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Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua confirmed to join revamped Super Rugby competition in 2022

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

In a significant step forward for Pacific Island rugby, Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have been granted conditional licences to join a planned new professional competition next year, New Zealand Rugby [NZR] announced on Wednesday.

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The NZR board’s decision to approve licences is a major step toward the two Pasifika teams joining NZR’s existing five Super Rugby Aotearoa clubs and Rugby Australia’s [RA] five Super Rugby AU teams in a new tournament being planned for 2022 and is conditional on their final business plans and RA’s support.

NZR board member and former Manu Samoa and All Blacks legend Sir Michael Jones said the announcement was a significant milestone.

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“We are now on the cusp of realising a long-held desire to include Pasifika in our professional game and the opportunity to embrace all that comes with that,” he said.

“With the approval of licences, Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua can now forge ahead with the final stages of their business plans and crucially start to lock in their playing and coaching rosters for next season. It’s an exciting time for rugby.”

NZR CEO Mark Robinson said: “We are moving into the final phase of planning for 2022 and beyond, and we have confidence that Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua will be able to meet the conditions of the licence, which includes final sign off on a sustainable business plan by 30 June.

“In the next two months we will be working with Rugby Australia and the two Pasifika teams to formalise their place in the new competition for what we believe will kick off an exciting, new era for the professional game.”

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Moana Pasifika Steering Committee Co-Chair and CEO of the Pacific Business Trust Pelenato Sakalia said: “We are excited to finally be so close to bringing the dream to reality, but there is still hard work to do, and we cannot afford to miss the moment.

“This decision on a licence enables Moana Pasifika to proceed with confidence and complete a number of financial obligations to sign off in the coming weeks, and formalise our player, coach and staff recruitment.”

Fiji Rugby Union Chair Conway Begg said: “This is a big moment for the Drua and will provide the impetus for us to finalise our equity partners, appoint coaches, contract players and confirm our commercial partners.

“We are on the home stretch and excitement is building across Fiji.”

Confirmation of the two licences comes five months after NZR confirmed that Moana Pasifika and Fijian Drua were its preferred partners to explore the entry of Pasifika-linked teams in future professional competitions.

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Moana Pasifika took the field for the first time on 5 December last year when they played the Maori All Blacks in Hamilton. Then, last month, World Rugby committed NZ$2.3m per annum to help the two Pasifika bids build their business case.

Established in 2017, the Fijian Drua have already built a formidable reputation on the field after winning the Australian National Rugby Championship in 2018, in only their second year in the competition.

– New Zealand Rugby

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M
Mzilikazi 1 hour ago
The numbers show Super Rugby Pacific just got even tougher

I’m not confident that our Australian sides will set“ the heather on fire” this year, as they say in Scotland, or probably in some households, Dunedin too. Starting with Qld., They should, with the roster they have, be the team to beat in Australia, and a tough assignment for any of the NZ teams, either side of the Tasman.


But so far they have been erratic, brilliant plays interspersed with poor handling, poor decision making, and sheer stupidity. The latter highlighted by both McReight and Daugunu, albeit in different games, handling the ball at the ruck, when lying on the ground. Would like to see a “stupidity fine” for such actions, say $1000.00 for first offence…and that is a serious comment.


I would see this weekend in Christchurch as a tough one for the Reds, especially without LSL still, and now Flook and Uru. Any team with Will Jordan has to be respected.


The Waratahs sit on two wins, but by 1 and five points only. Their roster is strong, but still they don’t look a cohesive team yet. The Force are a far better team this year, and could well cause an upset in this upcoming game.


I think the Brumbies will struggle more this year to get up over the top sides, especially the NZ teams, and away from home. I feel Stephen Larkham has a ceiling as a coach, which he is struggling the breach. Taking on the Blues in Auckland could turn nasty. Vern Cotter’s scrum focus, and success in that aera so far will be a big test for our side.


Where I see th NZ sides, alll of them, ahead of our teams, is the speed and accuracy of their breakdown work. Their scrum halves have a far easier role than any Australian 9. The other area of superiority for the NZ teams is the speed at which they exploit areas, take chances.


Anyway, upset results so far have certainly made this year far more interesting than previous years. Long may this continue.

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