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'That is not something NZR can handle': Kanaloa Pasifika boss hits out after missing out on Super Rugby spot

(Photo by Phil Walter/Getty Images)

Kanaloa Pasifika chief executive Tracey Atiga has hit out at New Zealand Rugby [NZR] over her franchise’s failed bid to enter next year’s new Super Rugby competition.

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Expansion franchises Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua were last month granted conditional entry into the new-look competition that will also feature the 10 Super Rugby franchises from New Zealand and Australia.

The induction of both teams was widely celebrated as significant boost for rugby in the Pacific Islands, but Atiga isn’t happy with the way in which her franchise missed out on a place in the competition to Moana Pasifika.

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Crusaders assistant coach Tamati Ellison speaks to media ahead of Super Rugby Aotearoa final

Atiga alleges Kanaloa Pasifika were told by NZR that the only way they would be allowed entry into the new Super Rugby competition was if they merged with Moana Pasifika.

Moana Pasifika has been backed by Sir Michael Jones and Sir Bryan Williams, both of whom were NZR board members at the time of the franchise’s induction into Super Rugby, as well as New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association [NZRPA] boss Rob Nichol.

Kanaloa Pasifika last year issued a formal complaint with NZR as Atiga claimed the involvement of two NZR employees in Moana Pasifika’s inclusion in Super Rugby was a conflict of interest.

At the time, she added that Kanaloa Pasifika, unlike Moana Pasifika, submitted a full application and met all the conditions of the bidding process, but were ultimately declined a place in the competition.

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Speaking to ABC‘s Pacific Beat earlier this week, Atiga claimed Kanaloa Pasifika missed out on a place in Super Rugby because she believed NZR couldn’t “handle” the prospect of an independent Pacific-based franchise.

“New Zealand Rugby tried very hard for two months to pressure Kanaloa to merge with Moana Pasifika,” Atiga said.

“We said absolutely not. We’re a standalone entity, we have nothing to do with New Zealand Rugby, Rugby Australia or World Rugby, we can manage our own investors, we can manage our own investment, we can manage our own players.

“New Zealand Rugby didn’t want a bar of that, and the reason why it would be a lose-lose for New Zealand Rugby is because if we’d been given a licence, then those players would be completely independent of New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia.

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“That is not something New Zealand Rugby can handle.”

Moana Pasifika have come under criticism in recent weeks with Pacific rugby leaders, with Pacific Rugby Welfare boss Daniel Leo citing concerns that the franchise could become “NZ’s 6th Super team”.

Worries over whether the new side is being formed to serve NZR’s best interests rather than help develop the Samoan and Tongan national sides have been accentuated by the appointments of former NZR and NZRPA employees in various positions at Moana Pasifka.

One of those former employees is ex-All Blacks halfback Kevin Senio, who left his role as NZRPA player services manager to become Moana Pasifika’s director of rugby.

Senio told Sky Sport‘s The Breakdown last month that 80 percent of Moana Pasifika’s 38-man playing squad will need to be capped or eligible to play for any of the Pacific Island nations at test level.

That would leave room for around eight players who are ineligible to play for the likes of Samoa and Tonga to be contracted by Moana Pasifika.

Senio clarified to ABC that those eight ineligible players are likely to be overseas-based Pasifika players who have been capped by other countries and can add experience to the playing group.

However, Atiga claimed Kanaloa Pasifika would have fielded a team comprised entirely of players from Pacific Island nations.

“The truth is, Kanaloa, we came through with 100 percent players from Pacific Island nations and it was always our pledge that we would do that,” she told ABC.

“It was actually New Zealand Rugby that turned us away and said they wouldn’t grant us a licence with 100 percent Pacific Island nations players.

“What you’ve got here is a group that’s quite happy to provide that 20 percent to New Zealand Rugby for the picking.”

Atiga also took aim at the appointment of Senio as Moana Pasifika’s director of rugby despite his lack of experience in such a role.

“I”l tell you right now, when you’ve got someone like Kevin Senio, who was a staff member of the New Zealand Rugby Players’ Association, stepping straight into a role as general manager with no background or history as a general manager of any franchise in the past, you’ve got real concerns.”

Despite her issues surrounding the involvement of Moana Pasifika, Atiga had no reservations about the inclusion of the Fijian Drua in Super Rugby.

The Drua competed in the now-defunct National Rugby Championship in Australia between 2017 and 2019, winning the competition in 2018.

The side was operated by the Fijian Rugby Union, based out of Fiji and was made up entirely of Fijian players, all of which will be no different when they play in Super Rugby from next year onwards.

Atiga said Kanaloa Pasifika has subsequently offered its investor group to the Drua to help support the franchise as it races against time to prove it is a financially viable outfit to compete in Super Rugby.

“We’ve actually offered our investor group forward to the Drua, the reason being it is a standalone entity, much similar to what Kanaloa had proposed.

“The Drua are looking for private investors to stand up their organisation. I appreciate they’re having a really tough time, and at the end of the day, if it comes down to money, we’re here for them.

“The only issue I think we’re going to have is if Fiji are not able to extend a reach to Tonga and Samoa and the other Pacific Island nations, but, as far as I’m concerned, it’s set-up the right way – separate and independent.”

A deadline of June 30 has been set for both the Drua and Moana Pasifika to show they can generate a minimum of $10m per annum to secure a final sign-off to compete Super Rugby.

For the time being, Atiga said Kanaloa Pasifika will be waiting in the wings should either the Drua or Moana Pasifika fail to meet the requirements of their conditional entry.

“We’ve already been delayed a whole year, but come 30th June, if Moana Pasifika and the Drua have not met the conditions that New Zealand Rugby have put in front of them, I guarantee New Zealand Rugby are going to contact us because the need investors and they need a group that can actually stand up a team,” she said.

“They knew right from the beginning that we were that group.”

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RedWarrior 1 hour ago
Three-way race to be number one in World Rugby men's rankings

IF SA and NZ win then its 1,2,3 SA/NZ/IRL Otherwise as you were. This is largely irrelevant beyond bragging rights.


As I have pointed out elsewhere the practical use of the Rankings is to determine the seedings bands for the RWC draw. The draw takes place early 2026 and hopefully the rankings will be taken from then.


Important to be in the top 6, the top 12. (and likely the top 4).

This is because there are now 6 groups in the RWC 2027.

If you are in top 6 you are in Seeding Band 1. That means none of the other top 6 will be in your group.

Seeding Band 2 are teams from 7-12, who will have a top 6 team but no other 7-12 team.

After England's defeat by NZ there is clear water between NZ in 3rd, France in 4th and England in 5th. England are desperate for top4, ill come back and explain why later.

Lets look at Seeding Band 1 and 6th place. If you make 6th, no top 6 team is in your group, you are top dog. If you win your group, you won't be facing a top 6 team in your 1/8th final, you will be facing a weaker team. If you fail to make 6th place you WILL have a top 6 team in your group and if you don't win your group you WILL (probably) meet a top 6 in the 1/8 final. That's massive.


Its Argentina holding 6th now. Assuming England hold 5th, then its a 4 horse race for 6th. Argentina, Scotland, Italy and ...Australia. (ranked 6,7,8,9)

Australia play the Lions in NH summer 2025 they are running out of time to get up to 6th for their own RWC. They MUST make a move now. They must beat Wales and they really must beat Scotland to gain points and take points off them. Could they surprise England or Ireland? England may be the better bet but Schmidt knows Ireland so well having masterminded their downfall in France.

Another one to watch is Italy V Argentina. Italy are ambitious and they will want to start pushing the likes of Argentina. If they win this they are still in the hunt. Well worth a watch either way.


Top4: I think the top 6 will be seeded, all the way through from the draw. If thats the case then the top 4 will be seeded to avoid each other until the semi. Good for more certainty around ticket sales etc. That's a possible reason why England want in there. You're not in there you are hitting a top 4 team in a QF. That's an extra 50:50 match you can do without and avoid by being top 4.


Lets look at what Seeding bands might look like with todays rankings:


Seeding Band 1

IRE/SA/NZ/FRA/ENG/ARG

Seeding Band 2

SCO/ITA/AUS/FIJ/WAL/GEO


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: FIJI

1/8 final opponent GEORGIA

Prognosis: advance to 1/4 and potentially beyond


Sample Aussie strongest pool opponent and 1/8th final opponent if NOT in top 6

Strongest pool opponent: SOUTH AFRICA

1/8 final opponent NEW ZEALAND

Prognosis: You know the prognosis


I am pretty sure this is not lost on Joe Schmidt?


Keep in mind when enjoying the matches.

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