Pacific rugby unions back Kanaloa bid as Moana Pasifika future hangs in the balance

The battle for the future of Moana Pasifika has taken a new turn with Kanaloa Rugby revealing its takeover bid is backed by four Pacific rugby unions.

Speaking to William Terite on PMN’s Pacific Mornings on Wednesday, Kanaloa chief executive Tracy Atiga said Sāmoa, Tonga, Cook Islands, and Niue rugby unions had all endorsed the consortium’s push to take over the struggling Super Rugby franchise.

The comments come days after Moana Pasifika shareholders moved to place the club into liquidation - leaving players, staff, and supporters uncertain about what happens next.

Atiga said Kanaloa’s proposal was never just about one organisation taking control.

“Our application was a collective application. It wasn't just Kanaloa,” she said. “We've got Sāmoa so Lakapi Sāmoa, Tonga Rugby, Cook Islands Rugby, and Niue.

"All four of them provided endorsement letters for us to be the group that takes us forward.”

Documents obtained by Pacific Mornings show Pacific home unions Sāmoa, Tonga, Cook Islands and Niue formally backing Kanaloa Rugby’s bid for the future of a Pacific Super Rugby team. Photo/Supplied

Atiga said Pacific nations should now have the strongest voice in deciding what comes next for the franchise.

“I think it's the Pacific Island Nations,” she said. “I think at the end of the day it was a team that was set up for Pacific Island Nations development and for them to be competitive on that level.”

She also described the issue as one of “100 per cent sovereignty”.

Moana Pasifika’s future remains uncertain after the Super Rugby franchise was placed into liquidation, with players, staff and supporters waiting to learn what comes next. Photo/Photosport/Kerry Marshall

“The whole point of this team was to make sure that Pacific Island Nations players had a pathway, and the only people that can determine that are those unions that actually manage those players.”

The endorsement from the four unions comes amid growing calls from Pacific rugby leaders for island nations to have greater control over the future of Moana Pasifika and how the franchise supports rugby development across the region.

Kanaloa has been trying to secure involvement in Moana Pasifika since late last year and says it previously put forward a multimillion-dollar rescue offer.

But Atiga said the group still does not know exactly what is being offered through the current process following the club’s move into liquidation.

“We've never really known what's on offer,” she said. “At the time last year in October, we knew what was on offer. We were purchasing shares in the company.

“But with this process, we have really no clue what we're looking at.”

Moana Pasifika sit bottom of the Super Rugby Pacific table heading into the final round of matches this weekend. Photo/Photosport/Andrew Cornaga

She said New Zealand Rugby had informed Kanaloa there were multiple bids still being considered.

But questions remained over how liquidation would affect player contracts, intellectual property, and the club licence.

Atiga also claimed the collapse could have been avoided.

“This could have been done last year in October,” she said. “To go through liquidation, it's distasteful.”

Despite that frustration, she said Kanaloa would continue pushing for a Pacific-led outcome, even if the consortium itself was ultimately left out of governance discussions.

“If it goes back to the Pacific Island Nations and they have self-governance and self-identity in this process, then we've done our job,” Atiga said.

Watch Tracy Atiga's full interview below.

“It's never been about us owning or being in charge of anything. It's always been about us making sure that it goes back to where it's supposed to be.”

She also raised concerns about communication with players and staff affected by the collapse.

“At this stage, all we know is that they're not getting paid beyond July and that's just not acceptable,” she said. “It's not good enough.”

New Zealand Rugby has not publicly confirmed who the bidders are or what structure could replace Moana Pasifika if the current entity folds.

NZ Rugby has been contacted for comment.