium, Auckland, winning 24–19