Rugby union’s Pacific heartlands threatened by NRL spree after Moana Pasifika’s collapse

The Pasifika Medical Association, Moana Pasifika’s majority owner, has declared the Super Rugby Pacific franchise unviable. Photograph: Fiona Goodall/Getty Images

There’s a new war in the Pacific brewing, with the Super Rugby side Moana Pasifika collapsing and rugby league on a new signing spree in union’s traditional heartlands.

The conflict spells trouble for Rugby Australia (RA), whose federal government is funding a $600m NRL franchise in Papua New Guinea, $240m of which will go into poaching talent and creating pathways throughout Fiji, Tonga, Samoa and the Cook Islands.