The dream of a sustainable, high-performance pathway for Pacific Island rugby is facing a devastating setback. Reports have emerged that Moana Pasifika to be dumped from Super Rugby Pacific at the conclusion of the current season, a move that would shrink the competition to just 10 teams and leave a void in the professional landscape for players from Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
Players within the Moana Pasifika camp were reportedly informed on Tuesday that the franchise will not continue into the 2027 season. The decision is primarily attributed to a critical lack of funding, ending a four-year experiment designed to integrate Pacific talent into the premier Southern Hemisphere competition.
The potential collapse of the franchise marks a continuing trend of instability within the league. After debuting as a 12-team competition in 2022, the tournament has already seen the loss of the Melbourne Rebels, which were wound up at the end of the 2024 season following crippling financial debts. If Moana Pasifika is officially removed, the competition will enter 2027 with a lean 10-side format.
A struggle for stability and identity
The instability surrounding the franchise has been simmering for several seasons. While the team was originally established by New Zealand Rugby with support from World Rugby, it struggled to establish a permanent home. Over its four-year existence, the team has rotated through various venues, including Auckland’s Mt Smart Stadium, Pukekohe, Rotorua, and Albany.
Efforts to bring the game closer to its heartlands also met with hurdles. While the team successfully hosted a match in Samoa, plans to play in Tonga this year were scrapped after a major sponsor could not be secured. This lack of a geographical anchor hampered the team’s ability to build a consistent gate revenue and a loyal, localized fan base.
Financial concerns intensified over the recent offseason as questions arose regarding the stability of the majority owners, Pasifika Medical Associate. At one point, proposals were even floated to merge the struggling franchise with the Melbourne Rebels to salvage the Pacific presence in the league, but those discussions never materialized into a viable solution.
The impact of departing stars
On the pitch, Moana Pasifika experienced a brief ascent to prominence. The franchise saw its most successful period last year following the signing of All Blacks superstar Ardie Savea. Savea, who described the experience as feeling “home,” delivered a series of dominant performances that earned him the competition’s player of the year award.
Though, the momentum shifted when Savea opted to spend the 2026 season in Japan to play under new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie. His absence has been felt acutely; the team has managed only a single victory—an opening-round win over the Fijian Drua—through the first nine rounds of the current season.
The leadership void has further deepened with the departure of coach Tana Umaga, who has also joined Dave Rennie’s staff with the All Blacks. Umaga had been a vocal advocate for the team, previously criticizing local rivals, the Blues, by suggesting the established franchise did not want Moana Pasifika in the region.
Super Rugby Pacific Team Contraction
| Year | Number of Teams | Key Change |
|---|---|---|
| 2022 | 12 | Inaugural Super Rugby Pacific format |
| 2024 | 11 | Melbourne Rebels folded due to debt |
| 2027 (Projected) | 10 | Reported removal of Moana Pasifika |
The battle for the Pacific
The potential exit of Moana Pasifika occurs amidst an aggressive push by the National Rugby League (NRL) to expand its footprint across the Pacific. Following the international success of Samoa and Tonga, rugby league has sought to capitalize on the region’s athletic talent.
Reports indicate that a portion of the Australian Government’s $600 million package, originally designated for an NRL expansion team in Papua New Guinea, has been redirected to grow rugby league in Samoa, Fiji, and Tonga. This shift has placed immense pressure on Rugby Australia and New Zealand Rugby to secure more funding for the 15-player game to prevent a total loss of market share in the islands.
The volatility is not limited to Moana Pasifika. The Fijian Drua, currently sitting 10th in the standings, are also facing a transition, with coach Glen Jackson announcing he will not take up the one-year option on his contract. The Drua have struggled for consistency away from Fiji, having reached the finals only once in their history.
What happens next?
Despite the looming uncertainty, Moana Pasifika is scheduled to travel to Sydney this Friday night for a clash against the Waratahs. The match is expected to draw significant attention, as it will be attended by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle.
For the league, there is a perceived silver lining in a smaller competition. Club executives have long argued that a 10-team format could allow for a full 18-game home-and-away season. This would increase the number of home games from seven to nine, potentially boosting gate revenues for the remaining franchises.
The immediate focus for the sport now shifts to the “Super Round” in 10 days, which will serve as the official opening act for Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium. However, the celebration will likely be overshadowed by the fate of the Pacific’s representatives.
The next critical checkpoint will be the official response from Super Rugby and New Zealand Rugby officials, who have been approached for comment regarding the funding shortfall and the status of the franchise for 2027.
Do you think Super Rugby can survive with only 10 teams, or is the loss of the Pacific presence a fatal blow to the game’s growth? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
