Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika yesterday said that it would fold at the end of the season, becoming the second team in three years to go under because of financial problems.
Moana Pasifika, founded in 2020 to provide a top-level pathway for players of Pacific heritage, blamed “financial, operational and strategic realities.”
“Despite the tireless dedication of players, staff and supporters it is no longer viable to continue the franchise at this level of competition,” it said.
Photo: AFP
Unless new owners come in, Super Rugby would be reduced to 10 teams next year after the Melbourne Rebels similarly shut down because of financial difficulties after the 2024 season.
Moana Pasifika entered Super Rugby with Fiji-based team Fijian Drua in 2022 with the support of World Rugby and New Zealand government grants.
Plans to base the team in the Pacific never materialized and they have effectively operated as New Zealand’s sixth Super Rugby team and the second in Auckland, competing with the established Blues.
With World Rugby and government funding drying up, financial problems have mounted at a franchise that has struggled to build a strong fan base and attract commercial sponsors.
The New Zealand Herald reported running costs of more than NZ$10 million (US$5.9 million) each year for the outfit, which is owned by the Pasifika Medical Association.
Club chairman Kiki Maoate said that disbanding the franchise was “one of the hardest decisions we have ever made.”
“We are immensely proud of our players, staff and the community who have supported our team over the years,” Maoate said. “Our commitment now is to ensure a smooth transition for everyone affected and to celebrate our legacy by finishing the season strong.”
The regular season finishes at the end of next month.
The team’s 60 players and staff, led by coach Tana Umaga, were informed of the closure on Tuesday.
Additional reporting by Reuters
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