‘They don't want us to survive’: Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga slams the Blues
Friday, 13 March 2026
Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga has launched an impassioned attack on the Blues and claims their Auckland rivals have made it “very hard for us to survive”.
Umaga faced reporters before his Moana side play Vern Cotter’s Blues at Eden Park in Super Rugby Pacific on Sunday afternoon and hardly needed prompting in slamming the franchise he used to work for. Calmly, he spoke almost uninterrupted for more than two minutes.
The former All Blacks captain has been in charge of Moana since 2023 and was Blues coach in an unsuccessful stint from 2016-18, then became an assistant there to Leon MacDonald.
“I don’t know if they realise there’s two professional rugby teams in this city, but we do know they don’t want us here,” Umaga said on Thursday.
“We’ve got nothing against the playing group, nothing against the staff, because I’ve worked in there, but the people that make decisions have made it very hard for us to survive over here.
“That’s why they probably are our greatest rivals because they want to see us not do well, and not thrive. I struggle with that.
“When rugby is in a place where we’re at, I struggle with the narrative that comes out of there last year that they believe they’re representing the Pacific. Well, a Pacific team is here, but they’re not willing to assist us or embrace us for the betterment of rugby. I do struggle with that.
“That’s why this game does mean a lot to us.”
Inspired by All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea, who is absent this season because of another sabbatical in Japan, Moana toppled the Blues for the first time in their sixth meeting in Albany last May.
After that success, one of their biggest since they joined Super Rugby in 2022, Umaga was similarly scathing of the Blues for how they reacted to beating them at Eden Park the month before.
By having another pop at the Blues, Umaga might be hoping to provoke his players after three losses in a row. Starting with an impressive away win over the Fijian Drua, they have since suffered heavy defeats to the Hurricanes and the Chiefs either side of an abysmal loss to the Western Force.
Asked for more specifics on Thursday, Umaga said the Blues had not been accommodating when Moana were searching for alternative venues to stage their fixtures.
They can only play five of their seven home matches at Albany’s North Harbour Stadium, where the team is based, and hosted the Force in Pukekohe two weeks ago.
Next month’s home fixture against the Chiefs will be held in Rotorua after they couldn’t raise the finances to play the match in Tonga.
“When our game against Tonga didn’t go through, straight away we had the Northland [Rugby] Union come to us and say ‘we’d love to have you’, which they’ve done before,” Umaga added.
“The Blues said ‘no, that’s in our region. You can’t go up there’. This year, because we play our other games at [Pukekohe], and that’s in the Chiefs’ region, the Blues tried to say to us that’s actually in the super city.
“That’s what we’re up against, but that’s fine. We just have to look back in our past as Pacific Islanders around how tough it is for us here, how tough for our families and our parents who have fought to provide for us to give us an opportunity in this great country.
“It’s nothing new for us as a small entity, trying to build and grow for the benefit of our people.”
Moana are aiming to qualify for the playoffs for the first time after just falling short in the final weeks of last season.
Blues coach Vern Cotter approached Friday’s scheduled media appearance with a wry smile, knowing he would be asked for a response to Umaga.
“That’s outside the arena. We’re only really interested in what happens within the arena,” he said.
“The only thing you really want to focus on is your actions. We don’t want to be distracted with outside noise.”
Blues chief executive Karl Budge issued a statement after Umaga’s comments. While not addressing his claims directly, he said Umaga was “entitled to his opinions”.
“Tana was one of my idols growing up and I have a huge amount of respect for him as a player and a coach,” Budge said.
“I think this is Tana trying to create a bit of extra spice against their cross-town rivals ahead of our game on Sunday. We have really enjoyed the rivalry we’ve created on the field and this weekend will be no different.
“It has been great to see our two proud clubs work closely together to promote the game and ensure rugby fans, be they in Blues or Moana Pasifika jerseys, get out and support their team.
“We look forward to what will be another tough game against them at Eden Park on Sunday.”
The Blues have won two and lost two from four rounds and secured a rare win against the Crusaders at Eden Park last Saturday night.