Pacific leaders demand fair backing as Moana Pasifika cancels Tonga Super Rugby match

Hours after Moana Pasifika confirmed they will not take their Super Rugby match to Tonga, Pacific leaders are asking a harder question: why are island nations still expected to give so much to the game and get so little back?

The round nine clash between Moana Pasifika and the Chiefs, set down for 11 April at Teufaiva Stadium in Nuku’alofa, has been cancelled due to a lack of financial backing.

Moana are now working with Super Rugby Pacific, New Zealand Rugby and the Chiefs to find another venue.

For many in Tonga and across the Pacific, the decision stings. Pakilau Manase Lua, a prominent Tongan community leader and former member of the NZ Rugby Pasifika Advisory Group, says the cancellation is more than a scheduling change.

“It's something that our people would have been looking forward to, given that we had hosted them there before and it was a real success, despite the weather,” Lua told PMN News senior journalist Khalia Strong.

He says the bigger issue is long-term commitment” because we seem to take all the best out of the islands and not give enough back, in my view.

“It can only be good for rugby if we show that support because we seem to take all the best out of the islands and not give enough back.”

In a statement, Aisea Aholelei, the Chief Executive of Tonga Rugby Union, says the situation is familiar.

"Whenever we want to play a game here in Tonga, it's always a loss-making exercise unless a significant sponsor comes our way,” he says

The highly anticipated Moana Pasifika clash with the Chiefs will no longer take place at the Teufaiva Sport Stadium in Nuku’alofa, Tonga. Photo/austadiums.com

That reality has reignited debate about who carries the cost of growing the game in the Pacific.

From a Pacific perspective, rugby is not just business. It is identity, pride and connection.

Tonga, Sāmoa, and Fiji continue to produce world-class players who power competitions in New Zealand, Australia, and Europe.

With a Rugby World Cup on the horizon, Pacific talent will again be central to the global stage.

Lua says hosting matches in the islands is one way to honour that contribution.

“We've given a lot to this country on the field, especially now heading into the World Cup.”

Super Rugby 2026 is heading into its third round this weekend. Photo/Unsplash

In a statement, Debbie Sorensen, the Chief Executive of Moana Pasifika, says the franchise explored every possible avenue to make the trip a reality.

"The challenge we face is that we are not funded to bring any games to the Pacific region, and we believe we should be,” Sorensen says.

On the field, Moana Pasifika’s season has already been a mix of highs and lows. The club opened with a strong win over the Fijian Drua, 40-26, in Lautoka, ending the hosts’ long unbeaten home run.

Miracle Fai’ilagi against the Blues in Auckland last year: In round one of the 2026 fixtures, he led from the front, crashing through the defence as Moana Pasifika ended the Fijian Drua’s long unbeaten run in Lautoka with a 40-26 win. Photo/Photosport/Brett Phibbs/file

But a heavy 52-10 loss to the Hurricanes last week, along with injuries to key players including fullback William Havili and Israel Leota, has tested the squad early.

Now, off-field challenges are adding pressure. For supporters in Tonga, the cancelled match feels like a missed moment - not just to watch elite rugby, but to inspire young players and show that top-level sport belongs in the islands too.

As Moana Pasifika prepares to host the Western Force in Pukekohe on Friday, questions remain about what a true partnership with the Pacific looks like.

Moana Pasifika lost to the Hurricanes in Wellington last Friday. Photo/Kerry Marshall/Photosport

For leaders like Lua, the message is clear: if rugby wants the Pacific, it must also show up for the Pacific.

Friday’s match kicks off at 7.05pm. For more information on Super Rugby Pacific 2026, click here.