Next steps in Pacific Islands professional teams’ journey

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In a significant step forward for Pacific Islands rugby, Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua have been granted conditional licences to join a planned new professional competition next year.

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 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 great Sir Michael Jones said the announcement was a significant milestone.

‘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.

‘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.’

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Craig Lewis