April 17, 2026 • 19 mins
Another Super Rugby club is going under.
In a blow to Pasifika rugby, Moana Pasifika has announced that it will disband at the conclusion of the Super Rugby season.
The league’s owners, Pasifika Medical Group, has decided to withdraw its financial support.
To find out just how big a blow this is, and what it means for Super Rugby going forward, Brett McKay and Liam Napier joined Piney to delve into what went wrong for the club.
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Speaker 1 (00:06):
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Very sad and rather confronting rugby news this week with
Mawana pacific A set to fold at the end of
this Super Rugby season. The team was launched with a
vision to represent and grow Pacific rugby at the elite level,
but just a few years on that vision is now
hanging by a threat. If Mawana Pacifica disappears, it's not
(00:34):
just a team that has lost, but a key pathway
for PACIFICA players. It could also reshape the future of
the competition as we know it. To kick this around,
we've assembled a high quality rugby panel for you this afternoon.
Australian based broadcaster, writer, commentator and host of the eight
to nine Rugby podcast Brett Mackay's with us today. Brett right,
(00:57):
not hearing Brett there unfortunately, So we might have to
make an adjustment at your end, perhaps any maybe if
you put bread on the air. Okay, let's try with
breadag again. Brett. Are you there, Brett? Can you hear
us there? I can, Brett, got on you mate. We
don't have to go to the dreaded commercial break. Good
to have you with us and Liam Napier as well.
We'll get We'll get Liam on the air as well
(01:17):
if we could. Liam Napier, New Zealand Herald Rugby Writer.
Let's see if we can get Brett Okay, I'll take
him off and you and put him on. This is
all behind the curtain stuff now, Liam Napier.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Hello afternoon, phoney.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Ah, here we go. All three of us are on
the air. This is an excellent start a rather a
rather unfortunate topic. I'd love to be getting you together,
the two of you, to talk more positive matters. But Liam,
can I start with you? How big a blow is
this for the rugby community in New Zealand and in
particular the Pacific rugby community, the demise it appears of
(01:51):
Mowana PACIFICA.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, massive, poney. I think when this team started up
there was a massive amount of goodwill and supports. We
sived a lot of government funding, a lot of backers,
rugby chipton and the purpose of this team, as you say,
was to build a royal community, to serve the Pacific Islands,
to create pathways and to give back to a playing
(02:17):
base that has proliferated the global rugby scene and continues
to do so. So yeah, heartbreaking stuff. Really, that's Milana
whole accounts unless a White Knights and unlikely White Knight
emergers have five games left in their existence.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Bred from across the Tasman, how much of a surprise
was this to you?
Speaker 4 (02:42):
It wasn't so much of a surprise plany, because I
think we've been thinking this day might be coming anytime soon.
But the shock is no less and the disappointment, I
suppose as well, because you know, when when Super Rugby
Pacific was stood up between between Australia and New Zealand,
the inclusion of the drewer from Figi, from Mowana as
(03:05):
well even being based in Auckland was was going to
add a real, a real true spacific ring to Super Rugby.
And it's something that's been discussed for a long long
time that the Fijian drewer obviously had a history in
Australian rugby that goes back, you know, more than a
decade now, so you know, it's it's been a long
time coming and and it's going to be a great
(03:28):
shame for that just to stop on the on the
tongue and someone and front because you know those those
pathways and then development opportunities that Milana has provided for
the last five seasons. You know, they're they're not They're
not suddenly you know, all exhausted. There's there's still are
(03:50):
still a stream of young talent that need to come
through and get their first taste of professional rugby. And
and from Australian point of view, the the real, the
real fear is that this is potentially just opening the
door for rugby league up even further. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I was going to ask about that, and I will
get to that with you in just a second, Bret.
But Liam, the phrase I'm hearing a lot is no
longer viable. How did we get to this point?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well, rugby, as you know, pioneers a business in the capital,
you're part of the world. A Hurricanes last year lost
over two million dollars think it was two point five million.
So Miana aren't alone in their financial challenges. But look,
the money is effectively dried up. They were backed by
the Pacifica Medical Association who lost a very significant public
(04:39):
contract and so it was no longer viable for the
Pacifica Medical Association to continue funding a rugby team when
with their purpose is in the Pacific medical field, so
mine needed a new backer. The government money has run
outs that was always intended to be temporary. World rugby
funding is running out the sky front. A Jersey sponsor
(05:03):
is going to cease, and so you're at a situation
when wine is staring down the barrel. It costs ten
to twelve million to funds a super rugby team in
this part of the world. It's not a cheap exercise.
This is not club rugby. This is a business. I've
got sixty staff to pay every week, so it's a
(05:23):
very challenging climate to do that. Super rugby is struggling
to get punters through the gates. Commercial sponsors aren't always there.
It's easier for teams like the Blues who are long established,
but in an alco market, sustaining two teams is challenging
and so effectively the money dried up and wana need somebody,
(05:47):
whether it be a Twiggy Forest type character who's willing
to come in and lose money effectively. Because rugby is
a professional rugby at this level is not a money
making venture.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
You've got to have a lot of passion for the
game to pour money into a bottomless pit for sure.
Bright back to your point about the possibility of rugby
league now swooping on the best young talent. Sir Michael
Jones on the side of the Tasman has been quoted
today as saying that rugby league is winning the hearts
and minds of young Pacific players. How much of a
genuine threat to rugby union is rugby league?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yeah, it could well be. It could well be. We
know the NRL is looking to expand we know they're
so they'll have a team playing out of perse next year,
you know, headlong against against the Western Forest. They will
be in in Papua New Guineas the following year after that.
And they've been able to secure significant amounts of Australian
(06:43):
federal government money to stand the P and G team up.
And part of that funding is for further development opportunities
through the Pacific Islands and they specifically mentioned Fijis, Tonga
or some more. So they are going to work quite
actively in that space. Yeah, you know, for for players
(07:04):
of that heritage, and even if they're not necessarily coming
from the islands themselves, that the families are all still
there and as we know about about these young players,
you know, what you can do for family is hugely important,
and so these guys will will go where the opportunities are,
won't they And if that means that they need to
play a slightly different sport for the sake of looking
(07:26):
after their family, and then that's a decision that they make,
you know, with the very obvious support of the family
behind them, because because they all don't want to lose
out either. So it's a very real threat and the
size and the scale of that threat is why this
is such an important and such a crucial juncture for
(07:48):
Super Rugby Pacific as a competition, but also for the
broader development conversation that's going on in the Pacific, of
which Australia and New Zealand are a significant part of.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Let's look ahead to what it will mean for Super
Rugby Liam if we go to ten teams, which you
know by all account we will, They're not going to
stand up and eleventh team in time for next season.
So let's say it's a ten team competition in twenty
twenty seven. Is that a weaker competition or is it
a cleaner competition? What is the upshot? Of a ten
(08:22):
team Super Rugby Pacific comp.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Well, I think first and foremost point, anytime you lose
a team, whether it be the Melbourne Rebels or wine
a Pacific here, it's a big hit to your credibility,
it's a big hit to your brand. It erodes faith
or engagement in the competition, So there's no getting away
from that. From a draw perspective, it is cleaner. Ten
(08:48):
eleven teams meant you had to have two buyers. But
if you think about it, we'll back to Super ten
and that's how this competition started what three decades ago now,
so coming full circle in that regard. What it might
mean is potentially home and away, possibly two rounds. There's
(09:09):
been talk of conference models to potentially guarantee Australian presence
in the finals. For me, I would probably preferred just
one round. I don't think we needs to elongate the competition,
but the broadcasters will pay more for more products, more games,
(09:29):
and that's where the revenue comes from, so I think
we'll probably that's where it will probably land as two
rounds of home and away and that might be more
competitive maybe, but you're losing that Pacific elements and just
on that and you talk about Michael Jones. There in
Auckland alone, I think there's two hundred and seventy five
(09:50):
people who identify with Pacific heritage. Now one didn't necessarily
get those people through the gates, but Super Rugby needs
to tap into that market because they are in danger
and they are losing that market, huge market in Auckland,
specific city in the world to rugby league.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Bret is that you'll feel as well that it'll be
a ten and team comp Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
I think I think so. It's it's I think it's
it's going to take the shiniest, whitest of White Knights
to come in and rescue things now and prevent that.
But I think that this is actually an opportunity for
Australia and New Zealand and for Super Rugby as a whole.
For probably probably since it's in its inception in nineteen
(10:35):
ninety six, the feeling has always been that the season
is too short. You know, if we if we think
back to the early days of Super twelve, it was
you know, it was it was literally eleven games per team.
You know, there was a bye week in their two
weeks of semi finals, and the whole competition was done
by the end of May. So our clubs have been
(10:58):
saying time and time again they can't continue with this
six months of the year existence. They need to have
a bigger footprint, a slightly longer season and ten teams
allows that. You know, the current season, the current twenty
twenty six season will run for nineteen weeks with the
two buyers the three weeks of finals. You know, with
(11:19):
ten teams you could bring it back to a top
four play straight semi finals, so only two weeks of
semi finals. Even if you had a bye week and
eighteen games per team, you're only talking twenty one weeks,
so you know, start a week earlier, finish a week later,
and the footprint really isn't that different to what we
have now. But a full home and away season gives
(11:42):
all the clubs, you know, two extra home games a year.
That's a big, big benefit for them. But it gives
the competition a little bit of extra credibility and meaning
because you know, all of a sudden it is a
more level playing field. It is there's no such thing
as strong and weak draws and things like that. And
if they could then start you know, going a bit
(12:02):
further to try and try and strengthen the competition. And
you know, again when the topic of open borders will
come up, is is there some equalization measure through a
salary cap of some sort that could be applied across
the board. If you start doing things like that, that
will force movement between the ten teams and then you
do strengthen the competition. So that's why I say, I
(12:23):
think this is a real opportunity for Super Rugby to
be able to take the steps that they've wanted to
take for the last couple of years but haven't really
had the means or the ability to do that.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Just a couple to finish with Liam. Do New Zealand
Rugby have any culpability here? Do they have a greater
responsibility to support more Onna PACIFICA or not?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I don't know, Piney, I think I think it's probably
short sighted to point the finger at New Zealand Rugby. Yes,
the Whole Blacks and New Zealand Rugby have been massive
beneficiaries over there years of extremely talented, athletic, gifted Pacific footballers,
(13:03):
but they're not alone and there is a lot of
economic and different factors about why Pacific families come to
New Zealand and a lot of those players actually grow
up here. So look, yeah, more could have been done,
I think on the whole would it be from a
global governing perspective, from world rugby, from New Zealand rugby.
(13:26):
But look, New Zealand Rugby is also charged with running
the whole game here and if they are pushing out
money to prop up mine in Pacifica, they've got to
take it from somewhere else. It could be the woman's game,
it could be club rugby, and there's not a bottomless
pits to keep the game here or already chewing through
the silver ac money. So ultimately it's up to Juana
(13:50):
to be a viable business entity on their own and
stand on their own two feet.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
And Brett, will you be chatting to the powers that
be at the Brumbis to try and get Addie Savie across?
There is there going to be your marquee signing for
twenty twenty seven?
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Imagine imagine that Brumby's back row was Rob Valatini and you,
Rory Scott, Charlie Klee and an artist father in as well.
It'd be pretty handy, wouldn't it. That's I did have
a little chuckle. That question was put to stevens Laker
this week and he said, we've actually got a coaches
meetgue in half an hour, so you know, look I had.
(14:30):
I had your very own Elliot Smith on the eight
nine Rugby podcast this week and I said to him,
you know, do you imagine that it was only twenty
four hours later? So do you imagine that that Artie's
had phone calls from all five New Zealand teams by now?
And he said, I'm sure he has. So I'm sure
that there'll be Australian teams will will will make inquiries
because they'd be mad not to, wouldn't they. And so
(14:51):
I think it's going to be really interesting to see
how that particular scenario plays out, but how the whole
thing plays out, I'm sure. Just to pick up on
les Lean's point before, I'm sure New Zealand Rugby Rugby
Australia would love to be able to do more if
they could, but they are not profit making enterprise in
their own right. There they would admit that they're not
doing enough with their own legacy teams as it is,
never mind being able to further support development in other
(15:14):
areas outside their own borders. And that's why I say
it's a really important juncture for super O USIC competition
because it's going to force some hard conversations between between
all the parties, and so it's an opportunity. I almost
look forward to seeing where it could go because I
think a lot of those topics that we've talked about
for a long long time are suddenly very much in
(15:35):
play because they kind of have to be, otherwise the
question marks about super OBI going forward will only get
louder and bigger.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Such an interesting time. Brett McKay Liam Napier, thank you
both for giving up your time this afternoon and starting
our discussion off. We'll look forward to hearing more from
you as the story develops. Thank you both.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Thanks Funny, It's funny.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
It's Brett McKay and Liam Napier on Weekend Sport with Us.
It's a really interesting topic which I love your views on. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty anything you heard from
Liam and Brett or anything that has jumped to the
front of your mind since this news was made official
during the week that unless there is a savior, a
(16:19):
a wealthy benefactor willing to come in and effectively rescue
Mowana Pacifica. They will be gone at the end of
this Super Rugby season. I must say I'm gutted we're
losing Mowana Pacifica. I'd feel the same about any team.
As Liam said, then, whenever you lose a team, it's
not a great look, and you do feel a sense
(16:41):
of disappointment that a team drops out of a competition,
regardless of what that team is and which competition it is.
But I feel as though what Molwana Pacifica stood for
and what they brought to the competition will be sorely
missed when they're not here anymore. There's something about the
(17:02):
way they play their rugby, the way they infuse their
culture into everything that they do, the pathway they offered
for young Pacific Island players, their fans support, and their
lived values that was compelling and attractive. I really thought
last year would be a turning point for that franchise.
(17:22):
Mwana were very, very competitive last year. They beat the Hurricanes,
they beat the Crusaders, they beat the Highlanders, they beat
the Blues. They only really ran out of steam late
in the season and finished just outside the top six.
And the hope was that they would build on that
this year and kick on, but they were without one
(17:42):
very important factor unfortunately this year, one very important player
Artie Savia. Look, it's not fair to say he was
single handedly responsible for last season, but I cannot remember
one player having such a significant impact on a rugby
team in the thirty year history of Super Rugby Pacific.
(18:06):
He had the season of his life and he elevated
everybody around him. Without him, this year, they have been
a shadow of their former selves. A went on opening
weekend against the Druer raised our hopes maybe they are
going to kick on, but it has been eight straight
defeats since then, and with morale almost certain to be
(18:30):
low in the camp, it's hard to see them notching
up any more wins in their final half dozen games
of the season and likely the last half dozen games
of their existence. But if there's any glimmer of hope,
it's now that Mowana Pacifica are playing for pride and
pride and pride of those in the Pacifica region is
(18:54):
a pretty powerful force. Not enough to keep the franchise alive,
but certainly enough to send them out in the manner
that they.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Deserve for more, from weekend Sport with Jason fine Life
to news Talks it B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
You're listening to the Weekend Sport podcast with Jason Vine
from newstalk ZEDB.
Speaker 2 (00:12):
Very sad and rather confronting rugby news this week with
Mawana pacific A set to fold at the end of
this Super Rugby season. The team was launched with a
vision to represent and grow Pacific rugby at the elite level,
but just a few years on that vision is now
hanging by a threat. If Mawana Pacifica disappears, it's not
(00:34):
just a team that has lost, but a key pathway
for PACIFICA players. It could also reshape the future of
the competition as we know it. To kick this around,
we've assembled a high quality rugby panel for you this afternoon.
Australian based broadcaster, writer, commentator and host of the eight
to nine Rugby podcast Brett Mackay's with us today. Brett right,
(00:57):
not hearing Brett there unfortunately, So we might have to
make an adjustment at your end, perhaps any maybe if
you put bread on the air. Okay, let's try with
breadag again. Brett. Are you there, Brett? Can you hear
us there? I can, Brett, got on you mate. We
don't have to go to the dreaded commercial break. Good
to have you with us and Liam Napier as well.
We'll get We'll get Liam on the air as well
(01:17):
if we could. Liam Napier, New Zealand Herald Rugby Writer.
Let's see if we can get Brett Okay, I'll take
him off and you and put him on. This is
all behind the curtain stuff now, Liam Napier.
Speaker 3 (01:28):
Hello afternoon, phoney.
Speaker 2 (01:30):
Ah, here we go. All three of us are on
the air. This is an excellent start a rather a
rather unfortunate topic. I'd love to be getting you together,
the two of you, to talk more positive matters. But Liam,
can I start with you? How big a blow is
this for the rugby community in New Zealand and in
particular the Pacific rugby community, the demise it appears of
(01:51):
Mowana PACIFICA.
Speaker 3 (01:54):
Yeah, massive, poney. I think when this team started up
there was a massive amount of goodwill and supports. We
sived a lot of government funding, a lot of backers,
rugby chipton and the purpose of this team, as you say,
was to build a royal community, to serve the Pacific Islands,
to create pathways and to give back to a playing
(02:17):
base that has proliferated the global rugby scene and continues
to do so. So yeah, heartbreaking stuff. Really, that's Milana
whole accounts unless a White Knights and unlikely White Knight
emergers have five games left in their existence.
Speaker 2 (02:36):
Bred from across the Tasman, how much of a surprise
was this to you?
Speaker 4 (02:42):
It wasn't so much of a surprise plany, because I
think we've been thinking this day might be coming anytime soon.
But the shock is no less and the disappointment, I
suppose as well, because you know, when when Super Rugby
Pacific was stood up between between Australia and New Zealand,
the inclusion of the drewer from Figi, from Mowana as
(03:05):
well even being based in Auckland was was going to
add a real, a real true spacific ring to Super Rugby.
And it's something that's been discussed for a long long
time that the Fijian drewer obviously had a history in
Australian rugby that goes back, you know, more than a
decade now, so you know, it's it's been a long
time coming and and it's going to be a great
(03:28):
shame for that just to stop on the on the
tongue and someone and front because you know those those
pathways and then development opportunities that Milana has provided for
the last five seasons. You know, they're they're not They're
not suddenly you know, all exhausted. There's there's still are
(03:50):
still a stream of young talent that need to come
through and get their first taste of professional rugby. And
and from Australian point of view, the the real, the
real fear is that this is potentially just opening the
door for rugby league up even further. Yeah.
Speaker 2 (04:04):
I was going to ask about that, and I will
get to that with you in just a second, Bret.
But Liam, the phrase I'm hearing a lot is no
longer viable. How did we get to this point?
Speaker 3 (04:14):
Well, rugby, as you know, pioneers a business in the capital,
you're part of the world. A Hurricanes last year lost
over two million dollars think it was two point five million.
So Miana aren't alone in their financial challenges. But look,
the money is effectively dried up. They were backed by
the Pacifica Medical Association who lost a very significant public
(04:39):
contract and so it was no longer viable for the
Pacifica Medical Association to continue funding a rugby team when
with their purpose is in the Pacific medical field, so
mine needed a new backer. The government money has run
outs that was always intended to be temporary. World rugby
funding is running out the sky front. A Jersey sponsor
(05:03):
is going to cease, and so you're at a situation
when wine is staring down the barrel. It costs ten
to twelve million to funds a super rugby team in
this part of the world. It's not a cheap exercise.
This is not club rugby. This is a business. I've
got sixty staff to pay every week, so it's a
(05:23):
very challenging climate to do that. Super rugby is struggling
to get punters through the gates. Commercial sponsors aren't always there.
It's easier for teams like the Blues who are long established,
but in an alco market, sustaining two teams is challenging
and so effectively the money dried up and wana need somebody,
(05:47):
whether it be a Twiggy Forest type character who's willing
to come in and lose money effectively. Because rugby is
a professional rugby at this level is not a money
making venture.
Speaker 2 (05:58):
You've got to have a lot of passion for the
game to pour money into a bottomless pit for sure.
Bright back to your point about the possibility of rugby
league now swooping on the best young talent. Sir Michael
Jones on the side of the Tasman has been quoted
today as saying that rugby league is winning the hearts
and minds of young Pacific players. How much of a
genuine threat to rugby union is rugby league?
Speaker 4 (06:21):
Yeah, it could well be. It could well be. We
know the NRL is looking to expand we know they're
so they'll have a team playing out of perse next year,
you know, headlong against against the Western Forest. They will
be in in Papua New Guineas the following year after that.
And they've been able to secure significant amounts of Australian
(06:43):
federal government money to stand the P and G team up.
And part of that funding is for further development opportunities
through the Pacific Islands and they specifically mentioned Fijis, Tonga
or some more. So they are going to work quite
actively in that space. Yeah, you know, for for players
(07:04):
of that heritage, and even if they're not necessarily coming
from the islands themselves, that the families are all still
there and as we know about about these young players,
you know, what you can do for family is hugely important,
and so these guys will will go where the opportunities are,
won't they And if that means that they need to
play a slightly different sport for the sake of looking
(07:26):
after their family, and then that's a decision that they make,
you know, with the very obvious support of the family
behind them, because because they all don't want to lose
out either. So it's a very real threat and the
size and the scale of that threat is why this
is such an important and such a crucial juncture for
(07:48):
Super Rugby Pacific as a competition, but also for the
broader development conversation that's going on in the Pacific, of
which Australia and New Zealand are a significant part of.
Speaker 2 (08:00):
Let's look ahead to what it will mean for Super
Rugby Liam if we go to ten teams, which you
know by all account we will, They're not going to
stand up and eleventh team in time for next season.
So let's say it's a ten team competition in twenty
twenty seven. Is that a weaker competition or is it
a cleaner competition? What is the upshot? Of a ten
(08:22):
team Super Rugby Pacific comp.
Speaker 3 (08:25):
Well, I think first and foremost point, anytime you lose
a team, whether it be the Melbourne Rebels or wine
a Pacific here, it's a big hit to your credibility,
it's a big hit to your brand. It erodes faith
or engagement in the competition, So there's no getting away
from that. From a draw perspective, it is cleaner. Ten
(08:48):
eleven teams meant you had to have two buyers. But
if you think about it, we'll back to Super ten
and that's how this competition started what three decades ago now,
so coming full circle in that regard. What it might
mean is potentially home and away, possibly two rounds. There's
(09:09):
been talk of conference models to potentially guarantee Australian presence
in the finals. For me, I would probably preferred just
one round. I don't think we needs to elongate the competition,
but the broadcasters will pay more for more products, more games,
(09:29):
and that's where the revenue comes from, so I think
we'll probably that's where it will probably land as two
rounds of home and away and that might be more
competitive maybe, but you're losing that Pacific elements and just
on that and you talk about Michael Jones. There in
Auckland alone, I think there's two hundred and seventy five
(09:50):
people who identify with Pacific heritage. Now one didn't necessarily
get those people through the gates, but Super Rugby needs
to tap into that market because they are in danger
and they are losing that market, huge market in Auckland,
specific city in the world to rugby league.
Speaker 2 (10:09):
Bret is that you'll feel as well that it'll be
a ten and team comp Yeah.
Speaker 4 (10:14):
I think I think so. It's it's I think it's
it's going to take the shiniest, whitest of White Knights
to come in and rescue things now and prevent that.
But I think that this is actually an opportunity for
Australia and New Zealand and for Super Rugby as a whole.
For probably probably since it's in its inception in nineteen
(10:35):
ninety six, the feeling has always been that the season
is too short. You know, if we if we think
back to the early days of Super twelve, it was
you know, it was it was literally eleven games per team.
You know, there was a bye week in their two
weeks of semi finals, and the whole competition was done
by the end of May. So our clubs have been
(10:58):
saying time and time again they can't continue with this
six months of the year existence. They need to have
a bigger footprint, a slightly longer season and ten teams
allows that. You know, the current season, the current twenty
twenty six season will run for nineteen weeks with the
two buyers the three weeks of finals. You know, with
(11:19):
ten teams you could bring it back to a top
four play straight semi finals, so only two weeks of
semi finals. Even if you had a bye week and
eighteen games per team, you're only talking twenty one weeks,
so you know, start a week earlier, finish a week later,
and the footprint really isn't that different to what we
have now. But a full home and away season gives
(11:42):
all the clubs, you know, two extra home games a year.
That's a big, big benefit for them. But it gives
the competition a little bit of extra credibility and meaning
because you know, all of a sudden it is a
more level playing field. It is there's no such thing
as strong and weak draws and things like that. And
if they could then start you know, going a bit
(12:02):
further to try and try and strengthen the competition. And
you know, again when the topic of open borders will
come up, is is there some equalization measure through a
salary cap of some sort that could be applied across
the board. If you start doing things like that, that
will force movement between the ten teams and then you
do strengthen the competition. So that's why I say, I
(12:23):
think this is a real opportunity for Super Rugby to
be able to take the steps that they've wanted to
take for the last couple of years but haven't really
had the means or the ability to do that.
Speaker 2 (12:33):
Just a couple to finish with Liam. Do New Zealand
Rugby have any culpability here? Do they have a greater
responsibility to support more Onna PACIFICA or not?
Speaker 3 (12:43):
I don't know, Piney, I think I think it's probably
short sighted to point the finger at New Zealand Rugby. Yes,
the Whole Blacks and New Zealand Rugby have been massive
beneficiaries over there years of extremely talented, athletic, gifted Pacific footballers,
(13:03):
but they're not alone and there is a lot of
economic and different factors about why Pacific families come to
New Zealand and a lot of those players actually grow
up here. So look, yeah, more could have been done,
I think on the whole would it be from a
global governing perspective, from world rugby, from New Zealand rugby.
(13:26):
But look, New Zealand Rugby is also charged with running
the whole game here and if they are pushing out
money to prop up mine in Pacifica, they've got to
take it from somewhere else. It could be the woman's game,
it could be club rugby, and there's not a bottomless
pits to keep the game here or already chewing through
the silver ac money. So ultimately it's up to Juana
(13:50):
to be a viable business entity on their own and
stand on their own two feet.
Speaker 2 (13:56):
And Brett, will you be chatting to the powers that
be at the Brumbis to try and get Addie Savie across?
There is there going to be your marquee signing for
twenty twenty seven?
Speaker 4 (14:05):
Imagine imagine that Brumby's back row was Rob Valatini and you,
Rory Scott, Charlie Klee and an artist father in as well.
It'd be pretty handy, wouldn't it. That's I did have
a little chuckle. That question was put to stevens Laker
this week and he said, we've actually got a coaches
meetgue in half an hour, so you know, look I had.
(14:30):
I had your very own Elliot Smith on the eight
nine Rugby podcast this week and I said to him,
you know, do you imagine that it was only twenty
four hours later? So do you imagine that that Artie's
had phone calls from all five New Zealand teams by now?
And he said, I'm sure he has. So I'm sure
that there'll be Australian teams will will will make inquiries
because they'd be mad not to, wouldn't they. And so
(14:51):
I think it's going to be really interesting to see
how that particular scenario plays out, but how the whole
thing plays out, I'm sure. Just to pick up on
les Lean's point before, I'm sure New Zealand Rugby Rugby
Australia would love to be able to do more if
they could, but they are not profit making enterprise in
their own right. There they would admit that they're not
doing enough with their own legacy teams as it is,
never mind being able to further support development in other
(15:14):
areas outside their own borders. And that's why I say
it's a really important juncture for super O USIC competition
because it's going to force some hard conversations between between
all the parties, and so it's an opportunity. I almost
look forward to seeing where it could go because I
think a lot of those topics that we've talked about
for a long long time are suddenly very much in
(15:35):
play because they kind of have to be, otherwise the
question marks about super OBI going forward will only get
louder and bigger.
Speaker 2 (15:43):
Such an interesting time. Brett McKay Liam Napier, thank you
both for giving up your time this afternoon and starting
our discussion off. We'll look forward to hearing more from
you as the story develops. Thank you both.
Speaker 4 (15:54):
Thanks Funny, It's funny.
Speaker 2 (15:56):
It's Brett McKay and Liam Napier on Weekend Sport with Us.
It's a really interesting topic which I love your views on. Oh,
eight hundred and eighty ten eighty anything you heard from
Liam and Brett or anything that has jumped to the
front of your mind since this news was made official
during the week that unless there is a savior, a
(16:19):
a wealthy benefactor willing to come in and effectively rescue
Mowana Pacifica. They will be gone at the end of
this Super Rugby season. I must say I'm gutted we're
losing Mowana Pacifica. I'd feel the same about any team.
As Liam said, then, whenever you lose a team, it's
not a great look, and you do feel a sense
(16:41):
of disappointment that a team drops out of a competition,
regardless of what that team is and which competition it is.
But I feel as though what Molwana Pacifica stood for
and what they brought to the competition will be sorely
missed when they're not here anymore. There's something about the
(17:02):
way they play their rugby, the way they infuse their
culture into everything that they do, the pathway they offered
for young Pacific Island players, their fans support, and their
lived values that was compelling and attractive. I really thought
last year would be a turning point for that franchise.
(17:22):
Mwana were very, very competitive last year. They beat the Hurricanes,
they beat the Crusaders, they beat the Highlanders, they beat
the Blues. They only really ran out of steam late
in the season and finished just outside the top six.
And the hope was that they would build on that
this year and kick on, but they were without one
(17:42):
very important factor unfortunately this year, one very important player
Artie Savia. Look, it's not fair to say he was
single handedly responsible for last season, but I cannot remember
one player having such a significant impact on a rugby
team in the thirty year history of Super Rugby Pacific.
(18:06):
He had the season of his life and he elevated
everybody around him. Without him, this year, they have been
a shadow of their former selves. A went on opening
weekend against the Druer raised our hopes maybe they are
going to kick on, but it has been eight straight
defeats since then, and with morale almost certain to be
(18:30):
low in the camp, it's hard to see them notching
up any more wins in their final half dozen games
of the season and likely the last half dozen games
of their existence. But if there's any glimmer of hope,
it's now that Mowana Pacifica are playing for pride and
pride and pride of those in the Pacifica region is
(18:54):
a pretty powerful force. Not enough to keep the franchise alive,
but certainly enough to send them out in the manner
that they.
Speaker 1 (19:02):
Deserve for more, from weekend Sport with Jason fine Life
to news Talks it B weekends from midday, or follow
the podcast on iHeartRadio
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