A rugby consortium, headed by the mother of a Workington Town player, claims politics in the sport was stopping a bid to save an under-threat Pacific club.
Moana Pasifika is being disbanded at the end of the season by its current owners due to financial challenges but Kanaloa Rugby said it had the finances and planned to keep the Super Rugby franchise going.
Chief executive Tracy Atiga, whose son Levi played for Town last season, claimed Moana boss Debbie Sorensen was stopping its plans.
Last year, Ms Atiga was part of the consortium trying to put a package together to take over the Salford club but missed out in the end.
Levi had scored nine tries in 17 appearances for Town in 2025 and had signed a new deal for this year.
There was talk of Salford paying Town compensation for his signature if his mother’s consortium had been successful in their bid.
He is back in New Zealand and Town still hold his contract for the current campaign.
Moana Pasifika is a professional rugby union team in New Zealand made up of players from Pacific Island nations as well as New Zealand or Australian-born players of Passifika heritage.
