Moana Pasifika’s owners have told players and staff the club will not continue in Super Rugby Pacific beyond 2026.
Moana Pasifika look set to exit Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the current season after owners Pasifika Medical Association informed players and staff they would not fund the club in 2027.
The news leaves Super Rugby Pacific with just 10 teams following the Melbourne Rebels’ collapse in 2024. A takeover remains possible but would require swift approval from New Zealand Rugby and a credible financial plan.
Owners Pull The Plug Mid-Season
Pasifika Medical Association chief executive Debbie Sorensen delivered the blow to players and staff on Tuesday. PMA confirmed it would meet its financial obligations for the rest of the 2026 season before stepping away entirely. The announcement leaves the club’s future beyond May 30 hanging in the balance, depending on whether a new owner steps forward. Moana’s final scheduled match falls against the Brumbies (8.01), should no rescue deal materialise before then.
The club’s annual running costs sit between NZ$10 million and NZ$12 million, presenting a steep challenge for any prospective buyer. The club circulated a sales document at the end of last year but failed to attract a suitable party. Former All Black Ali Williams and his wife Anna Mowbray held discussions about purchasing the licence, but those talks came to nothing. A consortium led by former Moana chief executive Pelenato Sakalia is now reportedly exploring a bid to save the club.
A Franchise That Never Found Solid Ground
Moana Pasifika (1002.88) came into Super Rugby in 2022 alongside the Fijian Drua (201.38), backed by World Rugby funding and New Zealand government grants. The vision was to create a professional pathway for Pacific Island talent and eventually base the team in the Pacific. That plan never came to fruition, and the club effectively operated as Auckland’s second Super Rugby side throughout its four-year existence. Home games shifted between Mt Smart Stadium, Pukekohe, Rotorua and North Harbour Stadium; the club never secured a permanent base.
Funding streams have dried up steadily over that period. World Rugby no longer funds the club, the available government grants have run out, and naming rights sponsor Sky looks set to walk away after 2026. Coach Tana Umaga called for greater support from World Rugby earlier this season, pointing to the NRL’s success in building Pacific Island rugby league as a warning for the 15-man game. Umaga himself will leave at season’s end to join Dave Rennie’s All Blacks coaching staff regardless of the club’s fate.
Savea’s Future And The Competition’s Bigger Picture
Ardie Savea’s star turn in 2025, when he won Super Rugby Pacific’s player of the year award, represented the franchise’s high point. The All Blacks loose forward is currently on sabbatical in Japan with Kobe Steelers and had been contracted to return to Moana in 2027. His future now looks uncertain, with the Hurricanes (3.20) considered the most likely destination if the club folds. Former Moana (8.40) player Lima Sopoaga took to social media on Tuesday, urging those with power to “do the right thing” and keep the club alive.
The competition will shrink to 10 teams if Moana’s exit is confirmed, following the Rebels’ demise two years ago. Super Rugby Pacific CEO Jack Mesley had publicly stated his focus was on strengthening existing clubs rather than replacing lost franchises. The NRL’s aggressive push into Pacific markets adds further urgency to the situation for rugby union administrators. New Zealand Rugby is expected to take possession of the licence from PMA as the next steps are worked through.
