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‘Everyone’s looking’: Super Rugby rivals coy on signing Ardie Savea
Super Rugby rivals are wary of chasing the All Blacks star, with no club publicly targeting him as Moana Pasifika’s future remains uncertain.
- Following an eighth consecutive loss on Friday, Moana Pasifika's owners confirmed they will cease funding the franchise after this season, with the operation costing upwards of $7 million annually.
- Established in 2022, the club was designed to bridge the gap between club and Test rugby, providing a professional environment for young Pasifika players from Samoa, Tonga, and the Cook Islands.
- Coach Tana Umaga warned that without this pathway, Pacific talent may gravitate toward rugby league, which already attracts nearly 40% of all players in the NRL. "If they all go to league, then it'll be a sad time," Umaga said.
- Samoa and Tonga face potential struggles qualifying for future Rugby World Cups without Moana's professional development pathway, as Umaga described the gap in international competitiveness as "very big."
- New Zealand Rugby is discussing options with potential investors to keep the team alive, while Australian Government funding worth about $50 million each over five years could facilitate Samoa and Tonga joining an expanded Super Rugby Aus competition.
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11 Articles
11 Articles
Coverage Details
Total News Sources11
Leaning Left4Leaning Right1Center2Last UpdatedBias Distribution57% Left
Bias Distribution
- 57% of the sources lean Left
57% Left
L 57%
C 29%
14%
Factuality
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