Moana Pasifika stun finals-bound Brumbies 21-19 in potentially final match

Moana Pasifika delivered one of Super Rugby Pacific’s most emotionally charged results of the season on Saturday, defeating the ACT Brumbies 21-19 at GIO Stadium to snap a 12-game losing streak — and potentially sign off as a franchise for the last time.

The result carries profound weight beyond the scoreline. The Super Rugby Pacific club was placed into liquidation on Monday after its current owners announced on April 15 they would not continue to fund the franchise beyond 2026. Unless a last-minute buyer emerges, Moana Pasifika — introduced to the competition only in 2022 — will fold, reducing the competition to ten teams in 2027.

None of that appeared to weigh the players down. Pasifika (2-12) fed off the occasion and, despite finishing the match with fourteen men after inside centre Faletoi Peni was sent off following a second yellow card for a high tackle on Andy Muirhead, they held on through substitute Melani Matavao, who crossed in the 73rd minute after a slick passing move to seal victory.

The Brumbies (7-7) had entered the match needing a bonus-point win to climb as high as fourth on the ladder. Instead, they drop to sixth and now face a must-win trip across the Tasman to face table-topping Hurricanes if they are to secure a berth in a qualifying final.

Coach Stephen Larkham will have concerns to address before that fixture. A faltering lineout and a string of errors undermined the Brumbies even when they held a numerical advantage following Peni’s dismissal, and ACT’s newly re-signed Klayton Thorn was denied a try by a forward pass in the build-up that could have changed the outcome.

The first half had been tightly contested. Rory Scott opened the scoring for the Brumbies before Tom Wright added a second after Solomon Alaimalo’s effort for Pasifika was ruled out for a forward pass. A yellow card to veteran James Slipper allowed Patrick Pellegrini to score twice — including a second that he wrestled over himself — to level the scores at 14-all at the break. Luke Reimer’s corner finish restored the Brumbies’ lead early in the second half, but they could not hold it.