Moana Pasifika is a rugby union club comprised of players who are from or eligible to represent Pacific Island nations, such as the Cook Islands, Fiji, Samoa, and Tonga. The club is based in New Zealand, and currently competes in Super Rugby Pacific. The team's home colours are light blue and orange.
📜 Moana Pasifika History
Moana Pasifika began as an exhibition team, formed in 2020 for a friendly match against the Māori All Blacks. Principal ideas behind the side include celebrating Pacific Islander heritage and people, encouraging more of them to play sport, and helping Pacific Island communities and groups of Pacific Island heritage. The club operates as a non-profit, and was founded on the tenet that its squad would be comprised mostly (80%) of players who are eligible to play internationally for a Pacific Island nation, with the remainder of the squad (20%) comprised of players of Pacific Island heritage who are eligible for or already representing other test sides.
In 2021 the franchise was granted entry to Super Rugby Pacific, joining ahead of the 2022 season, alongside Fijian Drua. The club's first competitive Super Rugby match was played in March 2022, against the Crusaders. Its first win came against the Hurricanes just 3 weeks later. Moana Pasifika finished the 2022 Super Rugby Pacific season at the bottom of the table, behind 11th-placed Fijian Drua by just 2 points. In 2023 Moana Pasifika again finished in last place.
