Moana Pasifika’s Super Rugby dream ends after five seasons of financial struggle
Moana Pasifika have confirmed they will disband at the end of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season, bringing to a close one of rugby’s most ambitious experiments in giving Pacific Island players a pathway to professional rugby.
The franchise, which joined Super Rugby in 2022 alongside the Fijian Drua, announced the decision on Wednesday after what chair Dr Kiki Maoate described as extensive consideration of the financial, operational and strategic realities facing the club.
“This is one of the hardest decisions we have ever made,” Dr Maoate said. “We are immensely proud of our players, staff, and the community who have supported our team over the years.
“Across our rugby, pathways and community programmes, we have been able to support a growing hub of Pacific talent across multiple sporting codes, both locally and in the Pacific region. This is something we are extremely proud of and will continue to support and advocate for as best we can.
“Our commitment now is to ensure a smooth transition for everyone affected and to celebrate our legacy by finishing the season strong.”
The announcement follows mounting financial pressures on the franchise, with reports of a $10 million funding shortfall proving insurmountable. The Pasifika Medical Association Group, which became majority owners in 2024, had been struggling financially after losing a government contract worth $44 million.
A vision born from Pacific pride
Moana Pasifika’s journey began in 2020 with a vision to harness the sporting greatness of the Pacific, realised through an exhibition match against the Māori All Blacks in Hamilton. The Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust was founded in 2021 by former All Blacks legends Sir Michael Jones and Sir Bryan Williams, with a mission to create the first professional Pacific rugby team.
The franchise was granted its Super Rugby licence in April 2021 and began competing the following year, buoyed by initial funding from New Zealand Rugby, World Rugby and a $4.5 million grant from the New Zealand Government.
However, the club faced an uphill battle from the outset. They struggled to secure a consistent home base, moving between Mt Smart Stadium, North Harbour Stadium and various other venues around Auckland. Despite the intention to bring professional rugby to the Pacific Islands, the franchise managed just two matches in the region across five seasons — one in Apia in 2023 and one in Tonga in 2024.
A planned match against the Chiefs in Tonga earlier this season had to be scrapped due to a lack of funding, with the $600,000 cost of transporting broadcast equipment proving prohibitive. The fixture was moved to Rotorua instead, deep in Chiefs territory.
On-field struggles and the Savea factor
Results on the field mirrored the challenges off it. Under inaugural coach Aaron Mauger, Moana Pasifika won just three of their first 28 matches across the 2022 and 2023 seasons, finishing last in both campaigns.
The arrival of former All Blacks captain Tana Umaga as head coach in 2024 brought modest improvement, with four wins that season, though all came against non-New Zealand opposition.
The 2025 season represented the high-water mark for the franchise following the blockbuster signing of All Blacks superstar Ardie Savea. With Savea producing a series of electric performances at openside flanker, Moana Pasifika won six of their final seven matches and came agonisingly close to a maiden playoff appearance.
Former coach Aaron Mauger said Savea’s performances demonstrated exactly what the franchise could achieve when everything came together.
“If you look at the way he played last year, and the way he spoke about what Moana Pasifika had done for him — not only was Ardie inspiring young Pacific Island people in general, right around the world; the programme and the purpose of Moana Pasifika had inspired him to take his game to the next level,” Mauger said.
“When you talk about men being possessed, that was it wasn’t it? He was possessed by the spirit within the Moana Pasifika team and that purpose. He was just fantastic.”
Savea was crowned Super Rugby Player of the Year for his efforts, but his subsequent sabbatical in Japan has left the franchise rudderless in 2026. Without their talisman, Moana Pasifika have won just one match this season and sit rock bottom of the ladder with a 1–7 record.
Talent drain compounds problems
The franchise’s struggles were compounded by the loss of several promising young players to rival New Zealand teams. Rising midfielder Levi Aumua departed for the Crusaders in 2023, while exciting outside back Timoci Tavatavanawai joined the Highlanders a year later. This season, utility back Kyren Taumoefolau signed with the Chiefs.
Lower Hutt mayor and rugby commentator Ken Laban was scathing of how the situation had been handled.
“The NZRU had the power and the influence to stop that, but they allowed those players to go. They made the other franchises stronger, significantly weakened Moana Pasifika,” Laban said.
“As we speak, the New Zealand and Australian franchises will be on their phones to the player managers. They will be circling around trying to get the best of those players that they can for their own franchises next week and they won’t give a toss.”
Laban described the franchise’s demise as a “tragedy for the game” and placed blame squarely on World Rugby and New Zealand Rugby.
“They need to stop saying that they’re about growing the game because they’re not. They’ve just killed part of it,” he said.
“If New Zealand Rugby and World Rugby are as committed as they say they are to Pasifika rugby, they would have prevented this. They have the financial influence and the financial power to be able to keep the team alive for three or four years, give them the necessary support.”
What next for the competition?
The disbandment will leave around 60 players and staff searching for employment, with Umaga already confirmed as joining Dave Rennie’s new All Blacks coaching staff at season’s end. Savea, who was contracted for the 2027 season, will need to find a new Super Rugby home ahead of the World Cup in Australia.
Super Rugby Pacific will be reduced to 10 teams from 2027, marking another contraction after the Melbourne Rebels folded in 2024.
New Zealand Rugby expressed disappointment at the outcome but indicated the door may not be completely closed.
“We are aware there may be parties exploring financially viable and sustainable plans for the future of the team,” NZR’s statement read. “NZR is open to engaging with those parties to discuss the club’s continued participation in Super Rugby Pacific.”
Board director Sir Michael Jones offered a glimmer of hope, stating there is “great work happening by key stakeholders to ensure MP around 2027 beyond.”
Dr Maoate urged fans to rally behind the team for their remaining six matches.
“We acknowledge our loyal fans for standing by us through the highs and lows — your support has meant everything to us, especially our players. We ask that you stand by your team today.
“Our story has been one of resilience — not just as a franchise, but as Pacific people. While this will be devastating news to process, we continue to look ahead and navigate these next steps together, just as our people always have.”
Moana Pasifika face the Waratahs in Sydney on Friday night before concluding their Super Rugby chapter against the Brumbies in Canberra on 30 May.
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