Tana Umaga

There's little doubt about the magnitude of the job he faces with Moana Pasifika losing all their Super Rugby Pacific games this season finished - apart from one, the last game of the season.

At the end of the season, Aaron Mauger quit as head coach of the side after two difficult campaigns.

Umaga said it was the 'purpose' which drove him to accept the top job.

Umaga is currently the defence coach for the national Samoan rugby team to the 2023 World Cup in September.

Manu Samoa posted on their official Facebook page saying “Alo I ou faiva ia manuia Fa'alogo Tana Umaga. Congratulations from your Manu Samoa.”

The former All Blacks captain had coached Moana Pasifika in their debut match against the Māori All Blacks in 2020.

Now after being unveiled as the new Moana Pasifika coach, Umaga has taken over from Aaron Mauger.

 He has signed a three-year contract from 2024 to 2026.

Umaga has been unveiled as the new Moana Pasifika coach, taking over from Aaron Mauger. He has signed a three-year contract from 2024 to 2026.

The former All Blacks captain, who coached Moana Pasifika in their debut match against the Māori All Blacks in 2020, said: “I’ve always held a special place for Moana Pasifika since its inception, and I’m deeply honoured for this opportunity to take up the reins again as head coach.”

The 50 year-old was the assistant coach of the side that was undefeated throughout the tournament and defeated Fiji 23-20 in the final.

Umaga was also the Defence Coach in the Blues coaching set up after he was replaced by Leon MacDonald.

He was Head Coach of the Auckland based team between 2016 and 2018.

Umaga is among high profile former rugby players that have also been selected to be part of Samoa’s coaching set up.

The former All Black captain was part of an all-star coaching line-up assembled by Seilala Mapusua, that included former Manu Samoa skipper Mahonri Schwalger, Blues assistant coach Tom Coventry and Crusaders assistant Andrew Goodman.

Samoa defeated Tonga last month to secure their qualification for the 2023 Rugby World Cup in France.

Umaga confirmed on Tuesday he was taking a break from professional coaching to focus on a supplements business he launched with wife Rochelle earlier this year.

The Fiji, Samoa and Tonga combined team will play the Māori All Blacks in Hamilton next month.

Moana Pasifika is one of the preferred partners to join Super Rugby in 2022.

The inaugural squad includes nine players with Test experience and another three who have played international sevens.

One-test All Black Josh Ioane will lead the backline that also includes Super Rugby players Leicester Fainga'anuku from Tasman and the Hurricanes winger Salesi Rayasi, who has been one oif the star players for Auckland this season.

This brings Umaga into line with the rest of the Blues coaching group of head coach Leon MacDonald, forwards coach Tom Coventry and backs/skills coach Daniel Halangahu.

Umaga joined the Blues as head coach in 2016 before stepping into the defence coaching role for a two-year deal in 2019, with the additional year ensuring his contract comes up for renewal alongside the rest of the Blues coaching team after the 2021 season.

He is to be replaced by Leon MacDonald for a three-year stint. Umaga will stay on and take up a two-year contract as defensive coach.

Umaga's contract was extended in May to 2019, but the changes have been put in place after an end-of-season review with the Blues and NZ Rugby Boards.

Umaga said his passion lies with being the defence coach.

"I believe that is where I can make the greatest contribution and difference at the Blues," he said in a statement.

O'Driscoll admitted he still carries regrets over the fallout from Umaga and Keven Mealamu's off the ball tackle that left him with a dislocated shoulder and ended his tour of New Zealand just 41 seconds into the first Test in 2005.

Some 13 years after the flashpoint, the former Ireland and New Zealand captains sat down together in Dublin - to draw a line under the incident, and the aftershocks, once and for all.

With the Blues struggles from recent years continuing in 2018 and former All Blacks captain Umaga in the last year of his contract, speculation has been mounting as to whether he will stay in the role with the franchise.

Addressing media at the team's headquarters in Auckland on Tuesday, Redman said they hoped to confirm their coaching team for 2019 in the next few weeks but indicated Umaga was in the box seat.

"It's fair to say there is plenty of support for Tana within New Zealand Rugby and the Blues.