Another Super Rugby team set to be axed in major blow to the game
Axed.
Moana Pasifika are reportedly set to be dumped from Super Rugby Pacific at the end of the current season, in a move that would further shrink the competition and raise fresh questions about the future of the Pacific Island pathway.
According to a News Corp report, the playing group were informed this week that the franchise will not continue beyond 2026, with a lack of funding cited as the key reason behind the decision.
The development would see Super Rugby Pacific reduced to just 10 teams from 2027, continuing a worrying trend after the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels just two years ago.
Moana Pasifika only joined the competition in 2022, alongside the Fijian Drua, as part of a major push to strengthen the professional pathway for Pacific Island players. But despite the promise, the franchise has struggled to gain financial stability in recent seasons.
Reports suggest efforts to secure ongoing investment have fallen short, leaving the long-term future of the side hanging in the balance. While there has been no official confirmation from competition organisers or New Zealand Rugby, the situation appears to be moving quickly behind the scenes.
The potential exit of Moana Pasifika would be a significant blow, not just competitively, but culturally. The team was established to represent Samoa, Tonga and the wider Pacific community — and quickly became one of the most unique identities in the competition.
For now, all eyes turn to what comes next — both for the players involved and for a competition that continues to battle instability off the pitch as much as on it.
