Another One Slips Through the Net: The Curious Journey of Malakai Hafoka

Another One Slips Through the Net: The Curious Journey of Malakai Hafoka

New Zealand rugby has lost another promising talent.

Over the weekend, Auckland schoolboy Malakai Hafoka made his debut for Spain — just months after moving to join the Lyon academy system in France.

Malakai is the son of Simon Hafoka, a former Tongan international who spent much of his playing career in Spain, where he met his wife. Born in Santander during his father’s stint there, Malakai is fully fluent in Spanish and eligible to represent the country.

Last year, he faced a pivotal decision: remain in New Zealand or seize the opportunity to embed himself in the French system. For ambitious young players, the appeal is obvious. Spend five years in France and you qualify as a domestic player — a major advantage in a market where foreign player spots are tightly restricted.

A talented fly-half, Hafoka represents a significant gain for Spanish rugby. With his background and skillset, long-range goal kicking, and impressive game management for someone so young — drawing comparisons to Jalibert — he combines New Zealand tenacity with European flair. Spain may have secured a long-term playmaker for the next decade, unless France comes calling.

The broader lesson is clear. The rugby landscape is shifting, increasingly mirroring football, with Europe at its centre. If New Zealand Rugby doesn’t adapt, it risks watching more of its emerging talent build their futures offshore