Former All Blacks Jerome Kaino, Josevata Rokocoko among owners of Hawaii-based pro team – Stuff.co.nz

A lineup of former All Blacks are among the backers of whats being trumpeted as the worlds first Maori and Polynesian-owned professional rugby club, with eyes on entering Super Rugby.
Anthony Tuitavake, Ben Atiga, John Afoa, Jerome Kaino and Josevata Rokocoko were revealed as part-owners of a new Hawaii-based franchise set to play in the US Major League Rugby next year.
To be known as Kanaloa Hawaii, its chief executive Tracy Atiga confirmed it would be the 14th team in MLR, on TVNZs Tagata Pasifika on Saturday.
All Blacks Isaia Toeava, Mils Muliaina, Josevata Rokocoko, Jerome Kaino, Anthony Tuitavake and Alby Mathewson after playing Munster in 2008.
Were really excited. Were gunning to start in February 2021 so theres a lot of work to do, but were ready for it, she said.
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The idea of a Pacific Island pro team was first discussed 16 years ago, Tracy Atiga said, and after their pitch was accepted by MLR she said next years revamped Super Rugby competition was in their sights too.
The proposed format would see South Africa and Argentina miss out.
Discussions continue around the number of teams and format, but one idea mooted is New Zealand and Australian teams along with one Pacific Islands side.
Absolutely. The sky is the limit now. Weve done the impossible, Tracy Atiga told Tagata Pasifika.
We went through a Covid period of four months and put together an application that was strong and that was approved by the MLR.
Were in conversations with NZ Rugby at the moment. Wed love to have a spot in Super next year and were ready for it. Weve proven that were ready.
Along with confirming the names of the five All Blacks, Tracy Atiga, husband Matt, and rugby manager Cam Kilgour would be the clubs owner-operators, she told the programme.
Auckland’s Ben Atiga playing Taranaki in 2007.
Tracy Atiga said the project gained pace in January when MLR team Colorado Raptors withdrew from the competition.
Shed known the big name All Blacks for nearly two decades and said: It was very easy to get them on board, theyve seen what weve done together and believe in the journey.
Sixteen years ago we went into an old business plan that we wrote when we developed this concept. Its gone through various phases but essentially we had a little KPI in there that said eventually well have a Pacific Island owned rugby club.
Its significant not only for Pacific Island players but for the community itself. The movement behind it is really about inspiring our community to understand that we can do whatever we feel we need to do.
In a video shared by Ben Atiga on Instagram, he said he had “witnessed an uneven playing field that is faced by Polynesian players today.
Dual rugby World Cup winner and 83-cap All Black Kaino, who was born in Samoa, said the goal of Kanaloa Hawaii was to create “an even playing field for Polynesians and Maori to be able to get on the world stage.
“The impact we have on people back home is enormous and you end up finding out that rugby is more than just a game.
Fiji-born Rokocoko said: “Our brothers and sisters are performing at a high-level week in week out and are not being treated the same or valued the same as a player from another nation. No other club, I’m sure, would have the same values or point of view in how a club should be run.”
Kanaloa Hawaii now has 90 days to finalise terms and meet the necessary benchmarks before their MLR membership is formally ratified for the 2021 season.

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