Kanaloa Rugby set ambitious goals as discussions for Moana Pasifika takeover progress
Anthony Tuitavake, Joe Rokocoko and Jerome Kaino. Photo / Photosport
The consortium featuring several former All Blacks aiming to keep Moana Pasifika alive believes it can transform the struggling Super Rugby franchise into a self-sustaining championship contender.
Kanaloa Rugby is attempting to work with current Moana Pasifika owners the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA) to purchase the Super Rugby licence.
It was announced last month the club would “disband” at the end of the current season unless a new ownership group was prepared to take on the estimated $10 million annual operating costs.
Established with the goal of creating a professional franchise representing Pacific communities on the global stage, the consortium has the backing of former All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Joe Rokocoko, John Afoa, Anthony Tuitavake, Ben Atiga and Sam Tuitupou.
Former Samoa international Tracy Atiga serves as Kanaloa’s chief executive.
Each brings a unique set of skills to the table, with Kaino and Rokocoko coaching in France, Ben Atiga working as a player development manager at Edinburgh, and Tuitupou based in the United Kingdom running his own player agency, focused on helping Pacific players make the move to the northern hemisphere.
After initially hitting roadblocks with the relevant parties, discussions with PMA have progressed in recent days, with a proposal due to be submitted to New Zealand Rugby (NZR).
Any deal would still require the support of PMA and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, and would need to be signed off promptly because of looming deadlines.
After last week’s NZR AGM in Wellington, NZR board chair David Kirk said there was interest from potential investors in Moana Pasifika, although he did not identify those parties.
Kanaloa believes it has the resources and long-term vision required for Moana Pasifika and Pacific rugby to thrive if the takeover bid is approved.
“In five years’ time, I want to see Moana Pasifika lifting the Super Rugby championship trophy,” Tuitupou told the Herald.
“That’s how dedicated we are and how passionate we are. We believe that, with the Pacific players who could be available, that’s something we can achieve.
“Hopefully in five years’ time Moana Pasifika will be Super Rugby champions, while Samoa and Tonga are also in a position where they can challenge New Zealand and Australia in test matches.”
Atiga also believes that target is achievable, saying the consortium sees Moana as a franchise capable of becoming “self-sustaining”.
“A franchise that no longer depends on outside funding, with strong player pathways, deeper grassroots connections back to the islands and a global brand that other Pacific franchises can model themselves on,” Atiga said.
“For us, it’s about trying to look after the next generation.” It is an ambitious target if ownership is to change hands, given the amount of work required to prepare the team for next season."
With their futures uncertain, a number of players are exploring other options. The club will also require a new head coach, with Tana Umaga joining the All Blacks as an assistant, while questions remain around Ardie Savea’s future, despite him being contracted through to 2027.
While those issues can be addressed in due course, Tuitupou stressed the importance of maintaining a team with genuine Pacific representation.
The consortium said establishing a regular presence in the islands was among its highest priorities, along with taking matches there.
Moana Pasifika have played only once in Samoa and Tonga, while their past two attempts to host matches in the islands were relocated because of costs.
“What I’ve seen is that kids who have reached out to me at 18 don’t really want to travel halfway across the world looking for an opportunity,” Tuitupou said.
“They’d rather have that opportunity on their doorstep.
“That’s the big thing for us – creating opportunities for young players in the islands and in New Zealand, so they don’t have to leave their families.
“If I’d had that opportunity, I would have stayed in New Zealand as well, but unfortunately I had to leave.
“For us, it’s about making sure there is a pathway for young Pacific Island kids and ensuring going abroad becomes the last option, not the first.”
Atiga pointed to Moana Pasifika’s success during the 2025 season, saying a thriving Pacific side could provide a much-needed spark for Super Rugby.
“A successful Pacific Island team brings a unique culture and a different kind of energy to the game and the community,” Atiga said.
“They bring a new audience and more fans. As Pacific Islanders, we’re good storytellers and we tell a good story. All of that helps create a very strong product.”
For now, the consortium can only wait and hope a deal is completed so planning can begin for the 2027 season.
Kanaloa Rugby co-founder Matt Atiga said the intention – should a takeover proceed – would be to maintain stability, rather than overhaul the organisation.
“It’s a tight deadline and, in some respects, it almost feels impossible to pull this off,” Atiga said.
“We need to maintain stability, even with the uncertainty around everything at the moment.
“We’re not saying it’s going to be easy, but this is 150% what we want to do – take this team back to the islands to play and perform in front of our own people, create our own economy within the Pacific and showcase that we can do it.
“You can already see examples of that with the Fijian Drua and that’s been well documented. Our model will be similar, but it will also have its own intricacies that we believe can make it even better. We just need the opportunity to do that.”
The rugby unions based in the islands have also endorsed Kanaloa’s bid.
Moana Pasifika have just two games remaining in their Super Rugby season. They have the bye this week.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.