Moana Pasifika’s home jersey for Super Rugby Pacific is made from recycled plastic bottles and represents the combined cultures and traditions of the Pacific Islands, including the Cook Islands.

Dynasty Sport director Tyler Rakich said having the responsibility for creating a jersey that represented the hopes and dreams of Pasifika rugby players for the past couple of decades, was not something they approached lightly.

“We are very much aware this is much more than just a jersey - this is about an identity and a very special, rugby loving and proud community.”

The jersey has been made using yarns created from ethically sourced plastic bottles which have been removed from the ocean and waterways.

“We are extremely proud of our achievements as an organisation in regard to the positive environmental changes being undertaken, and estimate the Ecotek sustainability project will result in the Moana Pasifika 2022 ranges repurposing approximately 500,000 plastic bottles,” Rakich said.

The home jersey design is steeped in the history of Pasifika as masters of ocean navigation with a sail being the main design element on the front and multiple cultural patterns emphasising the unity present and desired in the brand and Moana Pasifika movement.

The focal point on the front of the jersey is a Pasifika sail, calling to the history of Pasifika using their vaka or va’a to master the ocean with the ability to navigate to land with pinpoint accuracy with traditional Samoan, Tongan, Fijian and Maori designs.

The pattern replicating the malu lima - the traditional Samoan female hand tattoo - and thought to be used to navigate the ocean, is positioned significantly and placed over the heart. The front and back panel base colour is a gradient to replicate the effect of sunlight breaking ocean.

The left sleeve has traditional Samoan tatau and Tongan ngatu patterns arrayed in a design to represent the wind feeding into the sail as well as a traditional Tongan pattern as a sleeve trim.

The right sleeve has a combination of modern Niuean design inspired by traditional Hiapo patterns, traditional Tokelauan and Cook Island inspired tatau designs.

Sun motif from logo has been placed at the back of neck to re-enforce the idea of rising, youthfulness and power.

Moana Pasifika players will wear their home jersey for the first game the new Super Rugby Pacific 2022 competition and their debut season in a home-game against the Brumbies at Mt Smart Stadium on 18 February.

Patron Sir Bryan Williams said it was a special moment to imagine the team running out in the new jersey.

“When I see the boys run out for that first time, it’s going to be very emotional, certainly for me and many others. It’s been quite a long journey. Moana Pasifika is so important for our community because it represents our hopes and dreams for the future. To have Moana Pasifika running out and giving our people a cause for hope and able to dream is, I think, really important.”