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Moana Pasifika have announced the appointment of Toaigaotumua Tom Coventry and Stephen Jones to their 2024 coaching staff. Both coaches bring a good amount of international and club experience to the Moana Pasifika aiga and are well respected in the rugby community.
Toaigaotumua is a three time Super Rugby title holder with the Blues and Chiefs and was also part of Manu Samoa’s 2023 Rugby World Cup campaign. His forward coaching resume also stretches back with careers for New Zealand schools, New Zealand U20’s and ITM Cup powerhouse club Hawkes Bay.
Having worked with new Moana coach Faalogo Tana Umaga with Manu Samoa and The Blues, he is looking forward to growing their relationship even further with next season. Having also been associated with Pacific values and culture during his time with Manu Samoa, Toaigaotumua is hoping to implement this with Moana.
“This is a great opportunity for me and I’m grateful to be part of the Moana Pasifika organisation,” he says.
“It’s exciting to be working with Tana as we commit ourselves to creating a very successful rugby franchise.
“The values I had been involved with during my time with Samoa are very similar to my own. Family and culture are important. The challenge for us though is to bring it all together and I think that what really appeals to me, is putting the different Pacific cultures as one team.”
Jones is no stranger to the rugby scene having proven himself as one of the greatest to ever don the jersey for Wales. Earning over 100 caps for Wales, his accolades include a Six Nations Championship, a Welsh Premier Division title, a Celtic Division title and two tours with the British and Irish Lions.
In the coaching arena, Jones was the backs and attack coach for Wales from 2019-2022, and was instrumental in leading them to a Six Nations title and Triple Crown in 2021. He also played a part on the coaching staff of the Scarlets Clubnots.
“For me to be given this honour is an opportunity I am massively excited by. I am excited to bring my perspective to the style of rugby played in the Pacific and the Southern Hemisphere and help the next crop of Pasifika talent flourish.”
Coventry and Jones complete the 2024 group of Assistant Coaches with Scrum Coach Pauliasi Manu and Skills Coach Damian Karauna continuing their tenure with the club under Fa’alogo Tana Umaga.
