Miracle Faiilagi hails from the villages of Vailele and Uafato in Samoa.

Faiilagi’s journey to New Zealand and ascension in Super Rugby Pacific aligns with the vision and purpose of Moana Pasifika, and his inspiring story has been a big reason why he’s been embraced by Moana Pasifika fans around the world.

Faiilagi began playing his junior and club rugby for the Vailele Rugby Club. He grew up playing on tough grounds with gravel and a cricket pitch in the middle of the field.

He attended Leififi College in Samoa’s captial of Apia, and won two Super 9 Under 20s championships with the Taula Eels. In 2019 he was awarded the Super 9 Under 20s Player of the Tournament. From here he represented Samoa A in the 2020 World Rugby Pacific challenge and was also selected for the Samoa Sevens side in 2021.

The loose forward stormed onto the Super Rugby Pacific scene in 2023, becoming the first player to be signed to a Super Rugby team straight from a Samoan club.

Faiilagi played for Samoa’s Lauli’i Lions before Moana Pasifika coaches spotted him at the annual World Rugby Pacific Combine in Suva in 2022. He impressed with his physical prowess, game intelligence and professionalism which earned him a contract with Moana Pasifika for the 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season.

The galvanising loose forward was named the Moana Pasifika Niu Rookie of the Year and scored five tries in his debut season. This included two spectacular tries against the Reds at Apia Park, in Moana Pasifika’s first ever game in Samoa. His breakout maiden campaign put the competition on notice and has inspired the next generation of Pacific Island talent that they too can achieve big things overseas. Faiilagi went on to represent Manu Samoa at the 2023 Rugby World Cup.

He missed most of the 2024 season with injury but returned to Moana Pasifika in 2025 with vengeance. A hero of their 2025 campaign, Faiilagi scored eight tries including a hat-trick in Moana Pasifika’s win over the Hurricanes. In 13 appearances, Faiilagi also recorded 766 carry metres and 31 tackle breaks. Faiilagi won the Moana Pasifika Attacking Player of the Year Award alongside Kyren Taumoefolau.

In 2025, Faiilagi joined the Hawke’s Bay Magpies for the NPC season.

Nick Name: Mira

Moana Pasifika debut: 2023 v Chiefs