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(Reuters) - Kanaloa Hawaii, a team backed by a
group of former All Blacks of Pacific Island heritage, will not
join Major League Rugby (MLR) next year after an "exclusive
negotiating agreement" with the league expired.
The team were given provisional approval in July to join the MLR
next year but the league said in a statement https://www.majorleague.rugby/news/major-league-rugby-deadlines-have-passed-for-2021-hawaii-bid
on Friday that no agreement had been reached by which Kanaloa
could compete in the 2021 season.
The Guardian reported that Kanaloa chief executive Tracy Atiga
had expressed concerns over the financial stability of the
league amid the COVID-19 pandemic.
"Given the uncertainty and continued complexities of COVID-19 in
New Zealand, Hawaii and across the U.S. we undertook a due
diligence review and an investigation into the long-term
viability of MLR," the Guardian quoted Atiga as saying on
Facebook.
"The result of which presented a range of high-level concerns
for our organisation. The MLR has not been able to provide the
type of assurances that would enable the trust and confidence
required to continue with our membership goals."
Atiga said Kanaloa would look to provide an alternative option
for players, staff and volunteers for 2021.
The league said: "MLR Commissioner George Killebrew has
encouraged this potential ownership group to continue with its
development plans so that it may be in a position to join MLR
for a future season."
MLR cancelled much of its 2020 season due to the pandemic, and
the team in Colorado disbanded, allowing the league to seek
further expansion from next season.
(Reporting by Arvind Sriram in Bengaluru; Editing by Hugh
Lawson)
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