Rob Nichol has hit back at Tracy Atiga over her claims of trying to buy Moana Pasifika. Photo / Photosport
New Zealand Rugby Players Association boss Rob Nichol has distanced his organisation from discussions surrounding Moana Pasifika’s future in Super Rugby Pacific, as a prospective ownership group cites difficulties dealing with the franchise’s current backers
Tracy Atiga, who leads the Kanaloa Rugby consortium, which features several former All Blacks, told Newstalk ZB’s Mike Hosking Breakfast on Wednesday morning they have the money and resources to take over the franchise’s licence, but felt they had been blocked at every step.
Last month, it was announced the Albany-based franchise would “disband” at the end of the current season unless a new ownership group was found and willing to take on the estimated $10 million of annual operating costs.
Atiga claimed their bid to put up $15m had been ignored by Moana’s owners, Pasifika Medical Association (PMA), and the New Zealand Rugby Players Association (NZRPA).
In a statement to the Herald, Nichol said the players’ body has not been involved in any negotiations between Kanaloa Rugby, the PMA or New Zealand Rugby (NZR).
“We understand that Tracy Atiga and/or Kanaloa were in discussions with PMA, and perhaps NZR, on potentially either taking on the licence or becoming a partner with PMA,” Nichol said. “We are not across the exact nature of those discussions at all.
“To be clear, we were not involved in that process at all, and have certainly not seen any proposals or documentation relating to it.”
Nichol said Atiga contacted him over the weekend but he directed her back to NZR, given its role as licence holder, and added that no formal proposal has been shared with the NZRPA.
“I encouraged her to direct any proposal she may have to NZR in the first instance, given their role as the licence holder, and the fact that there is a level of urgency now,” Nichol said.
“I also said she was welcome to copy myself and/or Hale T-Pole from Pacific Rugby Players Association on any correspondence or proposal, or send us something directly if she wished.
“To date we have not received anything.”
NZR would not comment directly about Atiga’s claims but said it was “open to receiving proposals that present a long-term and sustainable plan for Moana Pasifika” and that “opportunity is available for the next few weeks”.
The Kanaloa Rugby consortium was established to create a professional franchise representing Pacific Island communities on the global stage and has the backing of former All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Joe Rokocoko, John Afoa, Anthony Tuitavake, Ben Atiga, Sam Tuitupou and Benson Stanley, while Tracy Atiga is a former Samoan women’s international.
With time running out, as Moana have three games left this season and Super Rugby officials are desperate to finalise plans for the 2027 campaign, Atiga told Hosking that Kanaloa is ready to take over but PMA chief executive Debbie Sorensen is ignoring them.
“What we have heard and what we’ve learned over the last couple of weeks is that this has all been sitting with the current chief executive Debbie Sorensen and there’s been very little visibility at the high end,” Atiga told Hosking.
“In my discussions with people who are involved in that group, it seems that our offer never got past Debbie and we would like to see that in the hands of the directors of the company... there’s a lot of risks to them with the money that’s owed to the Government through taxpayer funding for this outfit.
“That is something that should be taken care of, it shouldn’t be pushed to the side and if you’ve got a consortium like us that have been around for 22 years, you should at least be agreeing to meet with that group.”
Atiga told Hosking her frustrations began when Kanaloa missed out on a Super Rugby licence at the last minute to Moana Pasifika, who didn’t participate in the formal tender process.
That led Kanaloa Rugby to explore Hawaii as an option to join Major League Rugby in the US, although several roadblocks were encountered and the competition is also struggling.
Last year, Kanaloa Rugby put forward a proposal to buy Moana Pasifika. Atiga told Hosking she received a response from Deloitte in December informing Kanaloa that PMA would not proceed with its bid, with no reasons given.
Atiga said other unions in the Pacific are preparing letters of endorsement to support Kanaloa’s bid, adding that the people currently in charge are “holding the fort to protect their own necks”.
“We had the endorsement of the Pacific Island nations’ rugby unions at the time, all of them,” Atiga said.
“We met those conditions and then all of a sudden there was this new condition that came on where New Zealand Rugby Players Association had to endorse it and you had to get government support.
“At the time, we rattled a few people by coming out vocal and expressing our concern about the bidding process... but I think New Zealand Rugby Union have come round, they’ve come full circle and they’ve offered us an opportunity.
“We have a small window. We are trying to get this proposal to them with the approval of PMA and NZRPA. It’s going to be tough because they are parties that won’t talk to us.”
Sorensen has been approached for comment.
Ben Francis is an Auckland-based reporter for the New Zealand Herald who covers breaking sports news.