In the lead-up to the finals last year, the swirling rumours regarding the future of Moana Pasifika were disheartening and hard to fathom.

This was a team that had managed to defeat the Crusaders in Christchurch, overwhelmed their neighbours the Blues, and delivered a comprehensive victory over the Waratahs.

In their 2025 season, they fell a mere five competition points short of achieving their first-ever finals berth.

However, 2026 has been more challenging for the team, absent their star players Ardie Savea and Kyren Taumoefolau. Following a promising start in Fiji, they have slipped back.

Regrettably, the whispers of departure behind the scenes have crescendoed into a deafening announcement this week: Moana will disband after this season.

Beyond the tournament itself, there is a significant wave of anxiety, uncertainty, and sadness affecting the families of players and staff—as they face this troubling chapter.

A book penned by notable rugby journalist Geoff Parkes, titled ‘A Year in the Life and Death of the Melbourne Rebels’, provides an eye-opening glimpse into the harsh realities a club faces when folding.

Unfortunately, Moana has now become the sixth team to be ousted from the competition in the last nine years.

While COVID-19 had already forced a split between the remaining South African teams and the tournament, several franchises were eliminated before the pandemic brought the world to a standstill. The following is a list of those teams that have come and gone over the past decade.

SOUTHERN KINGS

Let’s begin with the Kings from Port Elizabeth, South Africa.

They debuted in Super Rugby in 2013, managing to beat the Rebels in Melbourne and draw against the Brumbies in Canberra, but they also suffered a heavy defeat of 72-10 at home to the Waratahs.

They quickly faded from the scene after losing the promotion/relegation showdown to the Lions in South Africa.

Remarkably, the Kings were granted another chance to join the tournament in 2016, despite their rocky start in their inaugural season.

Predictably, it ended poorly once again and they were dropped after the 2017 season.

Amidst their difficulties, the Kings did discover Makazole Mapimpi, who would later achieve World Cup success, touching the hearts of many.

CHEETAHS

Since their arrival in 2006, the Cheetahs became a fundamental part of the competition, with their home games drawing Australian rugby fans at ungodly hours on Sunday mornings.

Known for their adventurous play style, they regularly sought to outpace opposing teams.

They boasted a plethora of notable players over the years, including Juan Smith, Adriaan Strauss, and Heinrich Brussouw, among others. Regrettably, the Cheetahs were removed from the competition in 2017.

SUNWOLVES

The Sunwolves, also known as ‘Moon Dogs’, brought a distinctive flair to the tournament from their base in Tokyo, Japan.

Featuring a blend of Super Rugby players in search of new beginnings and local talent, the Sunwolves entered the competition in 2016.

Home games in Tokyo attracted large crowds, providing a remarkable match-day atmosphere, while their few matches in Singapore saw sparse attendance and were often forgettable.

While their record of 68 games, yielding only eight wins, left much to be desired, they ceaselessly made headlines when they defeated the Waratahs one Friday night in Newcastle.

The Sunwolves undoubtedly left a lasting impact on rugby in Japan ahead of the 2019 Rugby World Cup, where a number of their players made their mark on the national team.

Ultimately, the Tokyo-based team disbanded following the COVID-induced restructuring.

JAGUARES

The best-performing club to be removed from the tournament, the Jaguares quickly became a formidable competition, especially in Argentina.

With a squad laden with players now excelling at the Test level, they reached the grand final in just four years.

Though they were defeated by the Crusaders in Christchurch in 2019, misfortune struck when COVID resulted in their definitive exit from the competition. The Jaguares significantly enriched Super Rugby and would likely still be competing if not for the pandemic.

MELBOURNE REBELS

As previously referenced, there’s an entire book detailing the tumultuous journey of the Rebels. Their 2011 inception was met with great anticipation.

Their first match saw them square off against the Waratahs in front of 25,000 fans at AAMI Park, captained by Wallabies legend Stirling Mortlock, with Sam Cordingley, Cooper Vuna, and Nick Phipps by his side.

The subsequent 15 years unfolded as a rollercoaster of results, court cases, and off-field antics, stealing headlines even in British tabloids.

From Danny Cipriani to the ‘Bungy Boys’, and almost live updates on Twitter regarding a scuffle on the team bus in South Africa, the Rebels have had their fair share of drama.

Ironically, the club’s final season in Super Rugby was also their best, as the Rebels concluded operations in 2024. The exit was contentious and likely to generate more headlines.

Now, as they prepare for the upcoming match against the Waratahs this Friday night, it will be intriguing to see how Tana Umaga’s men respond.

Moana’s past few seasons have seen notable victories against the Waratahs, including a memorable win at the SFS thanks to a try from Christian Lealiifano in 2024, and they also dominated their encounter in North Harbour last year.

This year has been unpredictable, and one can’t help but feel that Moana might just pull off another surprise.

Tune in for the Waratahs versus Moana Pasifika live and on demand exclusively on Stan Sport from 7 pm AEST this Friday.

As speculation intensified regarding Moana Pasifika’s future during last year’s finals run, it was hard to believe the news. This was a side that had triumphed over the Crusaders in Christchurch, outperformed their local rivals the Blues, and comfortably defeated the Waratahs.

The culmination of their efforts in the 2025 season saw them fall a mere five points shy of securing their first finals berth.

However, 2026 has posed significant challenges without key players Ardie Savea and Kyren Taumoefolau, and after a strong start in Fiji, the going has been tough.

Unfortunately, those whispered concerns about their future turned into a loud announcement this week as Moana confirmed this would be their final year.

Setting aside the competitive landscape for a moment, there’s a cloud of anxiety, uncertainty, and sadness surrounding the families of the players and staff, and it’s disheartening to know they’re experiencing this.

In his book, ‘A Year in the Life and Death of the Melbourne Rebels,’ renowned rugby writer Geoff Parkes provided an eye-opening behind-the-scenes perspective on the harsh realities faced by clubs that cease to operate.

Unfortunately, Moana now joins the unfortunate ranks as the sixth team to be removed from the competition in the past nine years.

While COVID-19 forced the disbandment of the remaining South African teams within the tournament, there were franchises that had already been cut prior to the pandemic. Below, we take a look at those teams that have come and gone over the past decade.

SOUTHERN KINGS

The saga of the Kings from Port Elizabeth, South Africa, is a remarkable one.

They made their Super Rugby debut in 2013, managing to defeat the Rebels in Melbourne, draw with the Brumbies in Canberra, yet suffered a staggering 72-10 defeat at home to the Waratahs.

Ultimately, the Kings lost their spot after failing in a promotion/relegation match against the Lions.

In an astonishing turn of events, the men from Port Elizabeth were granted a return to the competition in 2016, despite their challenging first year.

As was expected, their reappearance was short-lived, and the Kings faded after the 2017 season.

Notably, amidst their struggles, the Kings discovered talent in Makazole Mapimpi, who would later become a World Cup champion.

CHEETAHS

Making their entrance in 2006, the Cheetahs became a staple of the competition, with their home matchups proving irresistible for Australian rugby enthusiasts watching at 3am on a Sunday.

They were always ready for a challenge at altitude, regularly attempting to outrun visiting teams.

Their roster over the years featured several prominent players, including Juan Smith, Adriaan Strauss, and Heinrich Brussouw, but unfortunately, the Cheetahs were eliminated in 2017.

SUNWOLVES

The Sunwolves, also referred to as the ‘Moon Dogs’, introduced a distinctive flair to the competition from their Tokyo base.

This team comprised a blend of seasoned Super players hunting a fresh start and skilled local talent, entering the tournament in 2016.

Home matches in Tokyo attracted large crowds, offering a unique matchday atmosphere, while their encounters in Singapore often attracted sparse audiences and lacklustre performances.

While their record of eight wins from 68 matches left much to be desired, an unforgettable highlight was their victory over the Waratahs on a Friday night in Newcastle.

More importantly, the Sunwolves played a crucial role in popularising rugby across Japan, especially leading into the 2019 Rugby World Cup when several of their players shone on the international stage.

Sadly, the Tokyo-based team was ultimately disbanded after the pandemic forced a reset.

JAGUARES

Undeniably the most successful of the teams that have been removed from the tournament, the Jaguares became a formidable adversary, especially on home soil in Argentina.

Fielding a squad brimming with talent, they reached the grand final in just four years.

Although they were narrowly defeated by the Crusaders in Christchurch in 2019, their exit from the competition due to COVID was particularly unfortunate, as they significantly enriched the Super Rugby landscape and would likely still be competing today were it not for the pandemic.

MELBOURNE REBELS

As previously noted, there’s a comprehensive account detailing the Rebels’ tumultuous journey. Their inception in 2011 created a buzz.

Their opening match against the Waratahs drew 25,000 fans to AAMI Park, with Wallabies legend Stirling Mortlock leading a star-studded squad that included Sam Cordingley, Cooper Vuna, and Nick Phipps.

The ensuing 15 years showcased a rollercoaster of performances, legal disagreements, and off-field troubles that caught the attention of British tabloids.

The Rebels featured personalities like Danny Cipriani, the infamous ‘Bungy Boys,’ and were often at the centre of public sagas, including a notorious incident on their team bus in South Africa that gained traction on social media.

Ironically, the Rebels’ most successful season in Super Rugby turned out to be their last when they folded in 2024. The exit was fraught with complications, fuelling ongoing headlines.

Looking ahead to Friday night, it will be fascinating to observe how Tana Umaga’s men respond against the Waratahs.

Moana has enjoyed considerable success against NSW in recent encounters, defeating them at the SFS thanks to a late Christian Lealiifano try in 2024, and proving too strong for them in North Harbour last season.

This year has been rife with surprises and upsets, leaving a lingering sense that Moana might pull off yet another shock.

Tune in for the Waratahs vs Moana Pasifika match live and on demand exclusively on Stan Sport from 7pm AEST this Friday.