Moana Pasifika has been told by its owners it will not contest Super Rugby Pacific next season, a decision that would cut the competition back to 10 teams from 2027 and mark the latest upheaval in a tournament that only expanded to 12 sides in 2022, according to a News Corp report picked up by ESPN on Wednesday. The playing group was reportedly informed of the termination on April 15, 2026, and Super Rugby and New Zealand Rugby have been approached for comment.
The reported withdrawal follows a string of financial and operational troubles for the Pacific-based franchise. Ownership questions intensified this year after concerns were raised about the financial stability of majority owner Pasifika Medical Association. Moana’s inability to secure a major sponsor also forced the cancellation of plans to take a match to Tonga this season. The team has struggled to establish a single home base, rotating between Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland, Pukekohe, Rotorua and Albany across its four-year history.
On the field Moana have struggled too. With star recruit Ardie Savea having moved to Japan for the 2026 season and new All Blacks coach Dave Rennie reshaping his squad, Moana managed only one win in the first nine rounds of the current campaign. Savea had been a marquee signing last year and publicly described Moana as “home,” but the report says his stated intention to return in 2027 is now uncertain; the Hurricanes are being tipped as a likely landing spot if he departs.
The franchise’s coaching setup was already in transition: veteran coach Tana Umaga has accepted a role on Rennie’s All Blacks coaching staff, meaning Moana would in any case have been searching for new leadership beyond this season. The combination of on-field results, ownership instability and a lack of long-term commercial partners appears to have convinced the owners that the franchise is not financially sustainable.
If Moana’s exit is confirmed it will follow the Melbourne Rebels being wound up at the end of the 2024 season amid crippling debts — a collapse whose owners continue legal action against Rugby Australia. The loss of two franchises within three seasons would reshape the competition and could prompt structural changes. One option reportedly under consideration is shifting a 10-team Super Rugby Pacific to a full 18-game home-and-away format, a move that would increase home fixtures and address long-standing complaints from clubs about limited gate revenue under the shorter schedule.
The timing adds pressure to tournament organisers: Super Rugby is preparing to stage a “Super Round” to open Christchurch’s new One New Zealand Stadium in coming days, and the potential disappearance of Moana would create a fresh midseason storyline that affects scheduling, broadcast plans and Pacific representation. Moana are still due to play the New South Wales Waratahs in Sydney on April 15, 2026, a fixture expected to be attended by Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, underscoring the profile of fixtures that may now be at risk.
ESPN and News Corp are the primary sources for the report; there has been no immediate public confirmation from Moana Pasifika’s owners, Super Rugby or New Zealand Rugby. The fallout for players, staff and Pacific pathways will be closely watched across Fiji, Samoa and Tonga if the franchise’s Super Rugby future is formally ended.
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