Rugby enthusiasts in the Pacific region may see the Moana Pasifika team disappear following the conclusion of the Super Rugby Pacific season, unless new ownership is secured. The financially struggling franchise is currently at the bottom of the standings with a record of 1 win and 7 losses. Club chairman Kiki Maoate expressed the team’s intention to honor their legacy by finishing the season on a positive note.
The upcoming season of Super Rugby Pacific is set to feature 10 teams, as Moana Pasifika has been classified as financially unviable and will cease operations at the end of this season. The franchise, which entered the restructured league alongside Fijian Drua in 2022, announced on Wednesday that the realities surrounding its finances and operations prevented ownership from making a commitment beyond 2026.
If no new owners emerge to take on the estimated annual operating expenses of $7 million, the Super Rugby competition will revert to 10 teams next season. The league had previously expanded to 11 teams following the closure of the Melbourne Rebels in 2024 due to similar financial difficulties.
Over the past four years, the team’s performance has seen them finish in the 12th position twice, 11th once, and 7th on one occasion, with their current standing being last. Notable player Ardie Savea, who had a standout season last year, has left for Japan for a sabbatical and is expected to return to Pasifika in 2027. Furthermore, head coach Tana Umaga, a former All Blacks captain, is slated to leave to join the Test side as an assistant to Dave Rennie.
While the Fijian Drua have established strong home ground support, the Auckland-based Pasifika has struggled to realize their ambition of being based in Samoa and regularly competing in Tonga. The team has faced challenges in attracting top Pasifika talent and has often played in venues with sparse attendance, overshadowed by the more dominant Blues in Auckland.
