Former Melbourne Rebels and Wallabies front-rower Pone Fa’amausili signs with Moana Pasifika

Australian rugby has lost the services of one of its most powerful props – and most popular players – with a Super Rugby rival set to cash in.

Pone Fa'amausili passes during a Wallabies training session. Picture: Chris Hyde/Getty Images

Former Melbourne Rebels and Wallabies prop Pone Fa’amausili has signed with the Tana Umaga-coached Moana Pasifika.

This masthead can reveal the 130 kilogram tighthead officially put pen to paper on a one-year deal this week.

Fa’amausili’s move is the latest in an aggressive recruitment drive for the Auckland-based side, which recently signed All Blacks vice-captain Ardie Savea.

The 2023 World Rugby player of the year, Savea signed a three-year deal with Moana Pasifika in July.

The 87-cap All Blacks icon is the biggest name signing in the club’s three-year history.

Fa’amausili has played seven Tests for the Wallabies, including two at last year’s ill-fated World Cup under Eddie Jones.

Pone Fa'amausili on the charge for the Melbourne Rebels. Picture: Getty

The 27-year-old debuted with the Rebels in 2018, and became a front-row favourite of former Wallabies coach Dave Rennie in 2022.

His hard-hitting style of play saw him become a cult-figure in Melbourne, with video montages of his biggest hits going viral on social media.

Fa’amausili was overlooked when Jones came in, but earned a World Cup call-up with an impressive display in his first run-on start for Australia against the All Blacks in August last year.

Struggling with injury, and stuck behind Taniela Tupou and Sam Talakai in Melbourne, Fa’amausili signed a unique short-term loan deal with the injury-hit Waratahs for the New South Wales side’s 2024 Super Rugby campaign.

When the Rebels folded this year, Fa’amausili was flooded with contract offers from France, and seemed destined to head to Europe.

That changed when former All Blacks captain Umaga reached out to the Melbourne-born-and-bred forward.

Fa’amausili came through the Melbourne Rising pathways system, but will look to take his career to the next level in New Zealand.

Originally published as Former Melbourne Rebels and Wallabies front-rower Pone Fa’amausili signs with Moana Pasifika