Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa

Semisi Tupou Ta'eiloa, born on 25 November 2003 and New Zealand-qualified, is a flanker in the Moana Pasifika Super Rugby Pacific squad. Selection for the Auckland-based franchise — established to provide a high-performance home for Pacific Island rugby — has placed him in one of the most distinctive setups in the competition. At back-row, Ta'eiloa's role centres on physicality, defensive presence, and breakdown contest, all qualities that align with the abrasive forward play Moana Pasifika look to bring to Super Rugby. His pathway has run through the New Zealand domestic system, where solid form is typically the route into the franchise's matchday squad. Within a Moana Pasifika side that continues to forge an identity built around Pacific player development, his progression sits alongside that of a broader group of young forwards being given exposure at Super Rugby level. With age and physical attributes on his side, the next stage of his career is about translating those qualities into consistent senior minutes across a full campaign.