Moana Pasifika chair Sir Michael Jones says they're happy with the format announced for their first season in Super Rugby.
The Pasifika team and Fijian Drua are the two new sides joining the five New Zealand and Australian teams for the Super Rugby Pacific competition, starting next year.
Starting in February, the competition will see the 12 teams playing over a 15-week regular season followed by quarterfinals, semifinals and a final.
Teams will play eight teams once and three teams twice with an emphasis on derby matches.
Along with the name of the new competition, Jones was giving the format the thumbs up.
"That adds another dimension and makes it even more attractive," he says.
"If you can get into those quarterfinals, the top eight, anything can happen from there. A little bit like what happens in the NRL.
"Also there's the whole emphasis on local derbies, too, so we couldn't be more pleased with it."
All teams will get half of their 14 regular season matches at home.
And while Jones said the pandemic meant Moana Pasifika's home games would primarily be in New Zealand, they were keen to play in Samoa and Tonga if COVID restrictions allowed.
"If that can't happen in year one, it will definitely be an aspiration for year two.
"It is something that's very much determined by the Covid restrictions.
"We're looking forward to playing in front of a really vibrant, colourful and vocal fan base, whether that's here in New Zealand or back in the Islands."
Further details about the Moana Pasifika coaching team and playing squad were expected to be confirmed in the coming weeks.
