AUCKLAND/SUVA — The future of Moana Pasifika is under renewed scrutiny after calls from former players and Pacific rugby officials to preserve the Super Rugby franchise, even as critics argue it has not delivered on its promise to develop and retain Pacific talent. The debate — heightened this week — comes amid warnings that up to 48 players and staff could lose their jobs if the franchise folds.
Former Tonga international Eddie Aholelei, who played for the Melbourne Rebels, warned of the human cost if Moana Pasifika is wound up. “The players, the staff and their livelihood… I just hope that they’re able to secure their future,” Aholelei said on April 28, noting the uncertainty players face over contracts and careers. Tonga Rugby Union chief executive Aisea Aholelei defended Moana’s role as an inspiration for local players aspiring to professional careers, saying the franchise has provided opportunities that did not previously exist for many in the region.
But not everyone is convinced the franchise has met its development goals. Dan Leo, former Manu Samoa international and chief executive of Pacific Rugby Players Welfare, said the organisation must be held to account on measurable outcomes. “If we look at the key metrics of what Moana was supposed to achieve… there’s been questionable outcomes in terms of player development and retention,” Leo said, criticising a trend of top Pacific players not being retained or playing regularly for their home nations. The issue of allegiance has also been raised: former Ikale Tahi captain and assistant coach Nili Latu pointed to cases such as Fijian-born centre Timoci Tavatavanawai, who represented Fiji at under‑20 level before switching allegiance to the All Blacks, and asked whether signing for Moana had translated into availability for Tonga and Samoa.
Moana Pasifika was explicitly created as a pathway into international rugby for Pacific nations — at the 2023 Rugby World Cup more than a quarter of the Tonga and Samoa squads were on the franchise’s books — but critics say finances are only part of the problem. Observers point to broader instability across Super Rugby as context: the Melbourne Rebels were expelled in 2024 over financial issues, and South African teams previously withdrew amid disputes with New Zealand Rugby. Leo even warned that Super Rugby’s future looked precarious, saying his “gut feeling is that Super Rugby won’t be around in the next three or four years.”
The debate over Moana’s fate arrives as Fiji prepares for major international engagements. Fiji Rugby Union chief executive Koli Sewabu confirmed this week the search for a new Flying Fijians head coach will be formally advertised around May or June to avoid disrupting preparations for the Rugby Nations Championship. Sewabu said a comprehensive recruitment process is expected to take two to three months, with the hope of appointing a coach after the Nations Championship fixtures in July.
Sewabu also indicated the Flying Fijians squad for upcoming tests will be named soon and that the FRU is exploring expanded European fixtures as part of its preparation and development strategy. The timing of the coaching appointment and the squad announcement means Pacific unions will have to manage player availability and pathways amid uncertainty over Moana Pasifika’s future — a development that could have direct implications for selection and player livelihoods across Tonga, Samoa and Fiji.