Zac Lomax will make his first Super Rugby Pacific start for the Western Force in Saturday’s Round 10 clash against the Crusaders at HBF Park, Perth, elevated into the starting XV after impressing following his debut appearance off the bench in Round 9. The NRL convert, who came on as a replacement during the Force’s tight defeat to the Fijian Drua in Lautoka, now gets his opportunity to demonstrate what he can offer from the outset — and he does so against an injury-hit Crusaders side that represents a genuine opportunity for the Force to claim a significant scalp on home soil.

Carlo Tizzano’s return from injury provides further cause for optimism in the Force camp. The flanker had been absent in the preceding rounds, and his presence in the back row alongside Nick Champion de Crespigny and Vaiolini Ekuasi at number eight adds physicality, continuity and a quality breakdown presence that the Force have missed during his lay-off. Captain Jeremy Williams leads from the second row alongside Darcy Swain, a pairing that provides lineout authority and leadership at the set piece.

Lomax starts at fullback — position fifteen — which will allow the powerful utility player to see plenty of ball in open play and give him the space to demonstrate his considerable athletic abilities in a wider context than the bench role afforded in Round 9. Head coach Simon Cron described Lomax as “a natural athlete — big, strong, fast and powerful” when confirming his inclusion earlier in the month, and the fullback position should give the debutant the best opportunity to influence the match. George Bridge at outside centre and Dylan Pietsch provide further wide threats, with Bayley Kuenzle at inside centre and Ben Donaldson directing play at fly-half.

The front row of Tom Robertson, Brandon Paenga-Amosa and Misinale Epenisa is experienced and reliable, while Henry Robertson at halfback adds energy and quick delivery to the Force’s attacking game. The replacements bench is notable for the inclusion of Kurtley Beale, who continues to provide a wealth of experience and composure across the back three and midfield positions.

The absence of Darby Lancaster is a significant blow. The winger has been confirmed as out for the season after sustaining an ankle injury against the Reds, removing a player who had been one of the Force’s most effective performers in the earlier rounds. That news, combined with the continued unavailabilities of Taj Annan, Ronan Leahy, Doug Philipson (all knee, medium term) and Alex Harford (shoulder, long term), means the Force carry more than the usual level of depth challenges into the fixture.

The Crusaders arrive in Perth as a side that is significantly depleted by injury. Will Jordan’s calf injury, expected to keep him out for three to five weeks, removes one of the world’s most dangerous backs from Christchurch’s attacking armoury. David Havili (concussion), Codie Taylor (hamstring), Cullen Grace (knee) and Ethan Blackadder (calf) are all absent, while season-ending injuries to Tamaiti Williams and James White continue to test the Crusaders’ forward resources. The result is a Crusaders twenty-three that, while still containing experienced and capable players under the captaincy of Christian Lio-Willie, is a shadow of the full-strength version. Johnny McNicholl starts at fullback and Sevu Reece offers attacking threat from the bench.

For the Force, HBF Park provides the ideal setting to capitalise on a weakened opponent. Home advantage, Lomax’s starting debut, Tizzano’s return, and the Crusaders’ remarkable injury toll all point towards this being one of the Force’s best opportunities of the season to register a memorable win. A victory over the Crusaders — even this Crusaders — would be a statement of considerable intent.

Western Force:

1. Tom Robertson
2. Brandon Paenga-Amosa
3. Misinale Epenisa
4. Jeremy Williams (c)
5. Darcy Swain
6. Nick Champion de Crespigny
7. Carlo Tizzano
8. Vaiolini Ekuasi
9. Henry Robertson
10. Ben Donaldson
11. Dylan Pietsch
12. Bayley Kuenzle
13. George Bridge
14. Zac Lomax
15. Mac Grealy

Replacements: 16. Nic Dolly, 17. Sef Fa’agase, 18. Harry Johnson-Holmes, 19. Franco Molina, 20. Will Harris, 21. Nathan Hastie, 22. Hamish Stewart, 23. Kurtley Beale

Match details: Western Force v Crusaders, HBF Park, Perth. Saturday 18 April 2026, 19:55 AWST / 21:55 AEST. Live on Stan Sport (Australia) and Sky Sport (NZ).

Patrick Tuipulotu will make his long-awaited return to the Blues starting line-up for Friday night’s Super Rugby Pacific Round 10 clash with the Highlanders at Eden Park, headlining a trio of significant returns for the Auckland franchise. The Blues lock and captain has been absent since before the season began, recovering from shoulder surgery, and his presence gives the Blues a considerable boost as they look to press their title credentials in what promises to be a compelling Auckland derby.

Tuipulotu is joined in the returning group by loose forwards Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu, who have overcome back and knee injuries respectively to take their places in the starting XV. Blues head coach Vern Cotter did not hide his delight at having his captain back: “Having Patrick back is massive for us. He’s a leader who drives standards on and off the field. You can feel the lift in the group with him back out on the field.”

The headline selections are all the more notable given the Blues’ sizeable injury list, which has tested the squad’s depth throughout the opening rounds. Cameron Christie is sidelined for the season with a knee injury, while Ofa Tu’ungafasi, Laghlan McWhannell and Jordan Lay are all absent through concussion protocols. Caleb Clarke misses out with a calf complaint, and Joshua Fusitu’a (bicep) and Corey Evans (ankle) are also unavailable. The simultaneous return of Tuipulotu, Papali’i and Sotutu goes a considerable way towards offsetting those losses.

In the backline, Beauden Barrett retains the fly-half jersey with Finlay Christie alongside him at halfback, a combination that has shown genuine promise in rounds where both have been available together. Zarn Sullivan starts at fullback, with Cole Forbes and Codemeru Vai on the wings. The midfield partnership of Xavi Taele and AJ Lam is retained, a pairing that has provided both physicality and creativity in attack throughout the season.

The forward pack benefits enormously from Tuipulotu’s return. The Blues captain anchors the lock pairing alongside Sam Darry, and the back row of Anton Segner, Dalton Papali’i and Hoskins Sotutu — with Sotutu at number eight — is restored to something close to full strength. Bradley Slater starts at hooker with Marcel Renata at tighthead prop. The replacements bench carries genuine quality, with Pita Akhi and Taufa Funaki providing backline cover, and Torian Barnes and Malachi Wrampling offering loose forward options from the bench.

The Highlanders arrive in Auckland carrying their own significant injury concerns. Jacob Ratumaitavuki-Kneepkens is absent for three to four weeks with an ankle injury, Jonah Lowe and Josh Whaanga are both sidelined in the one-to-two week range, and season-ending injuries to Dylan Pledger (ACL) and Fabian Holland (shoulder) continue to limit the squad’s options. Tomas Lavanini is managing a finger complaint expected to keep him out for around a week. The Highlanders have named a co-captaincy arrangement, with prop Ethan de Groot and centre Timoci Tavatavanawai sharing the armband, with Adam Lennox directing play at halfback and Cameron Millar at fly-half.

Jona Nareki on the Highlanders’ wing offers a genuine attacking threat, and the visitors will travel to Auckland with genuine ambition of causing an upset. However, with three significant players returning and the Eden Park crowd behind them, the Blues enter the match as clear favourites. For coach Cotter, the timing of these returns is highly significant — with the competition entering its second half and the standings tightening, having his captain and two key back-row operators available simultaneously transforms the Blues’ fortunes and their prospects for the remainder of the season.

Blues team to face Highlanders:

1. Mason Tupaea
2. Bradley Slater
3. Marcel Renata
4. Patrick Tuipulotu (c)
5. Sam Darry
6. Anton Segner
7. Dalton Papali’i
8. Hoskins Sotutu
9. Finlay Christie
10. Beauden Barrett
11. Codemeru Vai
12. Xavi Taele
13. AJ Lam
14. Cole Forbes
15. Zarn Sullivan

Replacements: 16. Kurt Eklind, 17. Ben Ake, 18. Sam Matenga, 19. Josh Beehre, 20. Torian Barnes, 21. Malachi Wrampling, 22. Taufa Funaki, 23. Pita Akhi

Match details: Blues v Highlanders, Eden Park, Auckland. Friday 17 April 2026, 19:05 NZST / 17:05 AEST.

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.