'It's always held me again': Levi Aumua shares his 'distinctive' journey to Super Rugby

Recreation-breaking Moana Pasifika centre Levi Aumua has provided a healthful and considerate reflection on his journey to Super Rugby stardom, revealing the unorthodox and difficult route to the place he’s right now.

The event’s chief in defenders crushed, Aumua’s physicality is persistently getting his Moana aspect over the acquire line and continuously breaking the road altogether. Only a few years in the past although, the 28-year-old was battling his weight and self-discipline, he was prepared to give the sport up earlier than a possibility with the Tasman Mako introduced itself.

Aumua admitted he hadn’t even heard of the Mako on the time and was ready for his time with the NPC aspect to solely final one week.

“We left New Zealand once I was 9,” Aumua instructed Sky Sport. “I used to be truly prepared to surrender rugby over in Brisbane, I misplaced the eagerness for it and I had my struggles with self-discipline inside rugby.

“It so occurred that my agent discovered a possibility over right here in Tasman with the Mako, and to be sincere with you I had no thought who the Mako have been. I’d by no means watched rugby over in New Zealand since I left.

“So I went over and gave it a strive for every week and I’ve been right here ever since.”

Aumua went on to signal with the Chiefs after which the Blues, however solely managed to characteristic 4 occasions for the Auckland aspect.

As his kind in NPC continued to evolve, Moana Pasifika’s Super Rugby Pacific membership was established and the large man was “honoured” to reply the decision from coach Aaron Mauger.

“With Moana, even final 12 months after they approached me about becoming a member of the group, I used to be actually honoured to hear from them. Simply understanding that Moana is a group that represents not a rustic however a area of the Pacific, instantly I considered my grandparents, my household from Samoa, Fiji and everywhere in the Pacific.

“The distinction with Moana could be that it’s a group massively primarily based round household and tradition. That’s one thing that I align with lots in my life.”

An All Blacks XV choice in 2022 capped off a formidable 12 months for Aumua, the place he was one of many kind midfielders within the Super Rugby Pacific competitors. 2023 has seen him go from power to power, furthering his case for larger honours, the All Blacks XV having not impacted his eligibility for the variety of nations Aumua qualifies for.

“One thing that’s distinctive about me would most likely be the teachings and struggles I’ve been by means of as a rugby participant. I’ve had points with my weight and self-discipline round that, it’s always held me again, for lots of years.

“I’m always wanting to do them (my household) proud and go on the market and be my greatest, I feel over time I haven’t actually carried out that so I really feel like I’ve always received one thing to show and I feel that’s actually beginning to present.”