Photo: Super Rugby
Moana Pasifika is expected to play at least one home match each in Tonga and Samoa in the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.
The franchise’s chief executive officer, Pelenato Sakalia, has confirmed they are finalising the details of the games in Apia and Nuku’alofa.
“We as Moana Pasifika are committed to taking a game both in Samoa and Tonga and we are finalising details of which particular games we will be taking to the Pacific,” Sakalia told RNZ Pacific.
Board member Tevita Funaki told 88.6FM in Nuku’alofa on Tuesday that there would be a game in Nuku’alofa.
“We are working with the Tonga Rugby Union. We gotta have a game here,” Funaki said during the half-time break of Tonga’s second Test against Canada at Te’ufaiva Park.
Moana Pasifika have six home matches, which are booked for Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
Moana played one home game in Apia this year, against the Reds, and then coach Aaron Mauger said there were plans to take some games to Tonga.
The team have home matches against the Rebels on March 8, Blues on March 30, Reds on April 12, Hurricanes on May 4, Crusaders on May 10 and the Waratahs on May 25.
They kick off their 2024 season against the Highlanders in Dunedin on Saturday, February 24 and meet the Fijian Drua in Melbourne during round two, when all 12 teams head to AAMI Park for a weekend of rugby with the ‘Super Round’.
Fijian Drua 2024 matches
Home advantage
Draws released on Wednesday show the Fijian Drua will play seven home matches in Fiji, divided between Lautoka and Suva.
Drua’s Head of Commercial and Marketing Shane Hussein said they are excited for their fans.
“It means that we will be able to play in front of our passionate fans seven times this season, which is the most number of games we’ll have in Fiji at this point in time,” Hussein told RNZ Pacific.
“This is very exciting. It allows our fans to come and cheer for the Drua. The home crowd advantage and home support is a big thing and we’re obviously going to use that quite well.
“And it means that our players will be able to showcase their skills and talents in front of those who matter to them the most – their families, their friends and obviously their community.”
The Drua will host the champion Crusaders on March 9, Waratahs on March 23, Western Force on March 30, Hurricanes on April 19, Moana Pasifika on April 27, Queensland Reds on May 18 and Melbourne Rebels on June 1.
The team will kick-off its 2024 season in Auckland against the Blues on February 23.
The Drua created history this year when they qualified for their first quarter-final, two years into the competition.
They lost to eventual series winner the Crusaders.
The Nadi-based franchise had a strong season, winning home matches against the Crusaders, Hurricanes, Rebels, Moana Pasifika and the Reds.
Moana Pasifika, however, struggled and only won once.
Full 2024 Super Rugby Pacific draw here.
