‘no Longer Viable’: Super Rugby Team Moana Pasifika To Be Axed At End Of Season

Moana Pasifika person confirmed nan Super Rugby franchise will fold astatine nan extremity of nan season, citing “financial, operational, and strategical realities”.

“Despite nan tireless dedication of players, staff, and supporters, it is nary longer viable to proceed nan franchise astatine this level of competition,” nan squad said successful a statement.

The franchise was founded successful 2020 aft calls for galore years for much Pacific engagement successful Super Rugby.

The squad focused connected players of Samoan, Tongan and Cook Islands descent, and was based successful Auckland.

A 2nd Pacific-based team, Fijian Drua, will stay successful nan competition.

Moana Pasifika chair Dr Kiki Maoate said disbanding nan franchise was “one of nan hardest decisions we person ever made”.

“We are immensely proud of our players, staff, and nan organization who person supported our squad complete nan years,” Maoate said.

“Our committedness now is to guarantee a soft modulation for everyone affected and to observe our bequest by finishing nan play strong.”

The team’s 60 players and staff, led by coach Tana Umaga, were informed of nan closure connected Tuesday.

Moana Pasifika is owned by nan Pasifika Medical Association, and nan New Zealand Herald reported moving costs are much than $10m each year.

On nan PMA website, it said nan ngo of Moana Pasifika is “to champion nan corporate powerfulness of Pacific group and civilization and put it connected a world stage, encouraging information successful athletics and improvement and support of Pacific youth”.