Moana Pasifika has announced that it will disband at the end of the current Super Rugby season.
The Auckland-based team shared the news in a statement, saying it was no longer possible for the club to keep taking part in the competition. Chair Dr Kiki Maoate said it was one of the hardest decisions the organisation had ever made. She said everyone involved was proud of the players, staff and supporters who had helped the team over the years.
Moana Pasifika has played in Super Rugby for five seasons and was created to help grow Pacific talent in rugby. Dr Maoate said the club had also supported community programmes and sports pathways for young people in New Zealand and the Pacific region. She called the news “devastating” and said the team would now focus on helping everyone affected by the decision. She also said the club wanted to celebrate its legacy by finishing the season strongly.
The team has faced many challenges away from the field. After starting in 2020, Moana Pasifika had to leave Mount Smart Stadium and later made North Harbour Stadium its home ground and training base. Last year, they won four of their five matches there, including an exciting win over the Blues. However, they could only play five games a season at that venue, and a plan to host a home match in Tonga did not happen because there was not enough sponsorship.
This season, Moana Pasifika has won just one game so far. New Zealand Rugby said it was saddened by the club’s decision and that its thoughts were with the players, families, management and fans. It also said the team would keep playing until the end of the 2026 Super Rugby Pacific season.
