Moana Pasifika on the brink as owners pull funding, putting Pacific rugby future at risk

Moana Pasifika’s place in Super Rugby Pacific is under serious threat, with reports in New Zealand suggesting the club could fold after the 2026 season unless a new owner is found.

According to the New Zealand Herald and Reuters, the team’s owners - the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) - have told players and staff they will not fund the club beyond this year.

Chief executive Debbie Sorensen reportedly informed the squad on Tuesday that PMA would meet its financial commitments for the rest of the season but would step away after that.

If no buyer comes forward, the Auckland-based side could disappear from the competition just five years after joining in 2022.

The news is a major blow for Pacific rugby.

Moana Pasifika was created to give players of Pacific heritage a clear professional pathway and to strengthen the international game across the islands.

Alongside the Fijian Drua, the team was backed by government support and World Rugby funding at its launch.

But the vision has struggled to take hold.

Moana have faced challenges both on and off the field. They are currently at the bottom of the 11-team competition with a 1-7 record this season, and have found it tough to build a strong fan base or secure long-term commercial backing.

Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) has reportedly told players and staff the club’s owners will not fund Moana Pasifika beyond the 2026 season. Photo/RNZ/Alex Perrottet

A move from Mt Smart Stadium to North Harbour last year has not solved those issues.

The financial gap now looks too big. Any new owner would need to cover running costs estimated at between $10 million and $12 million a year, and New Zealand Rugby would also need to approve any takeover.

The reports say a sales process started late last year but no buyer has yet stepped forward.

Head coach Tana Umaga and former captain Ardie Savea have been central to Moana Pasifika’s journey, but both now face an uncertain road ahead with the club’s future in doubt. Photo/Supplied/Moana Pasifika

For players, the uncertainty is immediate. Stars like All Blacks loose forward Ardie Savea, who helped lift the team to their best-ever finish of seventh last season, could be left in limbo if the club shuts down.

There are also wider concerns about what this means for Pacific talent.

Moana Pasifika has effectively operated as New Zealand’s sixth Super Rugby team, but its purpose has always been bigger - to represent Pacific communities and keep more players connected to their roots.

Listen to Pacific Huddle's Tuilagi William Leolahi as he breaks down the latest on Moana Pasifika and what it means for the future of Pacific rugby below.

Head coach Fa'alogo Tana Umaga, who is set to leave at the end of the season to join the All Blacks coaching staff, recently spoke about the importance of that role and the lack of ongoing support.

"We don’t get funding from them anymore, and that’s their decision," he said.

"But if you look around the world, around how many Pacific Island players are playing in all these different countries, you don’t want to lose sight of who we represent and what we can do for this game."

Moana Pasifika said they would issue a statement on Wednesday when contacted by Reuters, while PMA did not immediately comment.

Unless a solution is found quickly, one of the key pillars of Pacific rugby’s future could be about to fall away - just as the region’s influence on the global game continues to grow.