'It’ll humble you': Injury-riddled Atu Moli talks fresh start

Atu Moli is looking for a fresh start in Western Australia, joining the Force for the 2024 Super Rugby Pacific season.

Moli, a former New Zealand U20 captain and five-time All Black, has departed the Chiefs after seven seasons and 54 appearances for the club. An eight-year stretch that saw him play less than half of the available games due to a horror run of injuries.

The youngest forward in the 2019 Rugby World Cup squad, the prop's talent had Steve Hansen singing his praises and a huge career looked to be on the cards.

The way things have played out though has led the 28-year-old to Western Australia, where he has a chance to get his career back on track, and perhaps look towards an international appearance for Tonga.

"To be honest, I’d like to start from scratch and keep building from there,” Moli said on the Western Force's YouTube.

“It’s just crazy coming back from these injuries, you can get to the All Blacks, it’ll humble you if you get injured and start back at the bottom, but I’m really keen to get back into it.”

The 127kg prop has seen much adversity with plenty of playing years left ahead of him, offering a grounding and considered presence in the Force locker room, where he'll join some familiar faces.

“I was fortunate to play with Chase (Tiatia), Feleti (Kaitu’u) and Campbell (Parata) in New Zealand, got to know them and started to talk to them about the club.

“They were enjoying it, so I thought I’d come and give it a go. Crono (Force head coach Simon Cron) is a bit of a character. I’m definitely loving what he’s done with the Western Force and I’m just glad I’m here to be a part of it.

“It’s also good to have a change of scenery and have a different environment. I spent eight years in Hamilton, so it’s a good change for my family.”

The Force face another tough Super Rugby Pacific campaign in 2024. Their young roster shows plenty of potential but having finished 10th in 2023, there's much work to be done if dreams of a playoff birth are to be realised.

The five wins the team registered this year were hard-fought encounters, including a superb result against the Brumbies in round 12, a performance that put all of the team's promise on full display.

Moli's experience will add valuable perspective to that promise, and the prop is keen to share that experience and rekindle his leadership skills with his new teammates.

“Everything that I’ve learned on the big stage, I’m keen to teach the young boys here."

“I hadn’t really shown my leadership back in New Zealand so I’m keen to do something about it here.”