Crusaders rock Super Rugby Pacific with ‘no sense’ signing of Moana Pasifika star Aumua
Former All Blacks star Israel Dagg has lashed Levi Aumua’s decision to ditch Moana Pasifika for the Crusaders. On Wednesday, the Crusaders confirmed their newest signing on a landmark two-year deal beginning in 2024.
News broke on Monday that Aumua would not be returning to the Mt Smart-based team, coinciding with confirmation that head coach Aaron Mauger would not return either.
It’s a major blow to one of the youngest teams in the competition, who have gone winless in Super Rugby Pacific from 13 of the 15 rounds to date this season.
Such is Aumua’s prowess that he was reportedly chased by the Blues and even had offers from Australian-based teams.
Prior to confirmation of Aumua’s signing, Dagg criticised the move which he says made “no sense” given the Cursaders’ depth.
The 2015 Rugby World Cup winner warned Aumua mightn’t play much rugby given there will likely be a handful of players ahead of him.
“I don’t agree with it,” Dagg said on SEN’s Izzy & Kempy Breakfast.
“That’s so bad, I just can’t see… I can understand why he would want to go there. He wants to try and crack a title. There are a lot of things that he would know personally why he’s made the decision.
“But for the Crusaders to chase him that hard with the cavalry that they’ve got in their ranks? – Dallas McLeod, Brayden Ennor, Jack Goodhue, David Havilii, a ton of other players in their academy, and then you’ve gone and got Levi Aumua – it just makes no sense.
“I can understand the frustration from everyone out there be
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