AUCKLAND, 27 APRIL 2021 (STUFF NZ) – Pacific Rugby Players’ Welfare boss Daniel Leo says the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association shouldn’t have been involved in Moana Pasifika’s bid to be included in a new professional competition.
Leo, an outspoken advocate for professional Pacific Island rugby players around the world, posted a message on Twitter after NZ Rugby last week revealed Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua were granted conditional licences to join a revamped tournament that would include the 10 Super Rugby teams from New Zealand and Australia from next year.
The NZRPA, led by Rob Nichol, played a key role in helping get the Moana Pasifika deal – albeit a conditional one at this point – endorsed by NZ Rugby.
However, Leo says “NZRPA shouldn’t be involved at all’’ in the process.
Their mandate is to advance the NZ players at any cost. Not Pacific Island players,’’ Leo posted on Twitter.
“The fact they are key stakeholders in Moana and one of their employees is general manager has alarm bells ringing.’’
Former All Blacks halfback Kevin Senio, who has worked as a player services manager for the NZRPA, has been appointed as Moana Pasifika general manager.
Despite Leo’s statements about a potential conflict of interest between the NZRPA and Moana Pasifika, Senio told Sky Sport this week that the aim was for up to 80 percent of the players on the franchise’s roster to be eligible for Samoa, Tonga or Fiji.
“Eighty per cent of the team will have to be eligible and/or have played for Samoa, Tonga or Fiji,” Senio told The Breakdown.
“For those who are going to align themselves into Moana Pasifika, you can’t play for the All Blacks or Australia.”
Following the declaration Moana Pasifika had been granted the conditional licence, there was speculation that it could join the Blues, Chiefs, Hurricanes, Crusaders and Highlanders in becoming a feeder team for the All Blacks.
Former Wallabies midfielder Morgan Turinui wrote in the Sydney Morning Herald that he was concerned Moana Pasifika would be picked over by the All Blacks selectors.
Senio told The Breakdown that Moana Pasifika players he expected to be on the same wages as New Zealand Super Rugby players.
Although he said a hunt for a coaching team had already begun, he didn’t list any preferred candidates.
He also said discussions with agents and the national unions of Samoa and Tonga had begun, as the drive to fill the squad’s roster was ramped up.
“This team needs to be competitive, so it’s a balance of having established players and those who are overseas that can help this team in terms of performance,’’ Senio said.
“The other part is …to connect into the high-performance environments up in Tonga and Samoa and look at their existing programmes.
“In terms of identifying talent, that’s who we are going to connect into.”
Senio said Moana Pasifika would host some games in Apia in Samoa, but would primarily be based in South Auckland.
Last week All Blacks great Sir Michael Jones indicated that young players of Pasifika heritage may not have to surrender their hope of representing the All Blacks if they signed for Moana Pasifika.
This was followed by Leo writing on Twitter that he was concerned that NZ Rugby had several representatives on the Moana Pasifika committee. He tagged World Rugby in on the post.
“Already 2 NZ Rugby Board members on Moana’s committee & hearing a NZRPA employee being lined up as Moana Director of Rugby,’’ Leo posted on twitter.
“Lots of room for conflict of interest. Very little consultation with SAMOA & TONGA.
“Need to make sure Moana doesn’t become NZs 6th Super Team.’’
