Sorensen takes charge of Moana Pasifika in historical debut. Video / Dean Purcell
As Super Rugby 2025 ticks closer, the rugby world waits with bated breath to see what Moana Pasifika achieve, after the club’s most-significant off-season to date.
For a start, the arrival of All Black Ardie Savea has increased interest across the board, while the club’s move to a new training facility on the North Shore has revolutionised how they prepare for what they hope to be a launching pad season.
Across their first two seasons, Moana won three games from 28 attempts. In 2024, that number increased to four from 14. And while that win percentage might not be anything to write home about, it does show evidence of an upward trajectory.
This year also represents Moana’s first under new ownership, after the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) took over in mid-2024.
As PMA chief executive, Debbie Sorensen has taken on the same responsibility for Moana Pasifika on an interim basis, until a suitable fulltime appointment can be made.
And with Super Rugby’s pre-season getting under way on Friday, hosting the Highlanders at their new home, Sorensen describes the mood of the club as “incredibly positive”.
“The squad [were] getting itchy feet, they’re ready to go,” she told the Herald. “They’ve been training really hard.
“Ardie has brought a different level of expectation and professionalism, which has lifted the whole squad.
“The coaching group is fantastic and the work they’ve done in pre-season has put them in a really good position to start the season.
Moana Pasifika interim CEO Debbie Sorensen. Photo / Dean Purcell
“As a group, people are really positive, really hopeful and excited about what this season will bring.”
While Sorensen isn’t the first woman to serve as chief executive of a Super Rugby side – that honour belongs to Niamh O’Connor of the Western Force – she is the first of Pasifika descent.
However, she makes no bones about the challenges of the role, which she holds in tandem with her duties in charge of the PMA.
Naturally, it’s a delicate balancing act and having to add in dealing with player agents and the team’s general logistics isn’t sustainable long term, Sorensen explains.
“It’s a bit nuts really, to be fair,” she said. “It would be politically sensible to say, ‘Oh, it’s all fine’, but it’s not, it’s incredibly busy.
“However, the leverage I can bring around leveraging the resources of the Pasifika Medical Association to benefit the franchise is really important as we get stood up over this next year.
“I don’t think this is a long-term position for me. But for us, we’d really like to grow a Pasifika CEO into this role.
“We’ll take our time carefully to find the right person.”
While a ball is still to be kicked in Super Rugby 2025, the Ardie Savea storyline is already bubbling away as one to watch over the coming months.
The former World Rugby player of the year could have played for any club on the planet, but has chosen to give back to his parents’ Samoan heritage above all else.
And away from any impact he’s having on field, Savea’s influence is extending across all areas of the club.
“He brings a level of professionalism and demonstrates excellence every day; that requires everyone to lift their game, not just the squad but the whole organisation,” Sorensen explained.
Ardie Savea scores for the All Blacks against England in Dunedin. Photo / Photosport
“We understand what a gift he’s brought to the franchise, we’re incredibly grateful for that.
“We’re learning so much from him, every day. It’s not only his ability as the world’s best rugby player, it’s the way he conducts himself personally. He’s authentic with his values, he’s in an environment where he’s able to practise those.
“For some of those young men to see that role-modelled, to say ‘you can bring everything to work every day, this is what excellence looks like, and you can be like this’ is exciting.
“The Ardie effect is strong and alive inside the club. We’re incredibly grateful he’s made that choice.”
Title ambitions
Already this pre-season, Julian Savea and Jackson Garden-Bachop told the Herald the expectation at the club was to push for a maiden finals appearance this season.
Sorensen shares the same ambition for 2025 and believes pushing for a maiden title within the next five years is not beyond the realm of possibility.
However, Moana do still face significant challenges.
Debbie Sorensen believes pushing for a maiden title in the next five years is possible for Moana Pasifika. Photo / Dean Purcell
Despite being based in Auckland, Moana are not considered to be affiliated with New Zealand Rugby. Their primary objective is to produce players for Tonga and Samoa, not for the All Blacks.
When considering the fact the Fijian Drua – who entered Super Rugby at the same time – existed before their introduction to the competition in 2022, Moana are having to make up more ground than all their rivals.
But for Sorensen, those difficulties are just speedbumps on where the team will head in the years to come.
“We are different, but it’s our difference that really makes us unique. Without us and the Drua, the competition would be less colourful.
“We don’t think we’ll be New Zealand’s top franchise in terms of members and followers. But we need to be New Zealand’s second team.
“We see that by viewership. When we play, we have high viewership on TV and watching broadcasts.
“There’s a lot of interest, and that’s only going to continue to grow.”
Alex Powell is an online sports editor for the NZ Herald. He has been a sports journalist since 2016, and previously worked for both Newshub and 1News.
