Moana Pasifika to Disband After 2026 Without New Owners

The Moana Pasifika Super Rugby franchise, established to showcase Pacific Island rugby talent, announced Wednesday that it will disband after the 2026 season unless new owners emerge to address its mounting financial challenges. The Auckland-based team, which represents players primarily of Samoan, Tongan, and Cook Islands descent, cited unsustainable operational costs and strategic hurdles as the key factors behind the decision.

Players and staff, numbering around 60, learned of the closure on Tuesday. The franchise, owned by the Pasifika Medical Association, has struggled since joining Super Rugby Pacific in 2022 alongside the Fijian Drua. Initial plans called for basing the team in Samoa with regular games there and in Tonga, but those ambitions faltered due to logistical complexities and a lack of viable infrastructure. Instead, Moana Pasifika has played most matches in near-empty Auckland venues, overshadowed by the dominant local Blues franchise, which limited fan engagement and sponsorship opportunities.

Over four full seasons, the team finished 12th twice, 11th once, and seventh in 2025, but it currently sits last with one win from nine games this year. Annual operating...