Moana Pasifika’s inclusion in Super Rugby would go a long way towards helping nations like Tonga avoid huge international defeats, says All Blacks captain Sam Whitelock.
With most of their first-choice side unavailable due to overseas commitments and the inability to travel under COVID-19 quarantine restrictions, the Tongans stood no chance against New Zealand in their 2021 season opener.
The brave 'Ikale Tahi were outplayed in every department, conceding 16 tries and more than a point a minute to lose 102-0.
The introduction of both Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua from 2022 may solve the problem of Pacific players being unavailable for test duty, providing an opportunity for players from Tonga, Samoa and Fiji to ply their trade at home.
For Whitelock, allowing Pacific players to go toe-to-toe with New Zealand and Australian opposition every week would only be beneficial, allowing the Pacific Island nations to build depth outside their forgeign-based player pool.
"I think having another Super Rugby franchise in New Zealand is only going to be a good thing," Whitelock says.
"It might test the depth, but I think it's going to develop people as well. Whether that means you're from the Pacific Islands, or born and raised [in] New Zealand, it's going to make people have to be exposed.
"Sometimes [it] may be a little bit early, but some of them should step up and make the depth of all the Pacific nations in a better spot."
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