Chiefs assistant coach Tabai Matson is eagerly anticipating the close fought nature of the upcoming Super Rugby Aotearoa competition, with 10 weeks of local derbies on the agenda for New Zealand's five sides.
The new competition, beginning on June 13, will see the five New Zealand Super franchises compete over 10 weeks in a round robin format, facing each other home and away in a league format, the winner to be decided on a points standing.
The competition will be eagerly anticipated in New Zealand circles, with the most awaited match ups of the Super Rugby season now occurring nonstop for 10 weeks.
Speaking to media via Zoom, Matson detailed the intense nature of Super Rugby Aotearoa, with the five Kiwi sides now competing for bragging rights against each other.
"These derbies often determine whether or not you make the play-offs in Super Rugby," Matson said.
"To play eight of them is awesome, but it's a competition no ones seen before. Five Super teams going at it for two months, for 10 weeks. It's kinda cool."
Matson also refused to single out one particular side for special attention, the Chiefs instead concentrating on their next task.
"When you play Super Rugby normally, you normally put a circle around the New Zealand teams.
"It's like sibling rivalry amongst us, every time you beat a New Zealand team it's a really important notch.
"I'm not going to annoy anybody by saying 'we really want to knock these guys over,' but the Highlanders are the first team.
"They've got a clean slate like us. They like all teams will put everything into the first game of Super Rugby Aotearoa."
The Chiefs will travel to Dunedin for their first Super Rugby Aotearoa clash, taking on the Highlanders on June 13.
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