, April 23 -- It was a team built on pride, power and Pacific identity, but now Moana Pasifika is facing a fight far bigger than anything on the field.

The franchise is set to exit Super Rugby Pacific at the end of this season - a prospect that has sent shockwaves through the rugby community and raised serious questions about the future of Pasifika representation in the professional game.

"Whatever money they are paying the people who made this decision, it's too much," says rugby commentator and Pasifika leader Ken Laban, who is also the Mayor of Lower Hutt.

"In my view, it's a short-sighted, bad decision from Super Rugby, New Zealand Rugby, World Rugby - whoever the organisations are involved in this. Five years is nowhere near long ...