New Zealand Rugby is standing by its process for selecting a Pasifika team to enter the Super Rugby competition from 2022.
Kanaloa Pasifika intends taking legal action against New Zealand Rugby claiming the organisation breached its own rules by appointing Moana Pasifika as a Primary Partner when the group did not take part in the formal tender process.
The Auckland-based Moana Pasifika bid and a Fiji-led delegation have been chosen to join the new-look competition in 2022.
Kanaloa Chef Executive Officer Tracy Atiga said they have instructed their legal counsel to issue a letter to NZR today.
If the Union does not withdraw and retract its decision to appoint Moana Pasifika as the primary partner within 14 days, Kanaloa Pasifika Rugby will file proceedings with the high court seeking an injunction to the tender process.
In a statement, New Zealand Rugby said it was engaging with Kanaloa Pasifika directly but stands by their process as being "rigorous and fair".
Pacific Rugby Players CEO Aayden Clarke. Photo: RNZ Pacific/Vinnie Wylie
Last week the Pacific Rugby Players Association welcomed the news that the region would finally have a team of its own in Super Rugby.
Chief Executive, Aayden Clarke, said while there was still details to work through, the Fiji and Moana Pasifika bids offered the best of both worlds.
"Having one there with Fiji, who've got a strong player base and very good high performance systems already set up."
"And if there's to be Moana Pasifika based out of initially New Zealand, which as you expect could possibly accommodate for a lot of Samoan and Tongan players, it's sort of two different systems being set up and being ready to go for 2022 but it's very much achievable and they'll be very strong teams."
Moana Pasifika is backed by a heavyweight group, including All Blacks legends Sir Bryan Williams and Sir Michael Jones, who are former and current members of the New Zealand Rugby Board.
Sir Michael Jones. Photo: Photosport