Aaron Mauger resigns as Moana Pacifica coach, but will stay for rest of season

Aaron Mauger resigned after two years as head coach of Moana Pacifica.

Mauger signed a three-year contract with Moana Pacifica in October 2021, but staff members told the Moana Pacifica board late last week that Mauger would not continue as manager next season. I understand you told me.

However, Mauger will remain as head coach for the final two games of the season, away games against Fiji Dorua and the Waratahs, before stepping down.

It’s been a tough season for Moana Pacifica, despite the improvement of some players. Despite shoving the Blues in a recent 31-30 loss at Eden Park, they were unable to secure a win.

In the 12th round against the Hurricanes, Mauger rotated his entire team, but the Hurricanes lost 71-22. Mauger has made changes this year to help marginalized players enter international teams.

But doing so made the task of playing the Hurricanes in Wellington much more difficult.

But it was a challenge faced by Mauger, who was trying to make Moana Pacifica a competitive Super Rugby Pacific team while also achieving another of the team’s goals of providing a way for Pacific Islander players. is highlighted.

It’s still unclear why Mauger decided not to coach Moana Pacifica next year, but the team is expected to issue a statement on Monday.

On Sunday night, Sky TV’s Breakdown reported that Moana Pacifica’s best player Levi Aumua will leave the team next year to play for the Crusaders and sign a New Zealand Rugby deal.

The Crusaders are believed to have signed Aumua after defeating the Blues and Rugby Australia.

But for Moana Pacifica and Samoa, who would have loved to have him selected for the World Cup squad, this is a heartbreaking blow against the goals the team is trying to achieve.

Moana Pacifica was supposed to create a platform for Pacific Islanders to play professional rugby at a high level while maintaining qualifications for Samoa and Tonga.

But the loss of Aumua calls Moana Pacifica’s purpose into question, even though the rest of the team is active in international rugby.

Mauger, 42, has previously managed England’s Leicester and Highlanders, but it is unclear whether he wants to stay in a coaching job.

Back in March, when rumors swirled about who would be All Blacks’ assistant Scott Robertson next year, Mauger told staff he had no intention of getting involved.

“I never got a tap on the shoulder,” he said.

“At this stage in my journey, it’s not something I’m interested in yet. I’m not involved at this stage.”