New Zealand Minister, Honourable Aupito Sua William Sio, has made a public jab at the Moana Pasefika rugby team following the side’s 71-22 loss to the Wellington Hurricanes on Saturday night.
Posting from the Wellington grounds, afioga Aupito rhetorically asks what the first three letters of Moana means – MOA – which means chicken in Samoan.
“Anyone noticed that when they shortened the Moana Pasifika to MOA…what that word means 🤔”
Fuamoa, meaning egg, is typically used to mock a team that scores no points in a sports match.
Aupito posts, “Na’o moa ma fuamoa mea e maua ia Ueligitone.”
It is unclear how the Moana Pasefika team may have rejected the Honourable Minister, but he goes on to state:
“Asking Ma’a Nonu if Paul Eagle and I can join him in San Diego, given our services arent needed by the Moana Pasifika team.”
The joint Pacific team are currently ranked at the bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific tournament having not yet recorded a win in the 12 weeks of the tournament.
Moana Pasifika is a Super Rugby franchise based at Mount Smart Stadium in Auckland featuring players of Pacific Island decent including Samoa, Tonga and Fiji.
“Our mission is to champion the awesome power of Pasifika people and culture, and put it on a global stage,” states the Moana Pasifika website.
“To encourage participation in sport. And to develop and support our youth.. Our Super Rugby franchise is the starting point of our movement, but we hope to expand into new sporting codes and new ventures..”
