Photo: PhotoSport / Andrew Cornaga
The Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika's spots in Super Rugby Pacific are secure until 2030.
It comes after New Zealand Rugby and Rugby Australia signed a new joint-venture agreement in Sydney.
NZR Chief Executive Mark Robinson and RA Chief Executive Andy Marinos each welcomed the new partnership, which will extend the existing joint venture from 2024 to 2030, as a significant moment for professional club rugby in the Pacific region.
Robinson said the agreement represented a unified commitment to the Super Rugby Pacific format.
He said the long-term agreement provides certainty for players, coaches, fans, sponsors and broadcast partners.
Robinson said they have charted a new path with the introduction of Moana Pasifika and the Fijian Drua this year and believe they have entered an exciting new era for rugby in the Pacific.
The new agreement will usher in a new governance model for Super Rugby Pacific with the establishment of a nine-person board, which will include an independent chair, four independent directors, and one representative each from NZR, RA, the New Zealand Rugby Players Association, and the Rugby Union Players' Association.
The new board will have a mandate to explore the creation of an integrated women's competition structure in order to build on the success of Super W in Australia and Super Rugby Aupiki in New Zealand.
The agreement confirms the current Super Rugby Pacific competition format; however, the new board will continue to look at options to adapt and adjust over time.
The 2023 Super Rugby Pacific season opens for Fijian Drua and Moana Pasifika on February 25 when they face each other at Mt Smart Stadium in Auckland.
