Two All Blacks legends set to buy and save Moana Pasifika

On Monday, May 25, shareholders voted in favour of winding up the franchise, with Teneo Financial Advisory appointed to oversee the liquidation process.

Current majority owners, the Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), have already confirmed they can no longer financially support the team.

Both Rokocoko and Kaino have strong Pacific ties. Rokocoko, who was born in Fiji and raised in New Zealand, earned 68 caps for the All Blacks between 2003 and 2010, scoring 46 tries to become New Zealand’s joint second-highest try scorer.

Kaino, a dual Rugby World Cup winner in 2011 and 2015, became only the second American-born player of Samoan heritage to represent New Zealand.

Since joining Super Rugby five years ago, Moana Pasifika has struggled both on and off the field, winning just 14 of 69 matches and falling short of expectations in developing Pacific rugby talent.

The inability to regularly host matches in Samoa or Tonga has also hurt the club’s growth, while crowd numbers in New Zealand have consistently underwhelmed.

Rokocoko and Kaino’s Kanaloa Consortium had initially attempted to purchase the franchise last October, before the current Super Rugby season began, but the deal collapsed for reasons that were never publicly explained.

With the franchise’s position now even more precarious, Kanaloa has returned with a fresh proposal. Consortium CEO Tracy Atiga believes their business model can revive the club where the existing structure has failed.

It remains uncertain whether the takeover will proceed. If no buyer is secured, Moana Pasifika could cease to exist, reducing Super Rugby to 10 teams after the collapse of the Melbourne Rebels a couple of years ago.

Currently sitting at the bottom of the standings with just one win from 13 matches, Moana Pasifika travel to Canberra this weekend to face the Brumbies in what could be the club’s final match.

Should the franchise fold, players will be forced to seek new opportunities elsewhere. With limited Super Rugby spots available, northern hemisphere clubs may be able to recruit talented players at relatively low cost.