Pasifika SR team
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Moana Pasifika and World Rugby are in game-changing talks that would make the new Super Rugby outfit the ‘capturing’ side for the Samoa and Tonga test teams, fending off potential raids from the All Blacks and the Wallabies for young players who come through their pathway.
Hale T-Pole, the chairman of Pasifika players’ association Pacific Rugby Players, has outlined the plan in a wide-ranging interview with Stuff, outlining how Super Rugby Pacific is just the first step in a bigger plan to advance Pasifika rugby – while acknowledging there are hurdles all long the way.
T-Pole also revealed that Moana Pasifika was prevented from setting up an academy in Aotearoa as part of its New Zealand Rugby licensing conditions. He said the Fijian Drua had lost “between 10 and 15 players” due to delays in getting their full licence, believed Pasifika players were initially wary about Moana Pasifika but were being won over, and said there had been some “frustrations” to overcome about the signing of Lincoln McClutchie, the Hawke’s Bay No 10 who isn’t eligible for Samoa or Tonga.
“From the outside, not getting involved in the discussion process and getting that inside info, you'll be a bit p...ed off with that,” he said of McClutchie’s signing. “I did get a few messages from Tonga and Samoa when that announcement come through, and I fully understand the frustrations...but I don’t have a problem with it, for now.”At present, Samoa and Tonga capture players by picking them for their Sevens or test sides – but that pool is relatively small compared to the huge number of Pasifika players in the game.
However, World Rugby – with Kiwi Joe Schmidt involved – Moana Pasifika, and the Samoan and Tongan unions want to expand that.
“Eventually, playing for Moana will be a capture team for Tonga and Samoa, and the Drua [for Fiji],” T-Pole said, revealing that commission-hungry agents had already pushed back against it. “We want to look out for the best interests of Fiji rugby, also.
“Currently, Tonga and Samoa and World Rugby are working on other ways to capture players.
“Not in a selfish way, but we've got to start something, to capture players to build up our depth.
“It's been up for discussions a few times, so that'll be a work in progress. And, hopefully, in the next year or so, it’ll be confirmed.”
Such a development – although belated – would turn Moana Pasifika’s vision of aiding Samoa and Tonga into a hard reality. At present, players ‘commit’ to the island nations when they sign for Moana Pasifika, but T-Pole has been around long enough to see the loophole.
For example, an uncapped young player could star at Moana Pasifika and attract the attention of a New Zealand or Australian franchise, thus making him eligible for the All Blacks or Wallabies the minute they sign.“I've got a good feeling so far from both Moana and the Drua,” he said. ” Remember, they lost a lot of other players because of the [licence] process is dragging on.
“Mate, the players on their list that they were targeting midyear and had agreed verbally, it was just ...
“But I've got a good feeling about these big name players. Next year they'll have a look, they’ll keep in touch from afar.
“I think in the next two years, they [Moana Pasifika and the Drua] will have to put their thinking caps on just to pick the right players.” -
I guess that would mean only Tonga and Samoa qualified could play, so they would have to move Lincoln (for example) on. You'd also wonder if kiwi with heritage will turn down playing for MP because it would tie them in, and end their chance of playing for ABs
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@machpants said in Pasifika SR team:
I guess that would mean only Tonga and Samoa qualified could play, so they would have to move Lincoln (for example) on. You'd also wonder if kiwi with heritage will turn down playing for MP because it would tie them in, and end their chance of playing for ABs
Yep, that's the risk they take if they use the team in that method. It will weaken the strength of the team in the long run which will in turn make the team less attractive to PIs choosing between MP and NH contracts.
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I think it's completely wrong to capture players other than via the 1st and 2nd senior national team. If they want this, move the team to Tonga or Samoa. Hale T-Pole calls them Tongan and Samoan kids, but basically they are NZ kids of Tongan and Samoan heritage. If WR decides to allow this while MP is based in NZ, they should abolish the grandparent rule.
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@stargazer said in Pasifika SR team:
I think it's completely wrong to capture players other than via the 1st and 2nd senior national team. If they want this, move the team to Tonga or Samoa. Hale T-Pole calls them Tongan and Samoan kids, but basically they are NZ kids of Tongan and Samoan heritage. If WR decides to allow this while MP is based in NZ, they should abolish the grandparent rule.
Half of both those teams are
So not much of a change!
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@daffy-jaffy For who doesn't know who they are and what positions they're playing:
Cook Island lock, Mike McKee (Southland), and Tongan locking duo, Don Lolo (‘Ikale Tahi) & Veikoso Poloniati (Manawatu)
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@stargazer
Veikoso Poloniati 27 years old , listed at 1.96 122kgs ex Sacred Heart ..played Heartland Rugby for South Canterbury and is currently in the Manawatu Turbos squad .
Don Lolo has played club for Taiere Rugby in Dunedin and heartland for North Otago
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@steven-harris don lolo is well over 6,2
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@ploughboy , those stats did look very suspicious, especially the 209 pounds ,which equates to 94kgs .., how tall would you say he is..?
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@steven-harris 6.5 6.6 last time i saw him he had filled out to very solid that would have been a couple of months before he played ABs. he had also turned down playing for otago in the last few seasons
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@ploughboy has he got game ..?, what are his strengths..?
Looks like an athlete.
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@steven-harris
don lifting in that photo
havent seen him play live in years . he likes to carrying and hits hard very physical , i would expect him to improve considerately from all blacks game where he had hardly been training wouldnt have been surprised if he had only been going to club training and stuff all else. one of those kids who just never got a break when younger will be very interested how he goes with a full time gig. -
Lolo looks more than useful
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