Rugby: Former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga does not rule out seeking Moana Pacific’s coach position in 2022

Former All Blacks captain and Blues assistant coach Tana Umaga doesn’t want to claim Moana Pasifika’s coaching job, but she’s not ruling it out either.

Umaga will be the mentor for the Pacific side, who was unveiled this morning, in their match against the Māori All Blacks on December 5 in Hamilton.

The same team will join the new Super Rugby competition in 2022 involving 12 teams spread across New Zealand, Australia and the Pacific.

Umaga has one year left on his current contract with the Blues, which will free him up for a potential role elsewhere the following year, should he pursue it.

He said Things he is happy in the blues, but he does not know what the future holds.

“I know that with these kinds of opportunities [at Moana Pasifika] in 2022, there will be great coaches who will raise their hands, “he says.

“It will definitely be something to be a part of, but I have to say that I am very happy with where I am in the Blues.

“I know [Moana Pasifika] you will be in good hands. [But] if it’s there and the timing is good, you never know what will happen. “

The Auckland franchise is likely to have a strong will to keep Umaga in the fold beyond next year. His 47-year-old time with them has been mostly fruitful.

After some turbulent first years leaked with promising moments, the team showed signs of improvement in 2019 breaking winless droughts against teams from New Zealand, before emerging as a legitimate contender in Super Rugby in 2020.

They finished second on the Super Rugby Aotearoa ladder behind the Crusaders, and are set to give the Southerners another run for their money in 2021.

“We are starting to see the fruits of hard work from the players and some hardworking people at the club who have stood their ground,” says Umaga.

“Our guys are maturing and you can see now that we are creating some All Blacks and we have a great coaching staff here.

“We would like to try to go one step further and reach the final next year.”

Umaga’s head coaching career began with Toulon in 2008, before transitioning to Counties Manukau as an assistant and then head coach. During his time with the Steelers, he oversaw their promotion to the Miter 10 Cup Premiership.

His time with the Blues began in 2016.

Meanwhile, Umaga’s focus will shift to Pasifika’s cohort of talents that she must gather to defeat the Maori All Blacks.

The team is full of Super Ruby and Miter 10 Cup talents, including Josh John, Vince Aso, Stephen Nabi, Leicester Fainga’anuku, Sione Mafileo and Folau Fakatava.

“We have some young guys who are knocking on the All Blacks door, so there is still that opportunity,” Umaga said.

“For us they were just players that you couldn’t put aside.

“Marine [Mikaele-Tu’u], Folau Fakatava, Sione Mafileo in terms of what she’s done with that North Harbor herd, Leicester Fainga’anuku … young people who still have [All Blacks} aspirations I’m sure.

“And yet from our point of view they were some of the form players in the competition.

“I had to play against Sitiveni [Sivivatu] and Sione [Lauaki] Before they became All Blacks and they made it hard for us that night [in 2004] and I remember it clearly. “