Moana Pasifika have announced they will disband at the end of the current Super Rugby season, saying it was no longer viable to compete in the competition.

In a statement, Moana Pasifika chair Dr Kiki Maoate said it was one of the hardest decisions they’d had to make.

While the picture is bleak, there is a chance the franchise could be saved if they can find a new owner willing to meet the annual running costs of between $10 million and $12m.

The franchise have faced countless challenges during their five years in Super Rugby.

2020: Warming up

Details began emerging in 2020 about a Pacific franchise bid backed by All Black legend Bryan Williams, with the intention of offering career pathways for Pasifika people, while attracting some of the best Pacific players in the world.

Talks sped up when a Moana Pasifika side were named to face the Māori All Blacks in an exhibition match, with the intention of adding them to Super Rugby in the near future. The Māori All Blacks would win the match 28-21.

While this was seen as a big moment in the sport, the then New Zealand Rugby (NZR) chief executive, Mark Robinson, conceded “a lot of work” was needed before the teams would be ready to compete. And looking back across their short history, it was clear the club were destined to fail.

2021: Foundations laid

April 14: The NZR board approved two conditional licences for Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua to join a new-look Super Rugby competition in 2022. Former Manu Samoa and All Blacks legend Sir Michael Jones said the announcement was a significant milestone.

July 12: Moana Pasifika were granted their unconditional licence to officially join Super Rugby in 2022. That meant they could start staff and player recruitment and organise commercial aspects. Unlike New Zealand’s five Super Rugby teams, Moana were not directly affiliated with NZR, the national game’s governing body. However, NZR and World Rugby did contribute with initial funding. The team were established and owned by a charitable trust, the Moana Pasifika Charitable Trust.

Former Moana Pasifika coach Aaron Mauger. Photo / Photosport

September - November: Moana Pasifika confirmed Mt Smart Stadium would be the team’s base until the 2028 season. They began signing their first batch of players, including former Wallabies duo Christian Leali’ifano and Sekope Kepu, who would later be named the inaugural captain.Former All Black Aaron Mauger was confirmed as the team’s first head coach.

2022: Kick off

February 12: Their inaugural Super Rugby Pacific match against the Blues was postponed after a Covid-19 outbreak in the team. The team had been slated to face the Brumbies when the draw came out in November, but travel restrictions forced the schedule to be amended. The six New Zealand-based franchises had relocated to Queenstown for the start of the season due to travel restrictions.

February 18: The Herald revealed Moana Pasifika received $4.5 million in government funding – via the Ministry of Foreign Affairs portfolio – to help them get ready for their inaugural season.

March 4: Moana Pasifika played their first match of Super Rugby against the Crusaders. They were beaten 33-12.

March 24: History was made as Moana Pasifika claimed their first win, beating the Hurricanes 24-19 thanks to a Danny Toala try in extra time.

Moana Pasifika players celebrate the winning try by Danny Toala. Photo / Photosport

May 31: Moana Pasifika played their last game of the season, finishing last with just two wins from 14 matches. It was reported that about $7.4m of their $9.3m of revenue came from grants and subsidies.

2023: Second-year blues

April 14: Moana made history by taking their clash against the Reds to Apia, making it just the second Super Rugby match to be played there. They went on to lose 40-28.

May 21: The Herald revealed Aaron Mauger had resigned as head coach, despite having a year left on his contract. Under his tenure, Moana won three out of their 28 games.

May 24: The Crusaders poached rising star midfielder Levi Aumua, who had been regarded as a shining light in the franchise’s struggles. Aumua said he left to chase his All Blacks ambitions.

Levi Aumua of Moana Pasifika. Photo / Photosport

June 4: Moana endured a 13-game losing streak before winning their final match of the season against the Waratahs. They finished dead last, conceding a whopping 610 points in 14 games.

July 9: Former All Blacks captain Fa’alogo Tana Umaga was announced as the new Moana Pasifika head coach.

July 11: Another young star confirmed plans to leave, with Timoci Tavatavanawai joining the Highlanders.

September 13: Moana Pasifika made arguably their highest-profile signing to date, securing the services of former All Blacks winger Julian Savea.

2024: Steps in the right direction

March 1: A clash against the Melbourne Rebels had to be relocated because of unsatisfactory turf at North Harbour Stadium.

May 4: Moana Pasifika hosted their first match in Tonga against the Highlanders, losing 28-17.

May 31: Moana Pasifika finished the season in 11th with four wins, all against non-New Zealand sides.

July 1: The Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) became the majority owner of Moana Pasifika. They had previously been a minority stakeholder.

Moana Pasifika captain Ardie Savea. Photo / Photosport

July 18: The Herald revealed Ardie Savea would join Moana Pasifika for the 2025 and 2027 Super Rugby Pacific seasons, taking a sabbatical in between in Japan. The deal was announced days later and was labelled one of the biggest signings in Super Rugby history.

September 30: Moana Pasifika announced that North Harbour Stadium would become their new permanent home, switching from Mt Smart.

2025: Success on the field, troubles off it

March 5: A clash against the Chiefs scheduled to take place in Tonga was moved to Pukekohe because of logistical issues. Chief executive Debbie Sorensen said she was hopeful of taking a game to the Islands in 2026.

March 29: Moana Pasifika claimed a historic 45-29 win over the Crusaders.

May 18: Due to an unassailable lead atop the Super Rugby Player of the Year standings, Ardie Seavea was crowned the winner despite there being three rounds left to play.

May 19: Moana Pasifika claimed their first win over the Blues, 27-21, in front of their biggest home crowd ever at North Harbour Stadium.

May 31: Moana Pasifika would end their season with a historic six wins in seven, just shy of a maiden trip to the Super Rugby playoffs.

June 26: The Herald revealed that PMA – owners of Moana Pasifika – were struggling financially, having lost a government contract worth $44m. Days later, the owners rejected allegations of inappropriate use of public funding and said no taxpayer money had been used to support the Super Rugby Pacific team.

August 4: The franchise lost another young up-and-coming star, with Kyren Taumoefolau signing with the Chiefs, first reported by the Herald in May.

2026: Final whistle

February 26: It was announced that their scheduled match against the Chiefs in Tonga wouldn’t go ahead because of a lack of funding. It came due to a $600,000 cost to help bring all the camera gear over to Tonga. The match was rescheduled to take place in Rotorua, Chiefs territory.

March 24: The search began for a “new era of leadership in the team’s rugby programme” after news that Tana Umaga would join Dave Rennie’s new-look All Blacks coaching staff.

Moana Pasifika coach Tana Umaga. Photo / Photosport

March 27: A home clash against the Highlanders descended into farce when the lights went out midway through the second half, leaving the match unable to be broadcast. While Moana Pasifika were not at fault, the incident was an ugly look for the competition.

April 15: Moana Pasifika announced the “heartbreaking decision” to disband the Super Rugby franchise after the 2026 season ends.

What is next?

Moana Pasifika have six games remaining in the 2026 Super Rugby season, starting against the Waratahs on Friday, with their last game against the Brumbies in Canberra on May 30.

There is still some hope that Moana could still exist beyond the season, if a new owner is found. The Herald has been told former All Black Ali Williams and his wife, Anna Mowbray, had discussions with Moana representatives about buying the licence, but those talks never developed.

Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.