The future of famous rugby countries is in danger as the Super Rugby Pacific team is about to be shut down.
On Wednesday, news came out that Moana Pasifika might be disbanded, as the owners said they won’t keep funding the team after this season. Moana Pasifika joined Super Rugby in 2022 alongside Fijian Drua to represent Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
The goal was to bring Super Rugby to the islands and help the sport grow there, but that never fully happened. The team was supposed to be based in Samoa, but instead, they mostly played quietly in Auckland, with just one game in Apia and one in Tonga over five seasons.
There’s still hope the team can be saved, but it looks likely they’ll disappear, leaving Super Rugby with 10 teams in 2027.
Coach Tana Umaga worries that without Moana Pasifika, many talented players might switch to other sports, hurting the Samoan and Tongan national teams. Speaking to the Guardian, he said, “We know why we’re here, and for people like us, that means a lot. Having a professional team created by us is very important. The gap between where Samoa and Tonga are now and where they need to be is huge. Without Moana to help close that gap, it will be tough. If things keep going like this, we might miss out on the next World Cup. That’s a real risk. So, if it’s not us, then what? What happens to Samoa and Tonga? We still have a little hope, and that’s what we have to hold on to and keep working for.”
These Pacific nations have been a big part of Rugby World Cups, playing some unforgettable games against top teams. But recently, they’ve struggled, like Samoa having a hard time qualifying for the 2027 World Cup in Australia.
Samoa and Tonga bring a special spirit to rugby, and losing them at this top level would be a big loss for all the major rugby nations, especially without Moana Pasifika to help develop their players at the highest level.